Express Entry Overhaul Consultation Closes in Three Days — Biggest Structural Change Since 2015

The most significant public consultation in the history of Canada’s Express Entry system closes this Saturday, May 24. IRCC is proposing to replace the three existing Express Entry programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program — with a single unified pathway, overhaul the Comprehensive Ranking System scoring model, and introduce a new high-wage occupation factor that would fundamentally change how candidates are ranked. IRCC has opened public consultations for the proposed Express Entry reforms on April 23, 2026, and the survey is open to anyone — including people living outside Canada — with no prior knowledge of Express Entry required. Immigration News CanadaMoving2Canada

IRCC officials have confirmed that more than 4,000 submissions have already been received, with many calling for extra points for rural job offers and for recognition of provincial labour-market shortages. Ontario and British Columbia separately urged Ottawa to avoid “one-size-fits-all” wage thresholds that could disadvantage lower-salary yet high-demand sectors such as tourism and elder-care. Big-tech employers favour the wage-based approach as it aligns with their compensation structures, whereas universities warn that PhD candidates earning below market medians could lose competitiveness despite strong long-term earnings potential. VisaHQVisaHQ

Why it matters: Express Entry is the primary gateway through which Canada selects most of its skilled economic immigrants. Any changes to its architecture will determine who gets in, from where, and at what pace. The consultation closes Saturday; regulatory drafting is expected to begin as early as Q3 2026, with implementation likely in 2027.