Work experience and job offers

There is no National Occupation Classification (NOC) code on my work permit. What should I put in my Express Entry profile?

If there is no National Occupational Classification (NOC) code on your work permit, you should find and use the NOC code of the job you are currently doing in Canada.

Find the NOC code and title for your job.

Can I count student work experience toward the Express Entry work requirement?

It depends on where you were working and studying.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you must meet the minimum requirements for 1 or more Express Entry programs. This includes the work experience requirement.

Using student work experience for minimum requirements

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Student work experience gained while you were studying in Canada or abroad counts towards the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program if the work:

• was paid by wages or commissions
• was continuous (no gaps in employment), and
• meets all the other requirements of the Program

This includes co-op terms and apprenticeships.

Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program

Student work experience doesn’t count towards the minimum requirements for the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

How student work experience affects your profile ranking

Canadian work experience gained while you were a full-time student doesn’t count towards the score used to rank your profile.

The work experience gained as a full-time student outside Canada counts towards the score used to rank your profile.

I have been working in Canada for the last 6 months but didn’t get points for work experience. Why not?

Under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to be awarded points for skilled work experience, you must have been:

• legally allowed to work in Canada in one or more jobs listed in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification
• working full-time (or an equal amount of part-time) work, meaning 30 hours of work per week, and
• working for at least 1 year in the 10-year period before the day we assign you points.

We do not count work experience if you were:

• studying full-time while you were working,
• self-employed, or
• not legally allowed to work in Canada.

Please note: Work experience does not need to be continuous to get points under the CRS. But, to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience, either in Canada or abroad.

What if I am invited to apply for Express Entry while waiting for a new work permit?

If you applied for a new work permit before your old one expired, you are under “implied status” until we make a decision on your application.

Job offer information from your current employer in your Express Entry profile will carry forward to your application if we invite you to apply for permanent residence while under implied status.

If you are not sure you answered correctly:

1. go to the “work history” screen, under the “Intended work in Canada” section
2. scroll down to the section about Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA)
3. if your employer had an LMIA for your work permit, make sure you answered “yes” to the question “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?”
4. under “LMIA number,” enter the number from the expired LMIA
5. if your work permit is LMIA-exempt, for the question “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?” choose the correct answer from the “No – My work permit is exempt…” options.

To prove that you are under implied status, include a copy of your new LMIA (if this applies) and work permit applications when you apply. When you get to the document checklist, select “add letter of explanation” to upload it into the “Optional documents” section.

As long as you still have implied status at the time you apply, you do not need to wait for your new work permit to be approved.

If we issue you a new work permit before you submit your application, you need to update this information before you submit it.

If we refuse you a new work permit before you submit your application, you may want to decline the invitation to apply, since the information in your profile is no longer up to date. You will be put back in the pool, and should update your profile to show the change in your work status.

I was invited to apply through Express Entry but my work permit expired. What do I do?

If you didn’t apply for a new work permit before your original one expired, it may cause your score to drop. This could cause you to not be eligible anymore.

If your score has dropped below the minimum cut-off for your round of invitations, you should decline the invitation. If you submit your application anyway, we’ll refuse it.

If we refuse your application, we won’t refund your fees.

If you decline, you’ll be put back in the pool. You should update your Express Entry profile to show the change in your work status.

You may be able to restore your status and get a work permit. If your status is restored and you still have an eligible Express Entry profile, you may be invited to apply for permanent residence again in the future.

I didn’t get a Job Seeker Validation Code in the message you sent to my account. Why not?

If you got an Express Entry profile number but not a Job Seeker Validation Code you should contact us using the Case Specific Enquiry form.

1. Select your problem.
2. Under Tell us about yourself:
   • If you don’t have a unique client identifier number, enter 1111111111.
   • If you haven’t submitted an application yet, and don’t have an application number, enter 0000000.
3. Under Tell us about your technical issue:
   • Specify the program you’re trying to apply under.
   • Explain any problems that you’re having.
   • Upload screenshots from your account that show us both
     • the page and fields where you’re having problems, and
     • any error messages you’re getting.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements and complete a profile.