Foreign work experience can now speed up your Canadian PR thanks to the new Express Entry update
If you’ve been watching Canada’s immigration system over the last few years, you know that things rarely stand still. But the latest Express Entry update is something many skilled workers abroad have been waiting for: foreign work experience now plays a bigger role in how fast you can get permanent residence in Canada.
Let’s break down what’s new, what it means for applicants, and how you can use these updates to your advantage, especially if you’ve been working outside Canada and wondering if it actually counts for something.
The Bigger Picture: Canada Needs Skilled Workers—Fast!
Canada has a problem: it needs skilled workers, and it needs them now.
An aging population, labour shortages in sectors like health care, construction, tech, and trades, and ambitious immigration targets have pushed the federal government to rethink how it ranks and selects candidates through Express Entry.
This is where the new changes come in. As of late 2024 and into 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has rolled out updates that make foreign work experience more valuable, especially for certain job categories.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
Does foreign work experience count for Express Entry?
Under the traditional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), foreign work experience always mattered—but it often didn’t carry enough weight to push candidates over the draw cutoffs. Canadian work experience had much higher value.
That’s now shifting.
Key highlights of the update 2025:
- Category-based draws are here to stay—and expanding.
IRCC has committed to running more occupation-targeted draws under Express Entry. Some of these are specifically focused on candidates with foreign work experience in high-demand fields like:- Healthcare (nurses, doctors, personal support workers)
- STEM (software engineers, data analysts)
- Trades (electricians, carpenters, plumbers)
- Transport (truck drivers, mechanics)
- Agriculture (farm supervisors, equipment operators)
- Foreign experience counts more when it is relevant.
If your overseas work experience aligns with one of these priority fields, your odds of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) go up, even if you don’t have Canadian work experience yet. These targeted draws are lowering CRS cutoffs by up to 100 points in some cases. - Bonus points and tailored draws.
IRCC is testing more tailored draw mechanisms, awarding bonus points or creating lower thresholds for people with 3+ years of experience in key occupations, even if that experience is outside Canada.
How You Can Benefit: Strategies for Express Entry Applicants in 2025
If you’ve been sitting on solid foreign work experience, here are some ways to use these changes to your advantage.
1. Get Your Credentials Assessed (if you haven’t already)
To claim points for work experience, your job must match a NOC (National Occupation Classification) code. You’ll also need your educational credentials Assessment (ECA) by an approved body. Don’t skip this step—foreign degrees without an ECA won’t count.
2. Tailor Your Profile to Targeted Occupations
You should identify the NOC code that most accurately describes your current or past jobs. Then, cross-reference it with the current IRCC occupation target list. If your experience matches, make sure it’s clearly and correctly described in your Express Entry profile.
3. Work on Your Language Scores
Even with strong foreign work experience, your IELTS or CELPIP scores can make or break your CRS score. Improving your English or French language test results by just one band can add up to 50–60 points.
4. Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Several provinces (especially Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia) are actively selecting Express Entry candidates with foreign work experience through their Express Entry-linked PNP streams. A nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score—a near guarantee of getting an ITA.
5. Keep Your Profile Updated
Even small changes like gaining additional work experience, a new job title, or reclassifying under a more in-demand NOC can make a difference. Always update your profile when something changes.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
What About Applicants with Mixed Experience?
Many candidates have a mix of both Canadian and foreign experience. This new system rewards both. If you’re currently in Canada working on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or closed work permit, and you also have significant prior experience abroad, good news: both work in your favour now.
Those with at least one year of Canadian experience and two or more years of foreign experience are especially well-positioned to benefit from the new targeted draws.
Will This Make It Easier to Get PR in Canada?
For many people, yes. Especially for those whose only major gap was not having Canadian work experience. If you’re in a high-demand occupation and have solid overseas credentials, you’re now more competitive than ever under Express Entry.
However, the changes also mean increased competition within those targeted categories. If you’re a software engineer from India or a nurse from the Philippines, you’ll still need a strong CRS score—but now, you might get a draw.
What’s Next for Canada Express Entry System?
IRCC has hinted that more category-based draws are on the horizon, and the list of targeted occupations may be updated mid-year based on labour market needs. There’s also talk of incorporating AI-assisted matching tools to streamline the selection process.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
The new Express Entry update is a game-changer for skilled workers with foreign work experience. While Canadian experience is still valuable, the balance is shifting. Immigration is no longer just for those who’ve already worked or studied in Canada—now, qualified professionals abroad have a real shot.
If you’ve been holding off on applying because your experience was entirely overseas, this is the time to act. Update your profile, boost your language scores, and keep an eye on upcoming draws. The door to Canadian permanent residence is opening wider and faster than ever before.
