It’s Not Just About Canadian Experience: Why Foreign Work Still Matters in Express Entry

That’s a staggering figure, and while these are 2024 numbers, not necessarily a perfect reflection of 2025 trends, it raises an important question: 

For in-Canada applicants who came to Canada young, studied here, and are now working domestically with no foreign experience, should they be looking to build some? Let’s explore this in more detail.

Why It Matters 

Foreign work experience has always been somewhat understated in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). On its own, it doesn’t earn you points directly, but when combined with strong language scores or Canadian work experience, it can unlock valuable skill transferability points that often make the difference between getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or not. 

The 2024 Express Entry data shows just how pivotal this balance has become. With 99% of successful candidates holding at least one year of foreign work experience, it’s clear that international experience now plays a bigger role than many realized. 

That said, these are 2024 figures, they don’t necessarily reflect how the system will behave in 2025. Still, they highlight an important trend: applicants who built their entire professional profiles in Canada, especially former international students, may be at a growing disadvantage compared to those with overseas experience.  

That doesn’t mean it’s too late to adapt. There are ways to build up this experience, though some are more straightforward than others, and a few come with more risk. 

How Could You Gain Foreign Experience? 

If you’re already living and working in Canada, getting recognized foreign experience might sound complicated, but it’s not impossible. There are several paths to consider, depending on your situation, risk tolerance, and long-term goals. 

1. Concurrent Employment – Working in Canada and Abroad- MOST RISKY

Some applicants have explored holding two roles at once, one in Canada and another with a foreign employer, each at least 30 hours per week to get that full time. While this isn’t explicitly prohibited under current IRCC rules, the department has indicated that it didn’t originally anticipate this scenario and is actively reviewing it. 

That means it may work right now, but it could easily change in the coming months. And for that, we think this is the riskiest option available to you, and not something we would encourage. If you’re thinking about pursuing this approach, it’s best to seek professional advice before committing. 

2. Working Remotely for a Foreign Company from Within Canada- Somewhat risky depending on the set up of employment and whether the company has any presence in Canada.

Another option is to work remotely for a foreign company while staying physically in Canada (with valid legal status of course). Depending on how your employment is structured, this experience might qualify as foreign work, though the interpretation can get tricky. 

So, it’s wise to clarify everything with both your employer and a licensed immigration professional before moving forward with this. 

3. Working Abroad for a Canadian Employer

In documents shared by RCIC Burcu Akyol, IRCC confirmed that work performed abroad for a Canadian employer doesn’t count as Canadian experience, but it can count as foreign experience if it meets the correct criteria. 

If you’re worried about your CRS score plateauing, you could explore whether your Canadian employer would allow you to work remotely from abroad for a year. It’s a creative strategy that could help you build qualifying experience without giving up your current Canadian role, just make sure the arrangement is carefully planned and documented.  

Of course, this means that you will no longer be physically in Canada so you would not be able to benefit from any federal or provincial initiative that targets in- Canada applicants.  

4. Leaving Canada to Gain Experience Abroad

You could also choose to work overseas for a non-Canadian employer. This is a bigger move and comes with trade-offs, therefore we would opt for #3 Working Abroad for a Canadian Employer, but it can be worthwhile if your Canadian employer is not willing to support this, and if it is planned correctly.  

Keep in mind: 

• For Canadian Experience Class (CEC) eligibility, you need one full year of Canadian work experience in the past three years and that three years is a moving target. 

• For CRS scoring, foreign work experience remains valid for up to ten years. 

This means you could potentially spend a year abroad gaining qualifying experience and still maintain your CEC eligibility, though like #3, you might miss out on draws or programs requiring you to be in Canada. 

These insights from 2024 shouldn’t be dismissed. They highlight a meaningful trend, but as immigration policies evolve, the rules, and their interpretations, can shift quickly. 

Before making any big moves: 

• Map out all pros and cons carefully. 

• Consider timing, tax implications, employment logistics and eligibility requirements. 

• Most importantly, speak with a licensed immigration representative to confirm whether your plan aligns with IRCC’s requirements and your long-term goals.