Express Entry 2026: pick the right NOC, see your new points.
Canada is adding a new Labour Market Integration factor to the Comprehensive Ranking System. It gives points for either your Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer, whichever scores higher. Which points you get now depends heavily on your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
One new factor, two ways to score, and you keep the higher one
From November 3, 2026, IRCC will compare the points you could get from your Canadian work experience with the points from a qualifying job offer. You get whichever is higher. You can't add them together.
Canadian work experience
Work-length points (the same points given today for Canadian experience in TEER 0 to 3 jobs) plus new extra points if at least 12 months of it was in an eligible high-wage occupation.
| With spouse or partner | Single | |
|---|---|---|
| Work length | up to 70 | up to 80 |
| High-wage experience | up to 70 | up to 70 |
| Maximum | 140 | 150 |
A qualifying job offer
Job offer points are back in the CRS. The offer must be valid under Express Entry and be for a job in an eligible high-wage occupation. An LMIA is no longer needed and gives no extra points.
| Occupation's median wage | Points |
|---|---|
| 2× tier at least twice the average | 100 |
| 1.5× tier 1.5× to under 2× | 70 |
| 1.3× tier 1.3× to under 1.5× | 50 |
| Not listed | 0 |
Your duties decide your NOC, not your job title or your pay
Every point in the new factor flows from your NOC code. The high-wage tier is set by the national median wage of everyone in Canada working in that NOC, not by your own salary or job title. Getting the NOC right matters more than ever, and getting it wrong can cost you far more than points.
Start with what you actually do
List your real daily duties for each job: what you spend most of your time on, who you report to, and who reports to you. Your employer's reference letter should describe these same duties.
Match the lead statement and main duties
Search the official NOC 2021 site by keyword, then read the lead statement and main duties of each likely code. Pick the one where your duties match the lead statement and most of the main duties. Check the "exclusions" list too, which points to look-alike codes.
Then check the tier
Only after you've found the honest match, look it up in the checker below to see its high-wage tier. If your NOC isn't listed, your experience can still earn work-length points if it's TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Reading a NOC code
The second digit is the TEER level, which shows the training, education, experience and responsibilities the job usually needs. Code 21232 (software developers and programmers) is TEER 1.
Green: experience counts for Express Entry work-length points. Grey: TEER 4 and 5 experience doesn't count.
Don't choose a NOC for the points
- Title doesn't matter. A "Project Manager" who mostly codes may belong in a developer NOC. A "Manager" who mostly serves customers is likely not in a management NOC.
- Salary doesn't change the tier. A well-paid job in an unlisted NOC earns no high-wage points. A lower-paid job in a listed NOC still does.
- Officers check. When you apply for permanent residence, an officer compares your duties, reference letters and pay records against the NOC you claimed.
- The risk is serious. Claiming a NOC that doesn't match your real duties can be treated as misrepresentation, which can mean a refusal and a five-year ban from applying.
Is your occupation on the high-wage list?
All 186 occupations on IRCC's list, which takes effect November 3, 2026 and is based on wage data from 2023 to 2025. Type a NOC code or a few words of the job title.
Work-length points plus high-wage points
The rules for what counts as qualifying Canadian work experience aren't changing. What's new is the extra high-wage layer on top.
Work-length points
Same as today, for qualifying experience in any TEER 0 to 3 job.
| Canadian experience | With spouse | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
High-wage occupation points (new)
Extra points if at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of your qualifying Canadian experience was in eligible high-wage occupations.
| At least 12 months in | Points |
|---|---|
| 2× tier jobs | 70 |
| 1.5× tier or higher, combined | 40 |
| 1.3× tier or higher, combined | 20 |
| Less than 12 months | 0 |
- It can be continuous or not, full-time or the same amount of part-time.
- You can combine more than one high-wage job.
- Jobs held at the same time count only up to full-time (30 hours a week).
Job offers count again, and the LMIA is gone
From November 3, 2026, these rules apply to job offers under Express Entry:
What's new
- No LMIA is needed for a job offer to count for program eligibility or CRS points.
