To qualify for an occupational category, Express Entry candidates now require at least 12 months’ work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years.
This work experience need not be continuous.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry Streams and Categories
Prior to this change, qualifying for an occupational category required six months of continuous work experience within the past three years.
This change applies to all Express Entry occupational categories, as of February 18, 2026.
Express Entry candidates who qualify for category-based selection are more likely to receive invitations to apply for permanent residence.
What hasn’t changed re: work experience requirements
The following factors for work experience for category-based draws remain unchanged:
- The work experience must have been gained within the past three years.
- The work experience must be within a single eligible occupation.
- The required duration of work experience is for full-time work experience, which is defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- The duration requirement can be met through an equivalent amount of part-time work experience over a longer period (e.g., 15h per week for 24 months).
- Any hours worked in excess of 30h/week do not count as additional work experience.
The work experience can have been gain in Canada or abroad, with the exception of categories that specifically require Canadian work experience.
For Canadian work experience, candidates cannot count work experience gained while enrolled as a full-time student (even on a co-op work term).
To learn more about the Express Entry category overhaul, read our dedicated coverage.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry Streams and Categories