Yuki Shiraishi, President of Shiraishi Visa JP Canada, participated in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stakeholder webinars held on April 21 and April 28, 2026, regarding the upcoming Express Entry reforms.

This article summarizes the key updates shared during those sessions and outlines how the Express Entry system is expected to evolve from a practical, real-world perspective.

The information presented highlights several important points that will directly impact future immigration strategies, including the pace of reform and the prioritization of different policy changes.

One of the clearest messages from the webinar is that the Express Entry reform will not be introduced as a single, comprehensive change.
IRCC explained that the reform is broadly divided into two components:

• Structural changes to the overall Express Entry system 
• Adjustments to the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) and selection rules 

These two components differ in nature, and therefore differ in implementation timelines.

Reform Component	Expected Implementation Timeline	Required Process and Procedures	Key Characteristics and Impact
System Wide Changes (Framework of FSW, CEC, FST)	Approximately 12 to 18 months	Requires legislative amendments	Considered a medium to long term initiative
CRS Scoring Adjustments	Potential earlier implementation	Can be made through Ministerial Instructions	Relatively fast implementation timelines without legislative amendments

System Wide Changes Timeline 

Reforms affecting the overall framework of Express Entry, including the structure of programs such as FSW, CEC, and FST, will require legislative amendments. As a result, these changes are expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months to implement. In other words, this part of the reform should be considered a medium to long term initiative.

CRS Scoring Accelerated Adjustments 

A key takeaway from the webinar is that changes to the CRS scoring system may be implemented sooner than the broader structural reforms. CRS adjustments can be made through Ministerial Instructions. With no need for legislative amendments, these changes feature relatively fast implementation timelines. This means that changes to the scoring system could be introduced before the full reform package is completed.

One of the most closely watched proposals is the introduction of the “High-Wage Occupation factor.”

The proposed direction includes:

• Evaluation based on occupation-level wage data 
• Assessment based on NOC codes rather than individual salary 
• Tiered additional CRS points based on median wage thresholds 

This mechanism may be introduced earlier than the broader system reform.

This topic was highlighted as one of the key focus areas during the webinar. A more detailed analysis of the High-Wage Occupation factor will be provided in a separate article.

Overall, this indicates a shift away from “education and time spent in Canada” toward “occupation, certification, and labour market value.” 

No Changes to Age Points at This Time

The webinar also confirmed that there are currently no planned changes to age-related CRS points.This provides a level of short-term stability for most applicants.

Potential Changes to Skilled Trades and Education Factors

Other potential directions discussed include:

• Stronger emphasis on certification-based evaluation for skilled trades (e.g., Red Seal certification) 
• Increased importance of Certificates of Qualification in certain occupations 
• Possible reduction in additional points for Canadian post-secondary education 

Overall, this indicates a shift away from “education and time spent in Canada” toward “occupation, certification, and labour market value.”

Potential Elimination of Certain CRS Points

The following CRS point categories may be removed:

• Second official language points 
• Points for having siblings in Canada 
• Spousal factors in CRS scoring 

The general direction suggests that points not directly linked to economic contribution may be phased out.

From an operational standpoint, the following was also confirmed:

• Candidates in the Express Entry pool may have their CRS scores recalculated in the future 
• However, applications submitted after receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply) will be processed under the rules in place at the time of invitation 

This creates a distinction between future candidates and those already invited to apply.

Overall, the webinar suggests that Express Entry reform will not occur all at once, but rather in stages—with some elements potentially being implemented ahead of schedule.

Key takeaways include:

• System-wide reforms will take time to complete 
• CRS scoring changes may come earlier 
• A shift toward occupation-based selection is clearly underway 

This means that long-term immigration strategies based solely on current CRS assumptions may become increasingly uncertain.

Comment from Yuki Shiraishi (Based on Webinar Participation)

Having attended the webinar, my strongest impression is that Express Entry reform is no longer at the conceptual stage—it is now entering the implementation design phase.What stood out in particular was the possibility that CRS scoring adjustments may be introduced ahead of the full structural reform.

For applicants, this means that current CRS-based strategies may not remain stable over the long term.Going forward, it will become increasingly important to consider not only Canadian work experience, but also the type of occupation and wage level at which an applicant is positioned within the labour market.

While the details are not yet finalized, the overall direction is clearly shifting toward a system that places greater emphasis on economic outcomes.

We will continue to closely monitor official updates and provide further practical analysis as more information becomes available.

With Express Entry scoring standards shifting rapidly toward occupations, qualifications, and wage levels, you must decide whether to submit your application under current rules or strategically plan a career change for upcoming factors.

At Shiraishi Visa JP Canada, our government-authorized consultants use direct insights from internal IRCC sessions to establish your optimal permanent residence roadmap.

• Factual Profile Assessment: Determining if your occupation will qualify for the future High-Wage factor.
• Strategic Timing Optimization: Advising whether to enter the pool immediately before current points are eliminated.
• Point Maximization Structuring: Developing verified steps to maximize your CRS scores today based on exact legal frameworks.

Contact us today for a professional consultation and secure your pathway in Canada.