- Having an LMIA gives no extra points and no priority.
- The offer can be for an existing or a new position, with an existing or a new employer.
- Points depend on the offer's NOC tier: 100, 70 or 50. A job outside the high-wage list earns 0 job offer points.
What the officer checks
Every job offer is still assessed when you apply for permanent residence. The officer must be satisfied it's genuine, including whether:
- the employer is actively in business, can meet the terms of the offer, actually needs the role, and follows employment and recruitment laws
- you're qualified and able to do the work, and likely to accept the offer and do the job
Estimate your Labour Market Integration points
This estimates only the new factor (up to 150 points), not your full CRS score. It assumes the experience you enter is qualifying Canadian experience and your job offer is valid under Express Entry.
How the new factor plays out
Illustrative profiles, using the official tables.
Single software developer
2 years in Canada · NOC 21232 (1.5× tier) · job offer in the same NOCExperience wins. The job offer adds nothing here, because only the higher route counts.
Cook with spouse coming
1 year in Canada · NOC 63200 (TEER 3, not on the list) · job offer as a cookThe experience still earns work-length points. The job offer earns no CRS points, but may still help with program eligibility.
Financial manager abroad
No Canadian experience · single · job offer as NOC 10010 (2× tier)A top-tier job offer is the strongest route for someone with no Canadian experience. No LMIA is needed.
Engineer with spouse coming
3 years in Canada: 12 months as a civil engineer (21300) and 24 months as a construction manager (70010), both 1.5× tier · offer as an engineering manager (20010, 2× tier)Combined months in 1.5× jobs earn 40. A 2× tier offer edges ahead, so the offer counts instead.
Have a job offer without an LMIA? Here's what IRCC says to enter
The rules change on November 3, 2026, but IRCC's online profile won't reflect that yet. The form will still ask you to say you have a positive LMIA, even though you don't need one. Under "Work history", IRCC says to add your job offer with these details:
| Question or field | Enter |
|---|---|
| Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada? | Yes |
| LMIA number | 00000 |
| LMIA issuance date | 2026-01-01 |
| LMIA expiry date | 2029-01-01 |
Use these only for a job offer that meets the new rules, and check IRCC's page before you submit in case the instructions change.
Frequently asked
Does my own salary decide whether my job is high-wage?
No. The tier depends on the median wage of everyone in Canada working in your NOC compared with the average median wage of the whole workforce. Your personal pay or job title doesn't change it.
Can I get points for both my experience and a job offer?
No. IRCC works out both and gives you the higher one. The maximum is 150 points if you're single and 140 through the experience route if your spouse or partner is coming with you. A job offer is worth up to 100 either way.
Do I still need an LMIA for my job offer?
Not from November 3, 2026. An LMIA isn't needed for eligibility or for points, and having one gives no extra points. An officer will still check that the job offer is genuine when you apply for permanent residence.
My NOC isn't on the list. Do I lose my Canadian experience points?
No. If your experience is in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job, you still get work-length points (up to 70 or 80). You just won't get the extra high-wage points, and a job offer in that NOC won't earn CRS job offer points.
What if the high-wage list changes after I'm invited?
IRCC keeps using the tier that applied on the day you received your Invitation to Apply, whether a job moves tier, is removed or is added. The list is reviewed using the last three years of wage data.
Can I change my NOC to get more points?
Only if the new NOC actually matches your duties better. Your NOC must reflect the work you really did, backed by reference letters. Claiming a NOC that doesn't match can be treated as misrepresentation, which can lead to refusal and a five-year ban. If you're unsure, talk to a licensed immigration consultant (CICC) or a lawyer.
Will I need to update my profile myself?
No, for the recalculation. IRCC will recalculate every existing profile automatically, which may take up to two weeks while draws are paused. You only need to add a job offer if you have one, using the details in the "Updating your profile" section.
Put your NOC and experience where employers can find them.
Create a free WorkerPool profile. With your consent, we connect it to Canadian employers who are hiring and to licensed consultants who can check your points properly.