Express Entry High-Wage Points 2027: Who Qualifies
Learn how Canada’s new Express Entry points for high-paying jobs work, who qualifies, how to check your job, and what to do to raise your score.
Sara Ahmadi
Last updated
A New Way to Raise Your Express Entry Score
Express Entry is Canada’s main online system for skilled workers who want permanent residence. Every candidate gets a score, and people with higher scores are invited to apply first. Since November 3, 2026, Canada gives extra points to people who work in a high-paying job in Canada, or who have a job offer in one. This means many skilled workers can now get a higher score without changing anything about themselves.
Who Can Get the New Points
You can get these extra points in two ways. The first is if you have work experience in Canada in a high-paying job. The second is if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in a high-paying job. Your employer no longer needs special government approval, called a Labour Market Impact Assessment, for your job offer to count. The government still checks that every job offer is real.
What Counts as a High-Paying Job
A job counts as high-paying if people in that job usually earn at least 1.3 times the normal Canadian wage. This depends on your job type, not on your own salary. So even if your personal pay is lower, your job can still qualify. Examples include software engineers, registered nurses, civil engineers and industrial electricians.
How to Check If Your Job Qualifies
Every job in Canada has a code called the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. First, find the NOC code that matches your real daily duties, not just your job title. Then look for that code on IRCC’s high-wage list on the official Canada website. If your code is on the list, you may get the extra points.
What You Should Do Now
If you already have an Express Entry profile, your score is updated automatically. Still, log in and check that your work experience and job offer details are complete and correct. If you don’t have a profile yet and you work in a high-paying job in Canada, now is a great time to create one. A higher score means a better chance of being invited to apply for permanent residence.
Do I Need a High Personal Salary to Get These Points?
No. What matters is the usual pay for your type of job, not your own salary. If your job type is on the high-wage list, you may qualify.
Does My Employer Need Special Approval?
No. A Labour Market Impact Assessment is no longer needed for these points. But your job offer must be real and meet IRCC’s rules.
Do I Need to Update My Profile Myself?
Your score is recalculated automatically. But if you have a new job offer, add it to your profile so it counts.
Check Your Express Entry Profile →
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