Canada Is Replacing Express Entry: What Every Employer and Skilled Worker Needs to Know

Canada's Express Entry system — the country's flagship permanent residence pathway for skilled workers since 2015 — is being fundamentally restructured. On April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada quietly published one of the most significant regulatory proposals in the history of Canadian economic immigration in its Forward Regulatory Plan 2026–2028. The announcement gained widespread attention after it was reported on April 8, 2026.

If you are a skilled worker with an active Express Entry profile, or an employer in Canada who recruits internationally or supports employees through Express Entry — this directly affects your plans.

Here is what we know, what it means, and what you should do right now.

What Is Actually Being Proposed?

Amendments are being proposed to the Regulations to introduce a new federal high-skilled immigration class with streamlined eligibility requirements, and repeal the existing Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class. 

In plain terms: the three programs that have formed the backbone of Express Entry for the past decade — the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — would all be formally eliminated and replaced with a single new program called the Federal High-Skilled Class.

This is not a minor adjustment. The word "repeal" carries enormous weight in Canadian immigration law. It means these three programs would not simply be modified or paused — they would be completely eliminated from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and replaced with an entirely new framework. 

Where Did This Come From?

The proposal was first published on April 1, 2026, in IRCC's Forward Regulatory Plan 2026–2028 — a document that outlines regulatory changes the federal government expects to propose or finalize over the next two years. IRCC first signalled the changes in its forward regulatory plan on April 1, 2026, and consultations with stakeholders and the public are planned for Spring 2026. No timeline for implementation has been announced.

It is important to understand that this is still a proposal — not a law. However, IRCC has followed through on other initiatives listed in its forward regulatory plan. The plan's proposal to update outdated fee regulations has already resulted in permanent residence fee increases taking effect on April 30, 2026, and citizenship fee increases that took effect on March 31, 2026. The department has a strong track record of acting on what it signals in this plan.

What Would the New Federal High-Skilled Class Look Like?

IRCC has not yet published detailed eligibility criteria for the new class. However, based on what has been shared with immigration lawyers during consultations, the direction is becoming clearer.

According to the Forward Regulatory Plan 2026–2028, the new pathway would keep the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but streamline eligibility by requiring just one year of skilled work experience — whether gained in Canada or abroad — and language proficiency of at least CLB 7. 

Key proposed changes to how candidates would be ranked and selected include:

A new High Wage Occupation factor This is the most significant addition. Candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in occupations earning above the national median wage would receive extra CRS points. IRCC proposes three tiers based on how much an occupation earns above the median. 

Job offer points returning — but only for high-wage roles Job offer points were removed from the CRS in March 2025. They would return — but only for candidates in high-wage occupations.This is a significant change for employers whose job offers no longer carry the weight they once did.

Elimination of the 67-point FSW grid The Federal Skilled Worker Program's selection grid — which assessed candidates on factors like age, education, adaptability, and arranged employment — would be eliminated entirely under the new unified model.

Enhanced recognition for trade qualifications Skills transferability would see enhanced recognition for trade qualifications. Holders of a Certificate of Qualification in a Red Seal-designated trade would get better recognition under the new system.This is particularly relevant for trades employers across Northern Ontario.

Category-based draws continuing IRCC says category-based selection would continue, maintaining flexibility for French-language draws and draws targeting occupational shortages. 

Is the Current Express Entry System Still Running?

Yes — fully. For the time being, the FSWP, CEC, and FSTC remain fully operational. In fact, IRCC issued 117,998 Invitations to Apply through these programs in 2025.

Current Express Entry candidates will continue to receive Invitations to Apply under existing rules until the new stream opens. Those with pending applications for PR will be grandfathered. 

Do not abandon an active Express Entry profile. The current system continues to operate normally while consultations proceed.

What Does This Mean for Employers in Northern Ontario?

If you are an employer who recruits internationally or supports employees through Express Entry, there are several important implications.

Job offer points are coming back — but with conditions

Under the current system, job offer points were removed from the CRS in March 2025. Under the proposed new class, they would return — but only for high-wage occupations. If you are offering positions in high-wage sectors, a supported job offer may once again become a meaningful competitive advantage for your candidates. If your positions fall below the median wage threshold, a job offer may carry less weight than it did under the original Express Entry system.

Encourage your candidates to enter the pool now

For businesses, the message is clear: advise foreign talent to enter the pool promptly, because CRS cut-offs could rise as applicants rush to secure invitations before the transition. Candidates who have been delaying building their Express Entry profile should be encouraged to act now — under the current, known rules — rather than waiting for a new system whose criteria have not yet been finalized.

LMIA-supported job offers may be re-evaluated

HR teams should track how job-offer validation rules evolve, as the new class is expected to give additional points for offers supported by robust labour-market data rather than simply by an LMIA.  The way job offers are validated under the new system may look different from the current LMIA-based model. Employers should stay closely informed.

Budget for higher government fees

Mobility programs should budget for higher government fees — the regulatory plan foreshadows a cost-recovery increase when the new class launches. Permanent residence fees are already increasing on April 30, 2026. Further increases are expected when the new class is formally launched.

Trades employers have a specific opportunity

The enhanced recognition of Red Seal trade qualifications under the new system is a meaningful development for Northern Ontario trades employers. If you employ skilled tradespeople on temporary permits who hold Red Seal certification or are working toward it, their competitiveness under the new system may increase significantly.

What Does This Mean for Skilled Workers Currently in the Pool?

Do not panic and do not withdraw your profile.

The current system is operating normally. Consultants expect the first invitations under the new class to be issued as early as Q4 2027, subject to parliamentary approval of regulatory amendments. That means you have time — but the time to strengthen your profile is now, not later.

Key actions for workers currently in the Express Entry pool:

• Continue building your CRS score under the existing rules — language, education, and Canadian work experience remain core factors
• If you have a job offer in a high-wage occupation, this may become significantly more valuable once the new system launches
• If you are in a skilled trade and hold or are working toward a Red Seal certificate, document this carefully — it is expected to carry enhanced weight
• Monitor IRCC's public consultation webpage closely — consultations are expected to open any time in Spring 2026



Timeline: What to Expect