In some cases, foreign nationals seeking permanent residency through Canada’s Express Entry can get double the CRS points for work experience. They can gain foreign and in-Canada work experience simultaneously, increasing their chances of gaining PR. 

Pursuing this method can allow some applicants to increase their Comprehensive Ranking System score by more than 60 points within a single year – an increase that can significantly improve an applicant’s chance of obtaining an Invitation to Apply (ITA). 

How Can One Gain Canadian And Foreign Work Experience At The Same Time? 

In order to get double the CRS points for work experience, one can gain Canadian as well as foreign work experience at the same time. 

Applicants working two jobs in Canada might claim Canadian and foreign work experience only if they meet the conditions for both jobs to be recognized under Express Entry. 

This scenario is facilitated by remote work experience for a foreign employer while applicants are in Canada and simultaneously gaining eligible Canadian work experience. Remote work in this scenario can count as foreign work experience at the same time, applicants should ensure that: 

  • Their work experience meets the eligibility requirements of Canadian work experience under 
  • Their Canadian work experience meets the general requirements of Canadian work experience under Express Entry 
  • Their foreign work experience meets the general requirements for foreign work experience under Express Entry 

Work Experience Requirements Under Express Entry Streams 

Every program within the Express Entry system has different requirements for work experience. 

Canadian Work Experience 

In order to be eligible for Canadian Work Experience (CEC), your work experience should meet the following requirements: 

  • Be in one or more of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER) level: 0, 1, 2, or 3.
  • Be gained by working in Canada as a full-time worker under a work permit. 
  • Be paid (wages or commissions).
  • Include a minimum of one year of Canadian work experience within the three years preceding the date you submit your Express Entry profile. 

Work experience gained while on a study permit and/ or during co-op work terms is not eligible for CEC. 

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 

To qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), your work experience must meet the following requirements:

  • Be in the same NOC and fall under one of the following occupational categories:
    • Major Groups 72 (excluding Sub-Major Group 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, or 93 (excluding Sub-Major Group 932)
    • Unit Group 62200
    • Minor Group 6320
  • Be paid (wages or commission)
  • Have been obtained with proper work authorization
  • Include at least two years of full-time Canadian work experience (or 3,120 hours total) in a skilled trade within the five years before applying.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

In order to be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), your work experience should meet the following requirements:

  • Be in one of the following NOC TEER levels: 0, 1, 2, or 3
  • Be in the same NOC as the job you are using as your primary occupation for your immigration application (this does not need to be your most recent job)
  • Be paid (wages or commission)
  • Consist of at least one year of continuous full-time work (or 1,560 hours total as the part-time equivalent)
  • Have been obtained within the past 10 years in Canada or abroad

For FSWP, work experience gained while a full-time student can count toward the minimum requirements but will not score any CRS points. 

The NOC is Canada’s official system for organizing and describing all jobs in the Canadian labor market. It groups jobs based on the type of work performed and the level of training, education, experience, and responsibilities required. 

As part of the NOC system, professions are further categorized using the TEER system. This system reflects the skill level of an occupation: 

  • TEER 0 represents management-level jobs and is the highest skill level. 
  • TEER 1 to TEER 5 covers a range of professions, with TEER 1 including jobs that generally need a university degree and TEER 5 including professions with minimal training requirements. 

The TEER level of your profession is significant when determining eligibility for immigration programs like Express Entry. 

How Is Work Experience Counted Under Express Entry? 

In order to get double the CRS points for work experience, one needs to know how work experience is counted under Express Entry. 

When claiming both foreign and Canadian work experience at the same time, applicants might find utility in understanding how work experience under the Express Entry pool is counted. 

Due to the definitions of work experience used by IRCC, applicants may accrue fewer Express Entry-eligible work hours than they worked. 

Full-time work for one year is defined as 30 hours per week of work for 12 months. This is the equivalent of 1,560 hours of work in a year. 

Applicants can use part-time work to meet work requirements for some streams, even if the time frame of their work experience is longer than the actual claimed work experience under Express Entry. For example, working 15 hours per week for 24 months also adds up to 1,560 hours. 

Applicants should note that working more than 30 hours a week will not add up to their work experience. For instance, if an applicant worked 40 hours a week for one year, they will still only accrue the equivalent of 30 hours a week. 

When claiming foreign and Canadian work experience at the same time, applicants will only be able to accrue a maximum of 30 hours per week for each job within a year. This can potentially yield up to two years of work experience in a single year. An applicant can claim this maximum work experience for a single year. 

Once an applicant has confirmed that their work experience meets the basic eligibility requirements, they must then ensure that their foreign work experience and Canadian work experience meet their respective definitions under Express Entry. 

How Does Express Entry Define Canadian Work Experience? 

Under Express Entry, Canadian work experience must be: 

  • Work experience gained while physically present in Canada and authorized to work under temporary status
  • Work performed for a Canadian employer 
  • Be paid work 

If applicants wish to claim remote Canadian work experience, they should ensure that they were physically present in Canada while working remotely for the Canadian employer. 

Work experience completed remotely from outside Canada for a Canadian employer does not count as work experience under Express Entry. 

How does Express Entry Define Foreign Work Experience? 

Foreign work experience under Express Entry is more loosely defined. This work experience must be: 

  • Completed under proper work authorization in the country where the employer resides 
  • Paid
  • Completed outside Canada 

The Express Entry system does not presently capture remote work. However, IRCC has indicated that remotely working from within Canada for a foreign employer can count as foreign work experience. 

When claiming foreign work experience, attach documentation, including the employment agreement and remote work arrangement.    

CWRVisa, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at CWRVisa.ca.