Canada has increased the work experience requirement for all Express Entry occupational categories.
As of February 18, 2026, candidates must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in one eligible occupation within the past three years. The experience does not have to be continuous.
Before this update, only six months of continuous experience was required.
Key Points to Know
The one year requirement equals 30 hours per week for 12 months. Part-time work can count if the total hours are equal. For example, 15 hours per week over 24 months would meet the rule. Working more than 30 hours per week does not give extra credit.
The experience must be in a single eligible occupation and must have been gained in the last three years. It can be from Canada or another country, unless a category specifically requires Canadian experience.
If you are counting Canadian work experience, any work done while you were a full-time student does not count, even if it was a co-op job.
Candidates who qualify under a category-based draw still have better chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence, but the eligibility bar is now higher.
