No LMIA needed: what IRCC’s new public policy means for Federal Skilled Worker and Trades job offers

Short answer: from November 3, 2026, a job offer used to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program no longer has to be backed by an LMIA. It applies if you were invited to apply on or after November 3, 2026 and the offer passes five tests that an IRCC officer checks when you apply.

The change comes from a temporary public policy the Minister signed on October 15, 2026 under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It sits alongside the new CRS points for job offers, but it does a different job: the CRS points decide your rank in the pool, while this policy decides whether an offer counts towards program eligibility.

What changed

Until now, an FSW or FST job offer generally had to rest on a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada, or fit one of a few narrow exemptions tied to your current employer and work permit. That meant two separate reviews of the same offer, one by ESDC and one by IRCC, and an LMIA had to be in hand before you could even enter the pool on the strength of that offer.

The policy removes the ESDC step. IRCC now assesses the offer on its own, in one review. The offer can come from your current employer or a new one, and it no longer matters what type of work permit you hold.

The five tests the offer must pass

The officer must be satisfied that the offer:

• comes from an employer that is actively engaged in the business the offer relates to;
• is consistent with the employer’s reasonable employment needs;
• has terms the employer is reasonably able to fulfil;
• is in an occupation where you have past work experience or education; and
• comes from an employer with no previous non-compliance with federal or provincial laws on employment or recruitment in the province where you will work.

The fourth test is new and easy to miss. A restaurant manager offered a role as a software developer will struggle, even with a genuine employer. Line up the offer with what your résumé and credentials already show. Our job offer genuineness checker walks through the same questions an officer will ask.

Federal Skilled Worker: up to 15 points on the 67-point grid

FSW applicants must score at least 67 of 100 on the selection grid. Arranged employment is worth 10 points on its own, and it also unlocks 5 adaptability points. Both are covered by the exemption, so a qualifying offer without an LMIA can now add up to 15 points.

That matters most for candidates sitting just under 67, often people with strong education and foreign experience but no Canadian work history. Our Express Entry eligibility checker and CRS calculator shows your FSW grid score line by line.

Federal Skilled Trades: the job offer route without an LMIA

FST applicants need either a certificate of qualification from a Canadian authority or a valid full-time job offer for at least one year, from up to two employers. Where your province does not certify your trade, the job offer is the only route. The policy lifts the LMIA requirement from that route, including the rule that the offer had to come from the employer named on your work permit after a year of work with them.

Eligibility is not the same as CRS points

For FSW and FST eligibility, the offer can be in any TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job that meets program rules. For CRS points, it must be in an occupation on IRCC’s high-wage list, where it earns 50, 70 or 100 points, counted instead of your Canadian work experience points if those are higher. One offer can pass the first test and earn nothing on the second. Our high-wage points explainer covers the scoring side.

What the policy does not change

• Canadian Experience Class: not covered, because CEC eligibility never depended on a job offer.
• An LMIA adds nothing: IRCC says it gives no extra CRS points and no priority.
• All other rules still apply: language, work experience, funds where required, admissibility and medicals.
• A revoked offer no longer counts, so keep the employer informed through to landing.
• It is temporary. The policy stays in force until the Minister revokes it, and it can be revoked at any time.

What to do now

• Already in the pool with a job offer: update your profile. The online form still asks for an LMIA, so follow IRCC’s workaround in our step-by-step guide.
• Canadian diploma and PGWP holders: CEC is usually your route. If you are short of 12 months of skilled Canadian work but have a continuous year of skilled work abroad, FSW with a qualifying offer may now be within reach without an LMIA.
• Employers: a written offer that meets the five tests is now enough for program eligibility. Keep records showing the business is active and compliant. If you still need an LMIA for a work permit, see our employer LMIA service.

If a job offer could decide your eligibility, book a consultation before you update your profile or apply. The five tests are judged on the documents.

Sources: IRCC, Temporary public policy to exempt LMIAs and related requirements for qualifying job offers under Express Entry (signed October 15, 2026, in effect November 3, 2026); 2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers; Federal Skilled Trades Program; Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 82 and s. 83(1)(e). General information only, not legal advice. Individual files vary; obtain advice on your own circumstances.