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Canada Updates Express Entry Rules: Minimum Work Experience Set at 12 Months Starting 2026

February 25, 2026 5:21 am

Canada Updates Express Entry Rules: Minimum Work Experience Set at 12 Months Starting 2026

Canada’s new Express Entry requirement raises the minimum work experience threshold to one year. This update affects candidates applying under occupational categories from February eighteenth, twenty twenty-six onward. Read this hiring-style publication carefully to understand duties, requirements, and implications. Follow the list format below for clarity and fast decision-making.

Summary of change

Canada now requires a full twelve months of eligible work experience. This experience must be within a single eligible occupation recognized by the program. Applicants must have earned this experience within the last three years before applying. The experience does not need to be continuous, but the total hours must meet the threshold. Only work performed while not enrolled full-time as a student counts. Co-op placements and internships during full-time study are excluded.

How are the twelve months calculated

The calculation uses total hours worked rather than uninterrupted employment periods. Full-time work counts as at least thirty hours per week toward the requirement. Part-time work may qualify if it equals the thirty-hour weekly equivalent. Hours worked above thirty per week do not increase the counted total. Therefore, working additional overtime cannot shorten the time needed to qualify.

Occupation restriction

The required twelve months must relate to one eligible occupation under Express Entry. You cannot combine different job roles to meet the twelve-month total. The occupation’s work must have occurred within the last three years to be valid. Specific categories may require Canadian work experience; check category rules before applying.

What remains unchanged

The overall Express Entry structure and selection framework remain intact. Category-based draws will continue to prioritize targeted occupations for Invitations to Apply. The previous six-month continuous work criteria have been replaced by the new twelve-month total-hours standard. Other eligibility elements, such as language scores and education credentials, continue to apply as before.

Who will be most affected?

Newer entrants with less than one year of recent experience will face delays in eligibility.
Candidates planning category-based selection should reassess timelines and work plans immediately.
Skilled workers who already possess at least twelve months of eligible experience will see minimal change in their status.
Applicants relying on student-time work experience must verify whether their hours count toward the new threshold.

Practical advice for applicants

Track and document all eligible work hours carefully over the three-year window.
Confirm that your job’s National Occupational Classification code matches the targeted category.
Avoid counting work done while enrolled full-time as a student toward the requirement.
Prepare to submit evidence of hours and employment when invited to apply.

Conclusion

This rule change tightens eligibility for category-based Express Entry draws and emphasizes documented, sustained experience. Plan your work timeline to reach twelve months of eligible employment within three years. Stay informed and prepare documentation early to improve your chances in the updated selection process.