Foreign nationals holding an International Experience Canada (IEC) employer-specific work permit will no longer receive Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment if their work permit was issued after December 18, 2024.
This change, which stems from updates to the authority under which IEC work permits are issued, specifically impacts those in the IEC’s Young Professionals work permit category. Previously, this category was the only one under the IEC where candidates could earn additional CRS points (50 or 200) for having a valid job offer.
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IEC work permit holders whose permits were issued before December 18, 2024, will still receive points for arranged employment, provided they meet all other requirements for a valid job offer.
This adjustment comes ahead of the broader planned removal of all CRS points for valid job offers, set to take effect in the spring of 2025.
This article will cover:
- The implications for IEC work permit holders in the Express Entry pool
- The reasons behind this change to work permit points
Implications for IEC Work Permit Holders in the Express Entry Pool
Express Entry candidates can currently receive CRS points for new confirmed job offers if the offer meets eligibility requirements. These candidates can earn:
- 200 CRS points for job offers in managerial positions (National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER 0 level, major group 00)
- 50 CRS points for job offers under other NOCs
The NOC system categorizes and describes occupations in Canada, while the TEER system assigns levels to occupations based on the training, education, and experience required for the role.
The government announced that the removal of all CRS points for arranged employment will take effect in spring 2025. However, IEC work permit holders will face an accelerated timeline for the removal of points linked to their arranged employment.
This means some IEC work permit holders who currently claim arranged employment points through a Young Professionals work permit will lose either 50 or 200 CRS points, which could significantly affect their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
IEC work permit holders who received their work permit after December 18, 2024, will lose these points sooner than other candidates who can continue claiming points for valid job offers until spring 2025. This earlier removal could further reduce their chances of receiving an ITA, as they will no longer benefit from the additional CRS points that other candidates can still claim.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently updating its systems and online resources to reflect the removal of these points.
Why Did This Change Occur?
The reasoning behind this shift in arranged employment points for IEC Young Professionals category holders, which comes before the broader spring 2025 changes, remains unclear. However, the immigration department announced in December 2024 that the move was aimed at reducing the potential for LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) fraud.
IRCC later confirmed that the broader removal of CRS points for arranged employment is scheduled for spring 2025. This change will affect candidates in the Express Entry pool but will not impact those who have already submitted permanent residence applications or those who received an ITA based on previous CRS scores that included points for arranged employment.
