How Remote Jobs Can Help You Get Canadian PR

April 8, 2025

Ishita Soni

Double the Work Experience, Double the Points!

Did you know that you can increase your chances of gaining Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) by gaining both foreign and Canadian work experience at the same time? This method can add significant points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, boosting your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Why This Works

By pursuing both Canadian and foreign work experience, you could increase your CRS score by over 60 points in just one year! This is a game-changer, as it can greatly enhance your chance of being invited to apply for PR.

How Can You Work for Both Canada and a Foreign Employer?

Here’s how it works: You can hold two jobs at once—one with a Canadian employer and the other with a foreign employer. If both jobs meet the eligibility criteria under the Express Entry system, you can claim both Canadian and foreign work experience.

This is especially helpful when you are doing remote work for a foreign employer while physically being in Canada. The best part? The foreign work experience counts if it meets the required conditions.

Key Eligibility Rules for Simultaneous Work Experience

To claim both work experiences, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

1. Your experience must meet the eligibility requirements for the stream you are applying to.
2. Your Canadian work experience must satisfy the general Express Entry requirements.
3. Your foreign work experience should also meet the requirements set for foreign experience.

Different Express Entry Streams Have Different Work Experience Rules

The Express Entry system has three main programs, and each has its own work experience requirements:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

To qualify under the CEC, your experience must:

• Be in NOC TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3 (specific job categories).
• Be full-time and paid in Canada.
• Include at least one year of work in Canada within the last three years.

Remember, work done while on a study permit or co-op terms doesn’t count!

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

To qualify under the FSTP, your experience must:

• Be in a skilled trade (specific NOC categories).
• Be paid and obtained with proper authorization.
• Include two years of full-time experience (or 3,120 hours) in the past five years.

3. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

For the FSWP, your experience must:

• Be in NOC TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Be paid and full-time.
• Include at least one year of continuous work (1,560 hours).

Interestingly, work done while a full-time student can count toward the requirements, but it won’t score CRS points.

Understanding the NOC and TEER System

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a system that organizes jobs in Canada based on skills, education, and experience. Jobs are categorized into TEER levels (from 0 to 5), with TEER 0 being the highest (management-level jobs).

TEER levels play a key role in determining your eligibility for Express Entry programs.

How Does Express Entry Count Your Work Experience?

You may wonder: how does Express Entry calculate your work experience? Let’s break it down:

• Full-time work is defined as working 30 hours per week for 12 months (1,560 hours).
• Part-time work can also count, as long as the total adds up to the equivalent of one full-time year (1,560 hours).

It’s important to note that working more than 30 hours a week won’t add extra points to your experience. For instance, if you worked 40 hours a week, it still counts as only 30 hours per week.

What Counts as Canadian Work Experience?

For Canadian work experience, you need to:

• Be physically in Canada.
• Work for a Canadian employer.
• The work must be paid and done with proper work authorization.

If you’re working remotely for a Canadian employer, make sure you are physically present in Canada, as remote work from outside Canada doesn’t count for Canadian experience.

What Counts as Foreign Work Experience?

For foreign work experience, it must:

• Be paid and obtained under the right work authorization in the country where the employer is located.
• Be completed outside of Canada.
• If you are working remotely for a foreign employer while in Canada, it counts as foreign experience.

When claiming foreign work experience, make sure you have the necessary documentation (like your employment agreement) to prove your eligibility.

Maximize Your Work Experience

In short, by combining both Canadian and foreign work experience, you can gain valuable CRS points, speeding up your path to Canadian PR. Be sure to meet the specific eligibility criteria for each job and stream, and ensure your work hours align with Express Entry’s guidelines. By working smart and strategically, you could see a huge increase in your CRS score within a single year!

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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