CRS Points for Canadian Work Experience
Skilled work experience in Canada (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, within the last 10 years) is worth up to 80 points (70 with a spouse). The first year is worth the most.
CRS Points for Canadian Work Experience: key facts
- 1 year
- 40 (single) / 35 (with spouse)
- 5 years or more (maximum)
- 80 (single) / 70 (with spouse)
- What counts
- Paid skilled work (TEER 0–3) in the last 10 years, while physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer (remote work included); self-employment generally does not count
Updated
| Years in Canada | Single | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 40 | 35 |
| 2 years | 53 | 46 |
| 3 years | 64 | 56 |
| 4 years | 72 | 63 |
| 5 years or more | 80 | 70 |
What this means for your score
- Canadian work experience also adds skill-transferability points with education (up to 50) and with foreign work experience (up to 50).
- One year of Canadian experience is also the key requirement for Canadian Experience Class draws.
Worked examples
Same profile with more years of skilled work in Canada: a single applicant aged 29 with a bachelor's degree, CLB 9 in all four English abilities, 3 years of foreign work experience.
| Profile | Canadian work points | Total CRS |
|---|---|---|
| No Canadian experience | 0 | 429 |
| 1 year | 40 | 482 |
| 2 years | 53 | 507 |
| 3 years | 64 | 518 |
| 5 years or more | 80 | 534 |
Calculated with this site's scoring engine using IRCC's current tables. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Canadian work experience points FAQ
What work counts as Canadian work experience?
Paid, skilled work (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in the last 10 years, full-time or an equal amount of part-time, while you were physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer (remote work included). Self-employment generally does not count; IRCC allows an exception for some physicians providing publicly funded medical services.
Does foreign work experience give core points?
No. Foreign experience only counts through skill transferability, combined with strong language results or Canadian experience (up to 50 points).
Why is the first year of Canadian experience so valuable?
One year gives 40 core points (single) and also starts the education and foreign-experience transferability combinations, so the total jump is usually much larger than 40 — see the examples above.
Other CRS factors
- CRS Points for Age
- CRS Points for Education
- CRS Points for Language (CLB)
- CRS Points for Spouse or Common-Law Partner
- CRS Skill Transferability Points
- CRS Additional Points
Source: IRCC CRS criteria, verified 2026-10-03.