CRS Points for Work Experience
Canadian work experience earns up to 80 core points directly. Foreign experience earns nothing on its own, but adds up to 50 points through skill transferability. From November 3, 2026, high-wage Canadian experience can add up to 70 more. Calculate your score →
Canadian work experience points
| Years in Canada (TEER 0–3) | Single | With spouse | Example total* |
|---|---|---|---|
| None or under 1 year | 0 | 0 | 469 |
| 1 year | 40 | 35 | 509 |
| 2 years | 53 | 46 | 522 |
| 3 years | 64 | 56 | 533 |
| 4 years | 72 | 63 | 541 |
| 5 years or more | 80 | 70 | 549 |
*Single, 29, master's, CLB 9, 3 years of foreign experience. One year in Canada lifts this profile above recent CEC cut-offs.
Foreign work experience (skill transferability)
| Foreign experience | + CLB 7–8 | + CLB 9 | + 1 yr Canadian | + 2 yrs Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 13 | 25 | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more | 25 | 50 | 25 | 50 |
Each combination is capped at 50 together. With CLB 9, three years of foreign experience already earns the maximum 50.
New: high-wage Canadian experience (from Nov 3, 2026)
If 12+ months of your Canadian experience (last 10 years) is in a high-wage TEER 0–3 occupation, you earn +20, +40 or +70 extra, depending on whether your occupation's median wage is 1.3×, 1.5× or 2× the national median. Details →
What counts as skilled work
- Paid work (wages or commission) in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
- Full-time (30 hours/week) or an equal amount part-time: 1,560 hours = 1 year.
- Canadian experience: done in Canada with authorization. Work during full-time studies and self-employment don't count.
- Use the correct NOC code for each job. It matters even more from November 3, 2026.
FAQ
How many CRS points is 1 year of Canadian work experience?
40 core points if single (35 with a spouse), plus up to 25 skill transferability points when combined with your education and foreign experience.
Does foreign work experience give CRS points?
Not on its own. Foreign experience earns points only through skill transferability, combined with your language level or Canadian experience, up to 50 points.
What work counts for CRS points?
Paid, skilled work in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation in the last 10 years. Canadian experience must be done in Canada with authorization; work while a full-time student and self-employment in Canada don't count.
Source: IRCC, CRS criteria. More factors: age · education · language · spouse · French · full CRS score chart