Canada Immigration Policy Adjustment: Removal of CRS Points for IEC Work Permit Holders in Express Entry
Impact on IEC Work Permit Holders in the Express Entry Pool
Currently, in the Canadian Express Entry system, candidates can earn CRS points by receiving a valid job offer. Specifically, eligible job offers can bring additional points:
- For job offers in National Occupational Classification (NOC) training, education experience, and TEER-0 level (management positions), candidates can earn 200 points;
- For job offers in other NOC categories, candidates can earn 50 points.
However, applicants holding the IEC work permit under the “Young Professionals” category will no longer earn CRS points for a valid job offer starting from December 18, 2024. Previously, these applicants could earn an additional 50 or 200 CRS points based on a valid job offer if they met other requirements.
It is worth noting that although the Canadian immigration authorities plan to fully remove CRS points for all valid job offers in Spring 2025, IEC work permit holders will face this change earlier than other candidates, potentially having a significant impact on their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Reason Behind the Change
Although the Canadian immigration authorities have not explicitly explained why the CRS points for IEC “Young Professionals” work permit holders are being removed earlier, this policy change reflects reforms made by the Canadian government to reduce fraud related to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). The Canadian immigration authorities first announced the plan to remove CRS points for job offers in December 2024 and plan to officially implement it in Spring 2025. Meanwhile, the immigration authorities have confirmed that this change will affect candidates in the Express Entry pool but will not affect those who have already submitted permanent residence applications or received an ITA.
Overview of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is an initiative launched by the Canadian government to provide young people with international work and travel opportunities. This program allows young people from designated countries to come to Canada to work and travel, typically for 12 to 24 months, with the aim of promoting cultural exchange, enhancing international understanding, and providing valuable work experience.
1. Program Background and Goals
The IEC program is managed by the Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and primarily targets young people between the ages of 18 and 35. The core goal of the program is to help participants broaden their horizons and enhance their personal and professional development through work opportunities and cultural exchange.
2. Program Categories
The IEC program offers several ways for young people to participate, mainly including the following three categories:
- Working Holiday: This category is for those who wish to travel in Canada and support their travels by working part-time. Participants can work in Canada for up to 12 months without needing a job offer in advance. This visa allows young people to travel freely within Canada while legally working during their trip, enriching their international experience.
- Young Professionals: This category is for those who wish to work full-time in Canada in a field related to their profession. Through this category, participants can gain work experience in their career field, enhancing their competitiveness in the international job market.
- International Co-op: This category is for students, particularly those who wish to do internships or cooperative education programs in Canada. Through this category, students can gain valuable international practical experience that is highly beneficial for their future careers.
3. Application Requirements
The specific requirements for applying to the IEC program vary by country/region but generally include the following basic conditions:
- Applicants must generally be between the ages of 18 and 35 (with some countries having different age limits).
- Applicants must hold a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond their planned departure from Canada.
- Applicants must have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their stay in Canada.
- Applicants must have a clean criminal record and meet health requirements.
Additionally, there may be extra specific requirements depending on the country or region, such as language proficiency or specific work experience.
4. Participating Countries and Regions
The IEC program is open to multiple countries and regions, allowing participants to choose the program category that best suits their needs. This includes, but is not limited to, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, and other countries and regions.
5. Program Benefits
- Cultural Exchange: Through living and working in Canada, participants can immerse themselves in Canadian culture and expand their international perspectives.
- Career Development: By gaining work experience with Canadian companies or organizations, participants can enhance their professional skills and improve their global competitiveness.
- Travel and Exploration: The Working Holiday category is especially suitable for those who wish to work and travel at the same time. Participants can explore various places in Canada and enjoy its beautiful natural landscapes and diverse cultures.
- International Networking: The program provides an opportunity to collaborate with young people from around the world, helping participants build an international social and professional network.
6. How to Apply
To apply for the IEC program, candidates usually need to apply online through the official website of the Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applicants need to submit personal information, supporting documents, and wait for an invitation via the online platform.
Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
Nova Scotia Taps Express Entry to Match Skilled Workers With Employers Facing Critical Vacancies
Nova Scotia has launched a new initiative called "Critical Vacancies" and begun sending Notices of Interest (NOIs) to candidates in the federal Express Entry pool, with the aim of connecting qualified foreign skilled workers to local employers who have been unable to fill roles domestically. For now the initiative covers only two sectors with long-standing labour shortages — construction and healthcare — and while the province has uploaded dedicated forms for six construction occupations, it has not yet named any specific healthcare occupations. Candidates need only hold an active Express Entry profile to receive an NOI, with no requirement for Canadian or Nova Scotia work experience. Crucially, an NOI is neither an invitation to apply (ITA) for provincial nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nor an endorsement under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP); it functions instead as a bridge between job seekers and employers, though candidates who land a job offer through this channel are typically better positioned for a subsequent federal or provincial immigration pathway — and some may even receive an ITA directly in their Express Entry account. The move aligns with the provincial nomination priorities Nova Scotia announced in April 2026, and is the latest step in an immigration system the province has been steadily reshaping since late 2025.
