Canada Mandates Work Experience Requirement for Express Entry Applicants. Check Your Eligibility!

As of February 18, 2026, candidates applying under Express Entry category-based selection must have at least 12 months of eligible work experience within the past three years. This replaces the earlier requirement of six months of continuous work experience. The new rule applies to all occupational categories under category-based draws. However, the 12 months of work experience no longer needs to be continuous, giving applicants more flexibility if they have short employment gaps. The experience must still meet eligibility conditions regarding occupation type, duration, and work hours.

The revised work experience requirement officially came into effect on February 18, 2026. From this date onward, all candidates who wish to qualify under category-based selection must meet the updated 12-month experience threshold. Profiles submitted before this date but assessed afterward may also be evaluated under the new criteria. Applicants planning to enter the Express Entry pool in 2026 should carefully review their work history to ensure compliance with the updated rule before submitting or updating their profile.

No, under the new rule, the 12 months of required work experience does not need to be continuous. This is a major change from the previous requirement, which required six months of continuous work. Now, candidates can combine periods of eligible work experience as long as the total equals 12 months within the past three years. This flexibility benefits professionals who may have taken short career breaks, changed employers, or worked on contractual assignments, provided all experience falls under a single eligible occupation.

Full-time work experience under Express Entry is defined as at least 30 hours of paid work per week. To meet the 12-month requirement, candidates must complete a minimum of 1,560 hours of eligible work experience. Working more than 30 hours per week does not allow you to accumulate experience faster, as any extra hours beyond 30 per week are not counted. The experience must be in a single eligible occupation and must have been gained within the last three years.

Yes, part-time work experience can count toward the 12-month requirement if it equals the same total number of hours as full-time work. For example, working 15 hours per week for 24 months would meet the required 1,560 hours. The key factor is the total number of eligible work hours accumulated within the past three years. However, the work must still be in one eligible occupation and must meet all other Express Entry conditions related to skill level and job classification.

Yes, eligible work experience gained outside Canada can qualify for category-based selection, unless a specific category requires Canadian work experience. The new rule allows both Canadian and foreign work experience to be counted, provided it was gained within the last three years and meets the required occupational and hourly criteria. This is especially beneficial for Indian professionals who have gained experience in their home country and are planning to apply for Canada PR through Express Entry.

No, candidates cannot count work experience gained while enrolled as a full-time student in Canada, even if it was part of a co-op or work-integrated learning program. Express Entry rules clearly state that Canadian work experience obtained during full-time studies does not qualify toward the required experience threshold. Only authorized work performed outside full-time student enrollment can be considered eligible under category-based selection requirements.

The increase from six months to 12 months of work experience means Indian professionals must carefully review their eligibility before applying under category-based draws. Those with less than 12 months of eligible experience may need to gain additional work experience before qualifying. However, the removal of the continuous work requirement provides more flexibility. Since category-based draws target high-demand sectors such as healthcare, STEM, and trades, eligible Indian applicants still have strong opportunities if they meet the updated criteria.

The change primarily affects eligibility for category-based draws rather than directly altering CRS score calculations. However, if a candidate does not meet the new 12-month requirement, they may not qualify for targeted category-based invitations, even if their CRS score is competitive. Category-based selection often improves the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply. Therefore, meeting the updated work experience rule is crucial for candidates aiming to benefit from these targeted draws.