Express Entry Overhaul Consultation Has Now Closed — IRCC Enters Regulatory Drafting Phase

The most consequential public consultation in Express Entry’s eleven-year history closed yesterday, May 24. The consultation, which opened on April 23, focused on proposed reforms to Express Entry’s Federal High Skilled programs and the Comprehensive Ranking System used to rank candidates for permanent residence. IRCC gathered feedback via an online survey from organizations and individuals, including employers. IRCC officials confirmed that more than 4,000 submissions were received during the consultation window, with many calling for extra points for rural job offers and 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. Canadian HR ReporterVisaHQ

IRCC floated a “high-wage occupation” bonus that would reinstate points for job offers, but only where median wages exceed the national median — an effort to curb fraud while courting top talent. Stakeholder reaction is mixed, with big-tech employers favouring the wage-based approach as it aligns with their compensation structures, whereas universities warned that PhD candidates earning below market medians could lose competitiveness despite strong long-term earnings potential. IRCC indicates that regulatory drafting could begin as early as Q3 2026, with mobility teams advised to anticipate IT-system changes and updated forms if the three-program merger proceeds. VisaHQVisaHQ

Why it matters: The consultation window is now closed and Ottawa moves into drafting mode. This is the transition from public input to regulatory action — the next major milestone will be publication of draft regulations in the Canada Gazette, likely later this year. For the roughly 300,000 candidates currently in the Express Entry pool, and for the hundreds of thousands who apply annually, the rules of the game are about to change materially. The newsroom should plan explainer content on what the reforms mean in plain language.