Applicants seeking permanent residency in Canada may improve their chances by returning to their home country, particularly if their status in Canada has expired.
This move could enhance their PR application through the foreign work experience skill transferability factor, which recognizes skilled work completed outside Canada.
If the work aligns with occupations classified under Canada’s TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3, it may contribute up to 50 Comprehensive Ranking System points, increasing the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
To secure the maximum points, an applicant must have at least three years of skilled foreign work experience.
This experience must be paired with either a Canadian Language Benchmark score of 9 in all four language abilities or at least two years of work experience in Canada.
The points awarded vary depending on how foreign work experience is combined with other factors.
If paired with language proficiency, an applicant with one to two years of foreign work experience can earn 13 points with a minimum CLB 7 score, while those achieving CLB 9 or higher may receive 25 points.
Candidates with three or more years of foreign experience gain 25 points with CLB scores between 7 and 9 but can obtain the full 50 points if they score CLB 9 or above.
The Canadian government prioritizes applicants under the Canadian Experience Class if they have previous work experience in Canada but had to return to their home country.
To qualify, they must have at least one year of Canadian work experience, equivalent to 1,560 hours within the past three years, before applying. Earning additional CRS points in this category can help surpass the required cut-off score in Express Entry draws, particularly for those who have not yet maximized their points under the skill transferability factor.
A similar points structure applies when foreign work experience is combined with Canadian work experience. Candidates with up to two years of foreign experience can gain 13 points if they have completed at least one year of Canadian work experience.
Those with two or more years of Canadian experience receive 25 points, while applicants with three or more years of foreign work experience can earn 25 points for one year of Canadian experience and the full 50 points for two or more years.
Regardless of qualifications, no candidate can receive more than 50 points for foreign work experience, ensuring a balanced assessment in the Express Entry system.
