Boost Your CRS Score Fast: How to Claim Double Points for Canadian and Foreign Work Experience in Express Entry

How to Get Double the CRS Points for Work Experience

Maximizing Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points is crucial for candidates aiming to improve their chances of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under Canada’s Express Entry system. While many factors influence CRS scores, work experience remains a cornerstone for boosting rankings. A strategic approach to claiming both Canadian and foreign work experience can significantly enhance your score, potentially doubling the points awarded for this category.

Express Entry candidates can simultaneously claim Canadian and foreign work experience, provided specific conditions are met. This dual-claiming strategy can yield up to two years of credit within a single calendar year—one year for Canadian experience and one for foreign experience. However, the process comes with strict requirements to ensure eligibility.

Understanding the Requirements

To qualify for dual work experience credits, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Full-time work must total at least 30 hours per week, amounting to 1,560 hours annually. Part-time roles must align with the same annual total, such as 15 hours per week over 24 months.
• Working multiple jobs or exceeding 30 hours per week does not increase the eligible work experience credited under CRS.

Additionally, the roles must independently satisfy the conditions for both Canadian and foreign work experience as defined by Express Entry. Canadian work experience must be obtained while physically present in Canada and performed for a Canadian employer under a valid work permit. Foreign work experience, on the other hand, must be conducted outside Canada and authorized under the employer’s country’s regulations.

Unique scenarios, such as remote work for a foreign employer while in Canada, can also qualify under these conditions, provided proper documentation is provided.

Work Experience Under Specific Express Entry Streams

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is tailored for skilled workers with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) Canadian work experience within the past three years. Key requirements for CEC include:

• The experience must fall under TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
• Work performed on a study permit or through co-op programs does not qualify for CEC eligibility.

Foreign Work Experience

Foreign work experience refers to employment conducted outside of Canada under proper authorization. This experience must align with the employment regulations of the respective country, including payment terms. Notably, candidates working remotely within Canada for foreign employers can have this experience classified as foreign work experience, provided they provide appropriate documentation.

CRS Points Breakdown for Work Experience

The CRS awards points for work experience based on the applicant’s marital status. Points are cumulative when combined with education, language proficiency, and other factors. Examples of CRS point allocations include:

• Combining foreign work experience with Canadian work experience can add up to 50 CRS points for applicants meeting language benchmarks.
• Highest combinations of foreign, Canadian, and language benchmarks (e.g., achieving Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 9 or higher) yield the maximum points.

Scenarios for Doubling Points

Candidates can strategically fulfill work hour requirements in both Canadian and foreign roles simultaneously. For instance:

• Fulfilling 30 hours per week in a Canadian job while concurrently meeting 30 hours per week in a remote foreign role.
• One year of work under this arrangement will count as two years of experience in Express Entry (one Canadian, one foreign).

This strategy provides a competitive advantage, particularly in Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) or high CRS-selection rounds.

Express Entry and CRS Optimization

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is central to Express Entry, as it ranks profiles based on merit. CRS scores are influenced by:

• Core Factors: Age, education, Canadian work, and foreign work combined, language abilities.
• Additional Points: Provincial nominations (+600 points) or French proficiency (up to +50 points).

Claiming dual years of work experience amplifies core factor points, often enabling candidates to meet or exceed CRS thresholds for Invitations to Apply (ITA). This approach is particularly advantageous for professionals who meet educational and language benchmarks while maintaining dual work roles.

Proper documentation, such as contracts and remote work arrangements, is essential to substantiate claims during the Express Entry application process.

Conclusion

Maximizing CRS points through strategic management of work experience is a powerful way to enhance your profile under Canada’s Express Entry system. By understanding how to effectively claim both Canadian and foreign work experience, you can potentially double your points in this category, giving you a significant competitive edge. Whether through simultaneous roles or remote work arrangements, leveraging your work experience wisely can make a substantial difference in your CRS score. Proper documentation is crucial to support your claims, ensuring your application is both complete and compelling. With careful planning, you can optimize your work experience to meet the necessary thresholds and increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.

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