Work experience

On this page

• What counts as related work experience
• What to include with your application
• Exemption if you studied and graduated in Atlantic Canada

What counts as related work experience

You need at least 1,560 hours of related work experience over the past 5 years.

There is a National Occupation Classification (NOC) code for every kind of job. Each job is also grouped into a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category.

Your qualifying work experience must:

• have been for a paid job
  • Volunteer work and unpaid internships don’t count.
  • If the job was in Canada, you must have had a valid work permit.
• not be from a self-employed job
• include the actions in the description of your NOC
• include most of the main NOC duties
• be in the same TEER category as your job offer or higher:

  TEER category

  Job offer TEER	Work experience TEER needed
  0	0, 1, 2, 3, 4
  1	1, 2, 3, 4
  2	2, 3, 4
  3	3, 4
  4	4

What to include with your application

When you apply for permanent residence, include proof of your experience like:

• a copy of your most recent work permit in Canada, if you have one
• employer reference letters for the jobs that you are counting as part of your work experience, showing:
  • the specific period of your employment (to/from dates)
  • your main responsibilities and duties
  • the NOC code (if known)
  • your total annual salary and benefits
  • the number of hours you worked per week
  • your employer’s name, signature, full address, telephone number and email address
  • copies of your T4 tax information slips and your notice of assessment (if applicable)
• work contracts
• pay stubs

Exemption if you studied and graduated in Atlantic Canada

You do not need to meet the work experience requirements if you’re an international graduate and you:

• have a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification that
  • took at least 2 years
  • is from a recognized post-secondary institution in 1 of the 4 Atlantic provinces
  • you received less than 2 years before you applied for permanent residence
• were a full-time student for the entire time you were studying
• lived in 1 of the 4 Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months during the last 2 years before you graduated
• had the visa or permit you needed to work, study or get training while you were in Canada

Ineligible studies

Your studies aren’t eligible for the exemption if any of these statements are true:

• The study of English or French as a second language was at least half of the program.
• Distance learning was at least half of the program.
• You received a scholarship or fellowship with an agreement that you return to your home country to apply the knowledge and skills you gained.