Changes to CRS Points for IEC Work Permit Holders Under Express Entry
Foreign nationals holding an employer-specific work permit under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program will no longer receive Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment if their permit was issued after December 18, 2024.
This change is due to modifications in the authority under which IEC work permits are issued and specifically impacts individuals under the IEC’s Young Professionals category.
The Young Professionals category is the only IEC work permit stream that previously allowed candidates to earn an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for having a valid job offer.
IEC work permit holders whose permits were issued before December 18, 2024, will still receive points for arranged employment, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria for a valid job offer.
This removal of CRS points comes well ahead of the broader elimination of all bonus CRS points for valid job offers, which is scheduled for spring 2025.
This article will cover:
- The impact on IEC work permit holders in the Express Entry pool
- The reasons behind the change to work permit points
Implications for IEC Work Permit Holders in the Express Entry Pool
Express Entry candidates can currently receive points for new confirmed job offers, provided the offer meets eligibility requirements.
Candidates may receive:
- 200 CRS points for job offers in National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0 major group 00 (managerial positions).
- 50 CRS points for job offers in all other eligible NOC categories.
The NOC system is Canada’s framework for classifying occupations by sector and industry. It works alongside the TEER system, which assigns a level to each occupation based on the required training, education, and experience.
The government has announced that all CRS points for arranged employment will be removed in spring 2025. However, IEC work permit holders will see this change take effect much sooner.
Early Removal of CRS Points for IEC Candidates
This accelerated timeline means that candidates in the Express Entry pool who currently claim arranged employment points through an IEC Young Professionals work permit will lose either 50 or 200 CRS points. This can significantly affect their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Additionally, IEC work permit holders whose permits were issued after December 18, 2024, will have their points removed sooner than candidates using other types of work permits. Since other Express Entry candidates can continue benefiting from arranged employment points until spring 2025, IEC work permit holders may face a competitive disadvantage in receiving an ITA.
An IRCC officer has confirmed that the immigration department is currently updating its systems and web content to reflect the removal of these points.
Why Was This Change Implemented Early?
It is unclear why the IEC Young Professionals category is losing CRS points ahead of the broader removal scheduled for spring 2025.
The initial announcement in December 2024 stated that CRS points for arranged employment would be removed to reduce the potential for LMIA fraud.
IRCC later confirmed that:
- The spring 2025 change will impact all candidates in the Express Entry pool.
- Candidates who have already submitted a permanent residence (PR) application or received an ITA based on their previous CRS score will not be affected.
