Maple News reports that for prospective immigrants eyeing Canadian permanent residence via the Express Entry system, foreign work experience can play a decisive role in strengthening their application. While Canadian work experience remains highly valuable, it’s important to recognize that properly documented foreign work experience can significantly increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score—particularly through the ‘Skills Transferability’ category.
For many candidates, leveraging foreign work experience is the only viable way to gain up to 50 additional CRS points, aside from obtaining a Canadian credential or a certificate of qualification in a trade. These extra points can often be the tipping point between receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency—or missing out entirely.
Under the Express Entry system, both Canadian and foreign work experience are recognized, but they affect CRS scores differently. Canadian work experience earns points directly under the ‘Core Human Capital’ section, whereas foreign work experience contributes primarily through skill transferability, especially when paired with strong education credentials and language proficiency.
To qualify as Canadian work experience, the employment must take place physically in Canada for a Canadian employer and while being legally authorized to work. For instance, working remotely from outside Canada for a Canadian company doesn’t count as Canadian experience—it will be categorized as foreign work experience.
The following guidelines help clarify what counts:
– Working in Canada for a Canadian employer: Canadian experience
– Working remotely while vacationing outside Canada but employed by a Canadian company: Canadian experience
– Working outside Canada for a non-Canadian company: Foreign experience
– Working inside Canada remotely for a foreign company: Foreign experience
– Working remotely from abroad for a Canadian company: Foreign experience
Foreign work experience can be recognized if it meets certain conditions, including being continuous, full-time (or equivalent in part-time), and falling under an eligible NOC (National Occupation Classification) code. These details must be proven through documentation like reference letters, pay stubs, and contracts.
Combining relevant foreign work experience with other elements like language scores and education credentials can dramatically impact an applicant’s CRS outcome. Therefore, candidates are advised to carefully calculate how their international experience aligns with Canadian immigration criteria and how it can strengthen their overall Express Entry profile.
As Canada continues to prioritize skilled immigrants, foreign work experience—when properly assessed and documented—remains a valuable asset. For many global professionals, it could be the key to opening the door to permanent residency in Canada.