In one of the biggest tweaks to its flagship economic-immigration system since 2015, Ottawa has removed the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for most qualifying job offers under Express Entry. Announcing the change on 16 October 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the revision will take effect on 3 November and will immediately add 50–200 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for hundreds of Indian candidates who already hold in-Canada, LMIA-exempt work permits. Until now, employers had to secure an LMIA—often a costly and month-long process—to prove no Canadian was available for the role before a foreign worker’s offer counted for Express Entry points. Under the new rules, any full-time, non-seasonal job at the required National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level will qualify if the employer has been actively operating in Canada for at least one year and is registered on the government’s new Trusted Employer Portal. For Indian professionals, who make up roughly one-third of the Express Entry pool, the change removes the biggest procedural bottleneck to obtaining permanent residence. Indians working in tech hubs such as Toronto, Vancouver and the Kitchener-Waterloo corridor on intra-company transfer permits or Canada-India Mobility Arrangement (CIMA) open work permits will suddenly find themselves above the current invitation cut-offs once the additional points are applied. Consultants say the window of opportunity is narrow. IRCC will run a “transition draw” on 15 November to invite existing candidates who gain points under the new rule; after that, scores are expected to stabilise at higher levels. Employers are being advised to upload offer letters and compliance fees to the portal immediately, while Indian candidates should update their profiles and ensure medicals and police certificates are ready. Beyond individual applicants, the reform signals Canada’s intent to keep talent flows from India strong even as it tightens student visa issuance. Corporates with large India-Canada mobility programmes—including IT services majors, start-ups and global banks—should reassess their assignment strategies, as permanent residence pathways will now open earlier in an employee’s posting, reducing compliance risk and improving retention.
