Canada hints high-wage workers may get permanent residence priority sooner through Express Entry

Canada could begin prioritising higher-earning workers for permanent residence sooner than expected under planned changes to the Express Entry system, according to officials at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The overhaul, led by the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship of Canada, is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to fully implement.

However, a senior official said in a webinar on Tuesday, that a new High-Wage Occupation factor could be introduced earlier.

Officials confirmed that candidates in the Express Entry pool will retain their Comprehensive Ranking System scores at the time changes are introduced. They also said age-related points will remain unchanged.

Officials indicated that trade-related points may be tiered, with more points awarded for full licensure compared to apprenticeships.

Certificate of Qualification points are also likely to be limited to Red Seal-designated trades.

Other elements remain under consideration like whether points for studying in Canada will continue, possibly in a reduced form focused on higher education.