Does Remote Work Count as Canadian Experience for CEC?

A clarification from IRCC outlines the rules for work experience eligibility under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). To qualify, applicants must have one year of paid work experience in Canada under Tier Code categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the past three years. This experience remains valid for CEC even if the individual leaves Canada after completing it.

However, work performed outside Canada, even for a Canadian employer, does not qualify as Canadian work experience. This includes remote work done from abroad, regardless of salary being paid in Canadian dollars or deposited into a Canadian bank account. Such work must instead be reported as foreign work experience in the application.

For short breaks or vacations, up to two weeks of paid leave is generally considered part of Canadian work experience. Longer absences may require documentation and are subject to immigration officers' discretion. Applicants are advised to categorize their work experience accurately to avoid losing eligibility points.

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