The short version
- Canadian work experience points are now part of a new labour market integration factor.
- 12+ months in a high-wage occupation adds 70, 40 or 20 points on top of your years of experience.
- Job offers in high-wage occupations are worth 100, 70 or 50 points, and no longer need an LMIA.
- You get your Canadian experience points or your job offer points, whichever is higher, capped at 150 (140 with a spouse).
High-wage Canadian experience
Years of Canadian work still earn the same points as before: 40 for one year up to 80 for five or more (35 to 70 with a spouse). The new part is a bonus for at least 12 months in an occupation on IRCC's high-wage list: 70 points if it pays at least twice the median wage, 40 at 1.5×, and 20 at 1.3×. Only the highest tier you qualify for counts.
Job offers without an LMIA
A valid job offer in a listed high-wage occupation is worth 100 points at 2× the median wage, 70 at 1.5× and 50 at 1.3×. Offers must meet IRCC's conditions for the occupation. Offers outside the high-wage list earn no points.
Worked examples (single applicant)
| Profile | Option used | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years in Canada + 12 months at 2× median | Experience: 64 + 70 | 134 |
| 5+ years in Canada + 12 months at 2× median | Experience: 80 + 70 | 150 (cap) |
| 1 year in Canada + 2× job offer | Job offer beats 40 | 100 |
| 3 years in Canada, no bonus + 1.5× job offer | Job offer beats 64 | 70 |
Who gains the most
Temporary workers already in Canada in well-paid occupations gain the most: up to 70 extra points without changing anything else. Candidates abroad with a qualifying high-wage offer can gain up to 100 points, which was impossible after job offer points were removed in 2025.