05/22/2026
Canada Moves Closer to Language Testing for Certain International Mobility Program Work Permit Applicants, With a Canada Gazette Pre-Publication Targeted for Spring or Summer 2026
A regulatory proposal that would introduce language testing for certain International Mobility Program (IMP) work permit applicants is moving closer to formal publication, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The department's Forward Regulatory Plan, in a page update dated April 7, 2026, now sets a target of spring or summer 2026 for pre-publication of the proposed amendments in Part I of the Canada Gazette, to be followed by a 30-day public comment period. The initiative was first listed in the Forward Regulatory Plan on July 2, 2025, and has since cleared two rounds of stakeholder engagement — consultations with provinces and territories in February 2025 and with private-sector stakeholders in November 2025 — meaning it is no longer a preliminary entry in a federal planning document. The proposal would amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to authorize IRCC to require applicants to submit language proficiency test results from a designated third-party organization, with the stated aim of improving the reliability, transparency, and efficiency of language assessments under the IMP. The amendment is not yet in force, no regulatory text is public, and IRCC has not confirmed which IMP streams will be affected, which tests will be accepted, what minimum scores will apply, what exemptions may exist, or when the rule would take effect. Spousal open work permits (SOWPs) are not named by IRCC but are widely regarded by immigration practitioners as the category most likely to be affected. Until the regulatory text is published, no applicant is required to take a language test as a result of this proposal.
05/21/2026
Canada Eases Completeness Screening for Overseas Proof of Citizenship Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has lowered the bar for accepting overseas proof of citizenship applications, instructing officers that applications filed from outside Canada and the United States are now subject only to a minimal completeness check: a file may be returned as incomplete solely when it lacks a required signature, proof of payment, compliant photographs, or a complete application form (CIT 0001), and as long as those minimum legal criteria are met, an officer may accept the application into processing and simply ask the applicant to supply anything else that is missing. The change matters because, under IRCC's general processing rules, an application returned as incomplete is treated as never received — forcing the applicant to pay the fee again, resubmit, and rejoin the back of the queue — and international applicants had previously been turned away on grounds beyond those four items. The new guidance, "Intake of Canadian Citizenship Certificate Applications (Proof of Citizenship)," was published on May 15, 2026 but takes effect retroactively from March 1, 2026, and also reassigns the completeness check for international applications from IRCC's Global Affairs Canada (GAC) division to the Digitization and Identity Operations Division (DIOD). It comes as demand from abroad — driven largely by Americans — has surged in the wake of Bill C-3, which on December 15, 2025 removed the generational limit on citizenship by descent: the proof of citizenship inventory rose 25 percent in May over April to 70,400 applications, pushing expected processing time to 12 months, up from five months in July 2025.
05/20/2026
British Columbia Issues 437 Skills Immigration Invitations in Fifth 2026 Draw as Innovate Wage Floor Falls to C$59/Hour
On May 14, 2026, British Columbia held its fifth Skills Immigration (SI) draw of the year, sending 437 invitations to apply under the newly created "Innovate: High Economic Impact" pillar — 225 to candidates with a TEER 0–3 job offer paying at least C$59 per hour (roughly C$120,000 per year) and 212 to registrants with a profile score of 135 or higher. The round is the first full wage-and-score draw to be held since the province unveiled its sweeping "Look West" overhaul on April 23, which reorganized the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) around three pillars — Care, Build and Innovate — and the wage threshold was lowered by C$11 from the February 4 draw and by C$3 from the April 22 draw, a clear signal that, faced with a 2026 federal allocation of just 5,254 nominations (41.6% below the 9,000 it requested), B.C. is using more flexible selection criteria to draw a wider pool of high-skilled workers into a shrinking number of seats.
05/19/2026
IRCC Tightens and Clarifies GATS Professionals Work Permit Rules: Wider Applicant Pool, Longer Documentation Checklist, Stricter Contract Scrutiny
In May 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued updated officer guidance for the Professionals stream of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) work permit, sharpening the rules on who can apply, what documentation must accompany an application, what kinds of contracts qualify, and how officers must assess whether a foreign employer is genuinely operating in its home country; the most attention-grabbing change is the expansion of the applicant pool — beyond citizens of World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand, permanent residents of Armenia and Switzerland are now eligible, broadening the reach of this LMIA-exempt short-term work permit pathway, which sits in Canada's International Mobility Program (IMP) under exemption code T33. At the same time, the new guidance splits eligible occupations into two formal groups with distinct contract requirements, explicitly disqualifies contracts signed through personnel placement or supply agencies, and uses far more direct language to require that the foreign service provider be a real, functioning business in its home country — meaning that if the foreign employer has a Canadian subsidiary, branch or affiliated entity, the contract will no longer qualify under GATS. Despite the wider tightening and clarification, the program's core rules — the 90-day cap within a 12-month window, the sectoral exclusions covering education, health-related, recreational, cultural and sports services, and the educational, licensing and professional-recognition requirements — remain unchanged, leaving the GATS Professionals pathway as one of the fastest legal routes for short-term cross-border service delivery into Canada.
