LMIA points removed - March 25

[Naturgrl]

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/job-offer.html

We no longer give points for job offers

As of March 25, 2025, we’re removing job offer points from the Comprehensive Ranking System for current and future candidates in the Express Entry pool. This includes job offers:

• classified under Major Group 00 of the National Occupation Classification (for example, senior management positions) (200 points)
• in any other skilled occupation (50 points)

 

[Copingwithlife]

As I’m standing at a gate at the airport Calgary, heading back to Toronto, I can hear sighs of relief from people who are legitimately skilled , and screams of anguish from those selling job offers from across the country

 

[21Goose]

I wonder how this will work for senior positions. My good friend just moved from Germany to Toronto as the Chief Operating Officer for a Canadian company (50 million plus revenue, 500 plus employees.. it’s a legit company operating across 5 countries, not some pizza store or whatever)

He’s 41 with a Masters in Math from a top-10 US school, and makes 350k + .. and thus pays high taxes here.

He was in the pool with 582 points, and now will be back to 382 .. which means he is no longer going to look at Canada longer term and will likely move back to Germany if there are no pathways to permanent residency left.
I wonder if they will try and bring in something new to replace the 200 point thing, otherwise senior executives will simply not move here.

 

[scylla]

I wonder how this will work for senior positions. My good friend just moved from Germany to Toronto as the Chief Operating Officer for a Canadian company (50 million plus revenue, 500 plus employees.. it’s a legit company operating across 5 countries, not some pizza store or whatever)

He’s 41 with a Masters in Math from a top-10 US school, and makes 350k + .. and thus pays high taxes here.

He was in the pool with 582 points, and now will be back to 382 .. which means he is no longer going to look at Canada longer term and will likely move back to Germany if there are no pathways to permanent residency left.
I wonder if they will try and bring in something new to replace the 200 point thing, otherwise senior executives will simply not move here.

The IRCC announcement specifies that this change in rules applies to those who previously qualified for 200 points as well. IRCC has not made any indication there will be anything new to replace. I would recommend you start looking into alternative ways to immigrate such as through PNP. If PR is a priority, learn French to qualify for the French draws.

 

[21Goose]

The IRCC announcement specifies that this change in rules applies to those who previously qualified for 200 points as well. IRCC has not made any indication there will be anything new to replace. I would recommend you start looking into alternative ways to immigrate such as through PNP. If PR is a priority, learn French to qualify for the French draws.

Nah, he will just go back, not going to learn French.People like him have options all over the world.

That’s why I wonder - Canadian companies will be at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring very senior roles.

I agree we had issues with fraud and all that, and maybe they will fix things and reintroduce something - but as it stands, this will be an issue for senior people. Doesn’t affect me or him, I’m just wondering.

 

[canuck78]

Nah, he will just go back, not going to learn French.People like him have options all over the world.

That’s why I wonder - Canadian companies will be at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring very senior roles.

I agree we had issues with fraud and all that, and maybe they will fix things and reintroduce something - but as it stands, this will be an issue for senior people. Doesn’t affect me or him, I’m just wondering.

Agree there is an issue and system needs reform but with NOC codes and teers there is currently very little differentiation between the highly qualified executives running large companies and others doing basic “management” jobs supervising a few people if actually true.

 

[scylla]

Nah, he will just go back, not going to learn French.People like him have options all over the world.

That’s why I wonder - Canadian companies will be at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring very senior roles.

I agree we had issues with fraud and all that, and maybe they will fix things and reintroduce something - but as it stands, this will be an issue for senior people. Doesn’t affect me or him, I’m just wondering.

Anything is possible of course but there have been no such announcements.

 

[StarO]

Bottom line is LMIA has been heavily abused! Removal puts everyone on a level playing field to compete effectively. Think about professionals who left their career for Canada, invested their time and money into getting a post-graduate degree here, got appointed to reputable government jobs in provinces that do not offer LMIA for the jobs, with scores close to 500 but are left out in the equation in favor of the LMIA jobs (whether 50 or 200 additional points) that's absolutely not a level playing field.