Immigration specialists say overseas employment can significantly raise a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, often determining whether they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or fall short.

That is because foreign work experience is increasingly seen as a decisive factor for applicants hoping to secure permanent residence in Canada through the Express Entry system.

Based on reports from CIC news, under Express Entry, foreign work experience is the only route aside from obtaining a trade qualification certificate to maximise points in the ‘skills transferability’ category. Successful applicants can add up to 50 points to their CRS score, a potentially game‑changing boost in a competitive process.

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Canadian vs Foreign experience

Work experience is classified as either Canadian or foreign, depending on where and for whom the work was carried out. Canadian experience requires employment within Canada’s labour market for a Canadian employer. Foreign experience covers most other scenarios, including working abroad for a Canadian company or working in Canada for a foreign employer.

For example, employment in Canada for a Canadian firm is recognised as Canadian experience. Working abroad for the same company is also considered Canadian. However, overseas employment with a foreign company, remote work in Canada for a foreign client, or remote work abroad for a Canadian company all fall under foreign experience.

Impact on CRS scores

Foreign work experience can be particularly influential. Without it, candidates are limited to just 50 points in the skills transferability section. When combined with strong language proficiency and/or Canadian work experience, foreign experience can yield up to 50 CRS points. One to two years of foreign work experience can add between 13 and 25 points depending on language ability or Canadian experience, while three or more years can add up to 50 points.

Canadian work experience, meanwhile, is rewarded under both core human capital and skills transferability. Applicants applying alone can earn up to 80 points, while those applying with a partner can secure up to 70. Canadian experience also interacts with education and foreign work experience to generate additional points, though it maxes out after two years in the transferability section.

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Here’s a scenario described by ‍‍Cédric Marin, a Canadian based immigration lawyer at Marin Immigration law firm:

A 25‑year‑old software engineer living outside Canada presents a strong immigration profile. He holds a bachelor’s degree, has accumulated three years of foreign work experience in the technology sector, and demonstrates excellent English proficiency at the level of Canadian Language Benchmark 9. Despite these strengths, he has no French skills and has never studied or worked in Canada, which limits his competitiveness under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Although his age and education provide maximum points, the absence of Canadian experience or French language ability means his CRS score is likely to sit in the high 400s. This is impressive but may fall just short of recent cut‑offs. For instance, the category‑based draw for STEM occupations in July 2023 invited candidates with a minimum score of 486, while general draws later in the year often required scores above 500. As a result, this young professional may need a modest boost to secure an Invitation to Apply.

There are several ways he could strengthen his profile. Improving language scores is one of the most effective strategies. Even for fluent English speakers, moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9 or 10 can add a significant number of points, both in the core human capital section and through skill transferability with foreign work experience. If he were to learn French and achieve NCLC 7, he could gain an additional 25 to 50 points, which might prove decisive. Another powerful option is pursuing a provincial nomination.

Provinces actively target skilled professionals through tailored streams, and a nomination would add 600 points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA. While this requires some initial steps, such as submitting an expression of interest or meeting provincial requirements, it remains one of the most direct routes to success.

Overall, gaining Canadian work experience, even for a short period through employment, training, or research, would enhance his CRS score and open eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class. Combining Canadian and foreign experience also yields valuable skill transferability points.

With these strategies, particularly a combination of stronger language results and a provincial nomination or job offer, the candidate could comfortably surpass current draw thresholds. Given his solid starting position, only a few targeted improvements would be needed to transform him from a borderline applicant into a highly competitive candidate for the next round of invitations.

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Points and Eligibility

Canadian work experience is rewarded more heavily overall, contributing up to 180 CRS points, including 100 under skills transferability. Foreign work experience is capped at 50 points and only counts under skills transferability.

There are further distinctions. Canadian work experience gained while studying full‑time does not count, whereas foreign work experience acquired during full‑time study may be recognised if it meets other criteria. Self‑employment in Canada is generally excluded, except for certain physicians, while foreign self‑employment can be counted.

Canadian work experience is also essential for qualifying under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), while foreign work experience cannot be used for this purpose. Both categories, however, can help candidates qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programmes.