If you already have Canadian work experience and are aiming to apply for permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system, your foreign work experience could play a surprisingly powerful role in raising your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Express Entry – Parisa Erfani
In fact, depending on your profile, foreign work experience can sometimes offer more of a CRS boost than additional Canadian work experience.
Let’s break down how this works — and why it matters now more than ever.
Understanding CRS and Skill Transferability
The CRS awards points based on several categories:
- Core human capital (age, education, language)
- Spouse/common-law partner factors
- Skill transferability
- Additional factors
Foreign work experience is part of the skill transferability section. You can score up to 50 points here based on how your:
- Language ability,
- Canadian work experience, and
- Foreign work experience
interact.
Here’s how the points break down under skill transferability:
| Foreign Work Experience | + CLB 7 | + CLB 9 | + 1 Yr Canadian Exp | + 2+ Yrs Canadian Exp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1–2 years | 13 | 25 | 13 | 25 |
| 3+ years | 25 | 50 | 25 | 50 |
Maximum available for foreign work experience: 50 CRS points
🇨🇦 Canadian Work Experience and the CRS
Canadian experience is a valuable CRS factor, particularly in the core human capital section, where applicants without a spouse can earn up to 80 points:
| Canadian Work Experience | CRS Points |
|---|---|
| None | 0 |
| 1 year | 40 |
| 2 years | 53 |
| 3 years | 64 |
| 4 years | 72 |
| 5+ years | 80 |
But note: Skill transferability maxes out at 2 years of Canadian experience. So, gaining a 3rd or 4th year may only yield minor increases in overall CRS.
When Foreign Experience Gives You the Edge
If you already have Canadian work experience but haven’t maxed out the skill transferability points, adding foreign work experience may be a smarter move than continuing to work in Canada.
Example: Meet Aliyah
- Age: 26
- Education: Bachelor’s degree (completed in Canada)
- Language: CLB 9 in English
- Work: HR professional
- No French proficiency
She gains 2 years of Canadian work experience and considers two options:
- Option A: Stay for a 3rd year of Canadian experience
- Option B: Return to the Bahamas for 1 year of foreign work experience
Here’s how her CRS compares:
With 3 years of Canadian work experience:
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age (26) | 110 |
| Education (Bachelor’s) | 120 |
| Language (CLB 9) | 136 |
| Canadian work (3 years) | 64 |
| Skills – education | 50 |
| Studied in Canada | 30 |
| Total CRS | 510 |
With 2 years Canadian + 1 year foreign experience:
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age (26) | 110 |
| Education (Bachelor’s) | 120 |
| Language (CLB 9) | 136 |
| Canadian work (2 years) | 53 |
| Skills – education | 50 |
| Skills – foreign work | 50 |
| Studied in Canada | 30 |
| Total CRS | 549 |
Result: One year of foreign experience gives Aliyah 39 more CRS points than staying in Canada for a third year — and makes her more competitive in the Express Entry pool.
Why This Matters in 2025
In 2025, CEC-specific Express Entry draws have seen CRS cut-offs as high as 547.
- With 3 years of Canadian work experience, Aliyah’s score (510) would not qualify.
- With 2 years Canadian + 1 year foreign work experience, her score (549) would qualify.
Foreign work experience can be a make-or-break factor — especially when CRS scores are high.
Even if the foreign experience is from before studying in Canada, as long as it’s within the past 10 years, it still counts.
Key Takeaways
- Foreign work experience can offer a big CRS boost under skill transferability.
- Two years of Canadian experience + one year foreign can be more valuable than three years in Canada.
- Always consider CRS optimization strategies before applying.
- High CRS cut-offs in 2025 mean every point counts.
Need help planning your Express Entry profile?
Work with a licensed immigration consultant to build the most strategic and competitive application possible.
How foreign work experience can boost your CRS score in a competitive Express Entry pool | CIC News
