Express Entry Updates Work Experience Rules
Canada has introduced a new work experience requirement for Express Entry candidates applying through occupational categories. The change took effect on February 18, 2026, and modifies the length of eligible work experience needed to qualify.
Under the new policy, candidates must demonstrate at least 12 months of eligible work experience within the previous three years. This replaces the earlier requirement of six months of continuous employment.
The update affects all occupational categories under Express Entry, a system used to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers, including those selected through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
- New requirement: 12 months of eligible work experience in the last three years
- Experience no longer needs to be continuous
- Applies to all Express Entry occupational categories
- Effective date: February 18, 2026
- Work experience may be obtained in Canada or abroad, depending on category
Overview of Express Entry Occupational Categories
Express Entry is Canada’s primary system for managing skilled immigration applications. It includes several immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Category-based selection allows the federal government to issue invitations to candidates who meet specific labour market needs.
Occupational categories focus on industries where Canada faces labour shortages, including healthcare, STEM, trades, and transport. Candidates meeting category criteria may receive invitations to apply for permanent residence through targeted draws.
Background on the Policy Change
Before the February 2026 update, candidates needed six months of continuous work experience within the past three years to qualify for an occupational category. The new regulation extends the timeframe to 12 months but allows the experience to be non-continuous, offering greater flexibility to applicants with intermittent employment history.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced this adjustment to standardize experience requirements across occupational categories and align them more closely with the federal programs managed under Express Entry.
Current Work Experience Criteria
Despite the change in duration, other key requirements remain the same. Work experience must have been gained within the last three years and must relate to a single eligible occupation listed for the specific category.
To qualify, the experience must correspond to full-time work, defined as at least 30 hours per week, or an equivalent amount of part-time work accumulated over a longer period. Hours worked beyond 30 per week do not count toward additional experience.
Canadian and International Experience
Eligible experience may be earned in Canada or abroad, except for categories that specifically require Canadian work experience. For Canadian-based categories, work completed while enrolled as a full-time student, including co-op placements, does not count toward the required experience.
Implementation and Relevance
The new rule applies to all candidates seeking selection under occupational categories from February 18, 2026, onward. For many, the change provides additional time to accumulate qualifying work experience, potentially broadening eligibility in upcoming selection rounds.
The modification also supports the federal government’s broader effort to align immigration selection with national and regional labour priorities. Provinces such as Manitoba, through their nominee programs, may continue to draw on candidates from the Express Entry pool who meet both provincial and federal requirements.
Ongoing Framework for Category-Based Draws
Category-based draws were introduced to better match skilled immigration inflows with occupational needs across Canada. Candidates who qualify for category-based selection are typically prioritized in invitations to apply for permanent residence, depending on federal draw schedules and program quotas.
IRCC continues to review occupational lists and eligibility parameters periodically to ensure alignment with evolving labour market demands. These reviews are expected to play an ongoing role in shaping Express Entry’s future structure.
Context within Canada’s Immigration System
Express Entry remains central to Canada’s economic immigration strategy, with annual targets set under the Immigration Levels Plan. Adjustments such as the 12-month work experience requirement demonstrate ongoing policy refinement to balance flexibility for candidates with the skill needs of employers across the country.
This update marks one of several recent technical changes designed to ensure consistent application of eligibility criteria across all Express Entry categories.
Further Information
More information on category-based selection and work experience criteria is available through official Canadian immigration resources and government releases. Related coverage explores how updates to Express Entry continue to influence the selection of skilled workers and the distribution of invitations across occupational categories.
Readers can also explore provincial programs, including Manitoba’s nominee system, for additional context on regional pathways to permanent residence.