Canada's Express Entry Shifts to High-Wage Jobs, but Descent Claims Stand

Canada has announced changes to Express Entry, the online system it uses to select skilled workers for permanent residence, taking effect on 3 November 2026. For Americans with Canadian ancestry, however, the route to citizenship runs through a different law that already took effect.

Key facts

• Express Entry changes start 3 November 2026, announced 16 October 2026
• Bill C-3 amended Canada's Citizenship Act on 15 December 2025, removing the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent
• Proof of citizenship applications now take an estimated 34 months to process
• IRCC counted 130,700 people waiting for a decision in October 2026

What is changing with Express Entry?

From 3 November 2026, a new Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scoring criterion called the Labour Market Integration Factor will reward candidates tied to high-wage occupations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) defines these as jobs whose median wage is at least 1.3 times the national median.

Candidates can earn up to 100 points for a high-wage job offer, or up to 70 points for at least a year of high-wage Canadian work experience, whichever is higher. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab unveiled the changes on 16 October 2026, saying they would "better align with Canada's economic and labour market needs."

How does naturalisation work?

Express Entry is the first stage for most skilled foreign nationals seeking permanent residence. A permanent resident then needs 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada within five years before applying for citizenship, followed by language and knowledge requirements, a citizenship test and an oath ceremony.

Who can claim citizenship by descent?

Bill C-3 took effect on 15 December 2025 and removed the first-generation limit, a 2009 rule that ended citizenship by descent after one generation born outside Canada. Anyone born before 15 December 2025 with an unbroken line to a Canadian ancestor is likely a Canadian citizen today, regardless of how many generations separate them from that ancestor.

These Americans do not apply to become citizens; they apply for proof of Canadian citizenship, which grants a certificate confirming status they already hold. The process can be completed without moving to or living in Canada, and both Canada and the United States allow dual citizenship.

How long are proof applications taking?

Americans have led applications since Bill C-3 took effect: in January 2026 alone, applications from US citizens exceeded those from the next nine countries combined. IRCC counted 70,400 people waiting for a decision in May 2026, rising to 130,700 by October.

A new application now takes an estimated 34 months to process, compared with an estimate of five months in May 2025, before the law changed. Canadian archives holding the records used to prove ancestry have reported years' worth of requests arriving within a few months.

What this means for travellers

Americans with a Canadian grandparent or great-grandparent are unaffected by the 3 November Express Entry changes and can pursue proof of citizenship instead of immigration. Those planning to apply should be aware of the current 34-month processing estimate and the demand for ancestry records.

The next milestone is 3 November 2026, when the new Express Entry scoring takes effect.