Canada is set to introduce sweeping changes to its overhaul of its skilled migration system that will include prioritising higher paid jobs and job offers when it comes to deciding who gets granted permanent residency.

Among the proposed changes to Canada’s migrant ‘points system’ are also an increased weighting for immigrants with Canadian work experience or job offers in above-average wage jobs.

One of the stated aims of the changes, which will also affect foreign students in Canda, is to improve the economic integration of newcomers, according to Canada’s immigration agency ‘Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’ (IRCC).

The new “high wage” occupation factor in Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) would award additional points to applicants in jobs earning “one point three times, one point five times, and two times” the annual median wage, according to local reports.

Under the changes, “high wage” is not based on an individual’s salary, but on the typical earnings of the occupation itself.

This means all workers in the same job category are treated equally, regardless of personal pay differences caused by factors like location or gender.

Canadian immigration officials say this helps ensure fairness and avoids inconsistencies in assessment.

The changes will see three wage-based tiers. The first at two times the national median wage, the second at one and a half times the national median wage, and the third art one point three times the national median wage, according to the IRCC.

Overall, the goal is to prioritise skilled workers in higher-paying, in-demand occupations for permanent residency selection.

IRCC says it is focusing on high-wage occupations because its data suggests that pre-landing income and job type strongly influence immigrants’ economic success in Canada.

According to information released by the IRCC, candidates who had higher earnings before arriving in Canada were more likely to find employment quickly and continue earning higher wages after landing.

In other words, stronger labour market attachment before immigration tends to translate into better outcomes in Canada.

IRCC also highlighted a specific example: immigrants who arrived with a job offer in a senior management role earned about three times more per week than those who arrived without any job offer.

It says this shows how pre-arranged, higher-paying employment can significantly improve economic integration.

Canada remains one of the most popular destinations for Indian students. According to government data, more than 427,085 Indian students were studying in Canada in 2025.

As a result, CRS scores have become more competitive.

Many Indian applicants are adapting by working on stronger language test results, accumulating more work experience, and making sure their documents fully meet immigration requirements, IRCC says.