Gaining Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry can be highly competitive. But did you know there’s a strategy that can help you significantly increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score—by more than 60 points in just one year? With the right approach, you can claim both Canadian and foreign work experience at the same time. At The Immigration Professional, we help clients navigate such strategic immigration pathways to maximize their chances.
If you’re a foreign national living in Canada, this method might be your game-changer.
Real-Life Case: Charan’s Work Experience Strategy
Let’s look at an example.
Charan Reddy, a 28-year-old Indian national, graduated from a Canadian university and currently holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). He’s employed full-time as a full-stack developer at a Canadian software company. Sanjay’s job falls under TEER 1 of Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.
Initially, he had just one year of Canadian work experience and no international experience. His CRS score was 470.
But then he landed another full-time, paid remote job with a tech company based in India. While continuing his Canadian job during the day, he worked remotely for the Indian employer at night. After a year, Sanjay now had:
- 2 years of Canadian work experience
- 1 year of valid foreign work experience
This double work experience boosted his CRS score to 533—making him highly competitive for Express Entry draws. The gain came from the Skills Transferability section of the CRS system, which awards more points for candidates with both types of experience.
Want to know if this could work for you? Book Your Canadian Immigration Consultation now.
What is CRS and Why Does Work Experience Matter?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system used to rank Express Entry candidates. Points are awarded based on age, education, work experience, language ability, and other factors.
Work experience plays a key role. More importantly, combining Canadian and foreign work experience strategically can unlock bonus points under the Skills Transferability Factors.
How to Qualify for Canadian and Foreign Work Experience Simultaneously
You can claim both Canadian work experience and foreign work experience at the same time if:
- Your jobs meet the NOC and TEER requirements.
- You’re working full-time (at least 30 hours per week) in both jobs.
- You meet the legal requirements for work authorization in both countries.
Remote Work Counts!
You don’t have to leave Canada to gain foreign experience. If you work remotely from Canada for a foreign employer, it can be considered foreign work experience under Express Entry—as long as it meets eligibility requirements.
Let The Immigration Professional evaluate your job roles to make sure they qualify.
Eligibility Requirements for Work Experience
Here’s what counts as valid work experience under various Express Entry streams:
| Stream | Key Requirements |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | – Work must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 |
- Gained while in Canada on valid status
- Paid work (not internships or co-ops)
- Minimum 1 year full-time within the last 3 years | | Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP) | – Work in eligible trades (NOC groups 72, 73, 82, etc.)
- At least 2 years full-time within last 5 years
- Paid and with proper work authorization | | Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | – Minimum 1 year continuous full-time (or part-time equivalent)
- Gained within the last 10 years
- Paid and legal
- Can include work done while a full-time student |
TEER Levels in the NOC System
Canada classifies occupations using the TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility) system:
| TEER Level | Description |
| 0 | Management roles |
| 1 | Jobs requiring university degrees |
| 2 | Technical roles or college diploma requirements |
| 3 | Apprenticeship training required |
| 4 | High school diploma or job-specific training |
| 5 | On-the-job training, minimal requirements |
Make sure your job is classified under the right TEER level for the immigration stream you’re applying to.
Calculating Work Experience Under Express Entry
- Full-time work is considered 30 hours/week, or 1,560 hours/year.
- Part-time can be accumulated over a longer period to match 1,560 hours.
- Working over 30 hours/week doesn’t give you extra points.
If you work two full-time jobs (Canadian + foreign), Express Entry allows you to count up to one year of Canadian work experience and one year of foreign work experience for the same 12-month period. But you can’t exceed 30 hours/week per job.
Defining Canadian Work Experience
To be considered Canadian work experience, your job must:
- Be done while physically present in Canada
- Be with a Canadian employer
- Be paid and legally authorized under a valid work permit
Remote work for a Canadian company counts if you’re doing the work from within Canada.
What is Foreign Work Experience?
Foreign work experience must:
- Be done outside Canada
- Be paid and legally authorized (including local licenses if required)
- Include proper documentation (contract, job duties, proof of remote work, etc.)
Even if you’re physically in Canada, remote work for a foreign company can count as foreign experience.
How The Immigration Professional Can Help
At The Immigration Professional, we’ve helped thousands of clients make the most of their immigration profiles. We understand how to leverage both Canadian and foreign work experience to boost CRS scores.
If you’re looking to:
- Get permanent residency faster
- Improve your Express Entry profile
- Learn if your remote job can count as foreign work
Then it’s time to Book Your Canadian Immigration Consultation.
Let our experts help you unlock your full potential on your journey to Canada.
