Ottawa Changes Immigration Rules to Allow Express Entry for ‘High Wage’ Workers

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 18, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The federal government is adding new express entry points for some permanent residency applicants in “high-wage” jobs, according to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

“These changes will help us identify, attract and retain the skilled newcomers who are best positioned to succeed in Canada, while making the Express Entry system more targeted and responsive to our labour market needs,” Diab said in an Oct. 16 statement.

The government will also remove the requirement for employers to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for qualifying job offers used to earn the new points. An LMIA assesses the potential impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market, and requires employers to demonstrate that they have made efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

The policies will take effect on Nov. 3, and will apply to applicants who already have Canadian work experience, or who have a job offer in a high-wage field.

A separate temporary policy will remove LMIA-related requirements for qualifying job offers used to meet eligibility requirements under two federal skilled-worker immigration programs. Immigration officials will continue to verify that job offers are genuine and meet program requirements.

This is a developing story, updates will follow.