05/18/2026
Newfoundland and Labrador Invites 186 Candidates in May 11 Draw, NLPNP Share Climbs Above 90%
On May 11, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador held its fifth provincial immigration draw of the year — and its second draw in May — issuing 186 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across two pathways: 168 (90.3%) through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and 18 through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The round delivered the province's lowest single-draw volume of 2026 and continued a steady decline seen across each successive draw this year, yet the province has still issued 692 more invitations from January 1 through May 11 than it did during the same window in 2025 (when just two draws produced a combined 584 ITAs) — a shift that reflects a more frequent and predictable cadence under the federal government's 2026 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocation of 91,500 nominations, up roughly 66% from the 55,000 cap imposed in 2025 but still about 17% below the 110,000 peak of 2024. Although the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) does not publish which NLPNP streams or sectors were targeted in this round, its published Expression of Interest (EOI) prioritization criteria continue to point to healthcare and health-related occupations, rural and regional jobs, candidates with strong long-term retention potential, and graduates of the province's post-secondary institutions as the primary selection focus.
05/16/2026
Canada Permanently Closes Four Falls Land Border Crossing in New Brunswick After Six-Year Suspension
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on May 11, 2026, that the Four Falls land port of entry in northwestern New Brunswick will be permanently closed, formalizing a suspension that began as a temporary COVID-19 measure on May 17, 2020 and ending six full years of inactivity at the small seasonal crossing; CBSA cited four factors — seasonal-only operations, low traveller volumes, the density of alternative crossings nearby, and the absence of any corresponding U.S. port of entry on the opposite side of the border — and argued that the move aligns Canadian operations with what U.S. Customs and Border Protection already does on this stretch of the boundary, leaving travellers between northwestern New Brunswick and Maine to reroute through one of two alternative ports of entry within 15 km of Four Falls, the 24/7 Andover crossing and the Gillespie Portage crossing (open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), with CBSA reminding the public that all travellers must still report to a designated port of entry on arrival or risk fines, seizures, loss of trusted-traveller status, or prosecution under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or the Customs Act.
05/14/2026
IRCC May Processing-Time Update: Express Entry and PNP Wait Times Climb Again, While AIP and Citizenship Renunciation Ease
On May 12, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its updated official processing times for permanent residence and citizenship applications, revealing a split picture in which most economic and citizenship streams lengthened while several family sponsorship and Atlantic categories eased. Under Express Entry, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) climbed from six to seven months and the base Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stretched from 13 to 14 months, with the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) inventory rising by 6,300 in a single month and the base PNP backlog growing by 2,100 — a continuation of the trend that has added more than 20,000 cases to the CEC queue since February 2026. At the same time, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) eased from 40 to 38 months, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) shortened by one month for both inside-Quebec and outside-Quebec applicants, and citizenship renunciation dropped sharply by three months to seven; however, citizenship grants reversed several months of acceleration, climbing from 12 to 13 months as the inventory grew by 7,900 to 321,100 applications, while Quebec's Business Class, the Start-Up Visa and the federal Self-Employed Persons Program all remained stuck at "more than 10 years" or 78 months.
05/13/2026
Canada Issues 380 ITAs to Provincial Nominees in First Express Entry Draw of May, CRS Cut-Off Climbs to 798
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its 27th Express Entry draw of 2026 — and the first of May — on May 11, issuing 380 invitations to apply (ITAs) to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 798, while requiring eligible profiles to have been created before 5:23 a.m. UTC on January 7, 2026. The round is the tenth PNP-specific draw of the year, and compared with the April 27 PNP draw of 473 ITAs at a 795 cut-off, this round saw the invitation pool shrink by roughly 20% and the score threshold rise for a second consecutive round. Against the broader backdrop of the Carney government's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan — which raised the federal PNP allocation from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026, the largest single-year PNP increase in Canadian history — provincial nominee rounds have nevertheless retained a "high cut-off, small batch, steady cadence" profile. So far in 2026, IRCC has issued a total of 72,007 ITAs across all categories, with Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and French-language candidates continuing to dominate this year's invitations.
05/12/2026
BC PNP Holds First Draws Under "Look West" Overhaul: 341 Invitations Issued in Back-to-Back Rounds, Construction Trades Lead the Way
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued at least 341 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across two back-to-back draws on May 5 and 6, 2026, covering both its Skills Immigration (SI) and Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) categories, with the vast majority going to SI candidates. These were the first official selections held since British Columbia unveiled its "Look West" strategy on April 23, restructuring the entire BC PNP around three pillars — Care, Build and Innovate — while permanently closing the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream, ending technology-specific draws, and scrapping a planned dedicated pathway for international graduates. ITAs in this round were concentrated in four target areas — health, education, veterinary care and construction trades — with construction trades accounting for 121 ITAs, or 36.3 per cent of the total, in what is widely seen as the first clear signal that British Columbia's new immigration direction has now moved from policy announcement to live implementation.
05/11/2026
