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Express Entry Major Development: Canada Eases Pathway to Permanent Residence for International Students


Last Updated on November 19, 2016

November 11th 2016 – Immigration authorities will change the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) under Express Entry, helping thousands of international students completing recognized degrees and diplomas in Canada.  The new rules set to take effect November 19th, will award points to students completing a three-year post secondary, master’s, professional degree or doctorate.  Students who complete a post secondary diploma of at least one year duration, will also be recognized. No points are awarded for a high school certificate.

Express Entry Major Development: Canada Eases Pathway to Permanent Residence for International Students

Points Awarded for Canadian Education Under Express Entry

From November 19
High school 0
One or two-year post secondary 15
Three-year post secondary, master’s,
professional degree or doctorate		 30

Source: IRCC

In order to score Canadian education points, the candidate must have:

  1. Studied in Canada at a Canadian educational institution.
  2. Been enrolled in full-time study or training for at least eight months.
  3. Been physically present in Canada for at least eight months.

Canada’s immigration minister John McCallum has previously described foreign students as blue chip new permanent residents of Canada, given that they have language skills, knowledge of the Canadian way of life and possess recognised Canadian qualifications.

Qualified Job Offers (LMIA’s)

New regulations will also significantly change the CRS Comprehensive Ranking System for thousands of temporary foreign workers in Canada.  The new rules will award points without the need for an LMIA for temporary foreign workers employed at least 1-year in Canada, providing significant benefit to Canada such as Intra-Company Transferees, workers under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other international agreements or workers, including skilled trades with work permits supported by currently valid LMIA’s applying for permanent residence under Express Entry. Workers applying for permanent residence in these groups will receive 50 points if their occupation is a skill level position O, A, B under the National Occupational Code or 200 points if their occupation is a senior managerial skill level position (OO) described under the National Occupational Code.

The new rules will exempt many temporary foreign workers from a previous requirement to obtain an LMIA as a condition to receive additional points under Express Entry.

Candidates with provincial nomination under PNP’s will continue to receive 600 points towards the overall maximum of 1200 points.

Under the new rules:

  • Applicants with an LMIA for employment as a senior manager (NOC 00) described under the National Occupational Code, will receive 200 points.
  • Applicants with an LMIA for employment under all other occupations described under the National Occupational Code (NOC 0, A and B), will receive 50 points.
  • Applicants working in Canada under an employer specific work permit backed by an existing LMIA, or providing significant benefit to Canada (Intra-Company Transferee); NAFTA or other international agreement, under an employer specific work permit and have accumulated at least 1-year of work experience; with a managerial skill level position (NOC OO), will receive 200 points.
  • Applicants working in Canada under an employer specific work permit backed by an existing LMIA, or providing significant benefit to Canada (Intra-Company Transferee); NAFTA or other international agreement, under an employer specific work permit and have accumulated at least 1-year of work experience; with a skill level position O, A, B under the National Occupational Code; Skilled Trade (NOC B), will receive 50 points.

Sample of Points Awarded Under Express Entry Without Requirement For LMIA

Category Number of Points, Occupation
Provincial Nomination 600 points
(Any NOC type)
Existing Work Permit Holder 
*working under an employer specific work permit, backed by an existing LMIA and other conditions		 200 points
(NOC OO)
50 points
(NOC O, A, B)
Intra-Company Transferee or Significant Benefit to Canada
*working under an employer specific work permit at least 1-year and other conditions		 200 points
(NOC OO)
50 points
(NOC O, A, B)
NAFTA, international agreements 
*working under an employer specific work permit at least 1-year and other conditions		 200 points
(NOC OO)
50 points
(NOC O, A, B)
Skilled Trade 
*Conditions apply		 50 points
(NOC B)

Source: Immigration.ca

Other changes introduced include increasing the validity period for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from 60 days to 90 days.

Approved language tests will be valid for two years instead of one year.

Candidates Currently in the Express Entry Pool

Beginning November 19th 2016, CRS scores of candidates with existing profiles will be modified to meet the new regulations.  Candidates with applicable education in Canada will receive increased CRS scores.

Summary Impact Analysis:

  1. International students which currently exceed 200,000 annually, have become a major focus for long term retention policies by both the federal and provincial governments.  The new rules will facilitate permanent residence under Express Entry for candidates with a university degree, a post-secondary diploma and other attributes.
  2. The number of LMIA applications under the Express Entry system is expected to significantly decline as more candidates will be issued ITA’s under express entry without an LMIA or will rely on provincial immigration programs for a pathway to permanent residence.
  3. Overall (CRS) comprehensive ranking system scores of candidates in the express entry pool will decline and the scores of existing candidates, pursuant to the new regulations, will have a neutral effect relative to each other.
  4. CRS scores under future draws will decline from previous levels.
  5. Approved qualifying job offers supported by an LMIA will continue to provide a significant benefit to candidates applying under express entry.
  6. Processing times for applications under provincial nomination programs will increase.
  7. The number of applicants receiving ITA’s who become permanent residents will likely increase by a significant measure, as the period of time to perfect an application increases by 50% to 90 days.

Express Entry is an immigration system introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), in January 2015 and selects skilled workers to Canada under Federal Economic programs including Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class and certain programs under the Provincial Nominee Class.  Applicants submit an online profile to the Express Entry Pool.  Canadian employers and provincial governments across Canada access the best candidates who are ranked against each other.  The best candidates are invited by the Federal government to apply for Canadian permanent residence under periodic draws.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

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