How to Get 70, 40, or 20 Additional Express Entry Points Through Canadian Work Experience
How can you claim 70 additional points for experience in Express Entry following the recent update? This is important for people who already have an Express Entry profile or are planning to create one in the future.
Many people are confused about whether they need to make additional efforts before November 3 to receive these points.
The additional points can be 70, 40, or 20, depending on the category of your job:
2x category
1.5x category
1.3x category
The answer is simple: you do not need to make any additional efforts to receive these experience points. The system will be upgraded, and the points will automatically appear in your Express Entry profile if you meet the requirements.
If you have one year of experience in the NOC codes provided on the website, you will receive the applicable points automatically.
There are two types of points discussed in this update:
Additional points for Canadian work experience
Additional points for a qualifying job offer
The job offer points require a separate process, which has been discussed in another video. This blog focuses on the additional experience points.
1. Experience Points and Job Offer Points Are Different
There are two separate categories of additional points.
Experience points
These points are awarded for completing one year of Canadian work experience in a specific NOC code included in the relevant table.
You do not need to update your GCKey or take any additional steps. The points will automatically be adjusted in your Express Entry profile.
Job offer points
These points are claimed through a qualifying job offer.
Depending on the high-wage category in which your NOC code falls, you may receive:
| Category | Job offer points |
|---|---|
| 2x table | 100 points |
| 1.5x table | 70 points |
| 1.3x table | 50 points |
For these points, you need to make additional efforts and obtain a special offer letter generated through the employer portal.
The process for obtaining the job offer and claiming these points has already been discussed separately. The focus here is on the points received through one year of Canadian work experience.
2. How Many Points Do You Normally Receive for Canadian Experience?
The points for Canadian work experience depend on whether you are applying with a spouse or without a spouse.
If you are married and claiming points with a spouse
The experience points are as follows:
| Canadian work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 |
| Further experience | Points increase according to the applicable table |
In most cases, people create their Express Entry profiles after completing one year of Canadian work experience. They usually receive 35 points for that experience, while the remaining points may be adjusted through their spouse’s profile and qualifications.
If your spouse also has one year of Canadian experience, you may receive additional points through your spouse’s experience.
If you are single or applying without a spouse
The points are as follows:
| Canadian work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1 year | 40 |
Most people create their Express Entry profile after completing one year of Canadian work experience. At that stage, they generally receive 40 points for their Canadian experience.
However, the work experience must be in an eligible NOC category.
3. Your Canadian Work Experience Must Be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
Your Canadian work experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 to be counted for Express Entry.
If you are working in TEER 4 or TEER 5, your experience is not counted for Express Entry.
Many people continue working in occupations such as:
Cashier
Clerk
Labourer
Warehouse associate
Home support worker
Some people work for two or three years and later realize that their experience is not helping them qualify through Express Entry.
For example, some applicants spend their time working in jobs that are not counted for Express Entry and then start looking for PR options when only a few months of their PGWP remain.
You need to understand whether your job will help you obtain PR before continuing in that occupation.
4. Can You Get PR Through TEER 4 or TEER 5?
Yes, TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations may have options through PNP or RCIP.
However, you need to understand whether those pathways are available for your specific occupation and situation.
You should not blindly continue working in a job without understanding the PR pathway associated with it.
Always try to get a job in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Even if you believe that you will obtain PR through PNP or RCIP, it is better to have work experience that is also counted for Express Entry.
There may be a special draw or announcement in the future. If your experience is in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, it may be counted for Express Entry, giving you another possible pathway.
If your experience is in TEER 4 or TEER 5, you may not be able to use it for Express Entry.
5. How the New Experience Points Will Be Added
If you have completed one year of eligible Canadian work experience, you can create your Express Entry profile and enter the pool.
For a single applicant, one year of eligible Canadian work experience normally gives 40 points.
Under the recent update, additional points will be awarded depending on whether your NOC code falls under the 2x, 1.5x, or 1.3x table.
| Experience category | Additional points |
|---|---|
| 2x table | 70 points |
| 1.5x table | 40 points |
| 1.3x table | 20 points |
These additional points will be automatically adjusted in your Express Entry profile.
You do not need to update anything in GCKey or make any special request to receive these points.
6. How Your CRS Score Can Increase
Suppose your current Express Entry score is 510.
If your NOC code is included in the 1.3x table, you will receive 20 additional points.
Your score will become:
510 + 20 = 530
If your NOC code is included in the 2x table, you will receive 70 additional points.
Your score will become:
510 + 70 = 580
Applicants working in occupations included in the higher categories will receive additional recognition through these points.
If you have already completed one year of experience or are about to complete one year of eligible Canadian work experience, you can create your Express Entry profile and receive the applicable points automatically.
The NOC codes included in these tables are available on the website. The 2x table contains several NOC codes, including 0011, 0012, 0013, and many others. The list is quite long, and the link will be shared in the description.
7. Will the Express Entry Cut-Off Score Increase?
Yes, the cut-off scores may increase initially.
Applicants who currently have scores of 460, 470, or 480 may receive additional points and reach scores of 520, 530, 540, or 550.
When many applicants suddenly receive additional points, the cut-off score can increase.
However, if IRCC conducts back-to-back draws, multiple draws, or a large draw, the initial increase may gradually reduce as applicants receive invitations.
The cut-off scores may also remain higher permanently. It will depend on how many draws IRCC conducts and how many applicants receive additional points.
The initial increase is expected because many applicants will suddenly have higher CRS scores.
8. Why Age Can Affect Your Express Entry Score
Age is another important factor in Express Entry.
Many applicants have:
A master’s degree from Canada
One, two, or three years of foreign work experience
One year of Canadian work experience
CLB 9 in English
Experience in high-wage categories
Despite having these qualifications, they may still not receive PR because they have lost points due to age.
Applicants aged 35, 37, or 39 may have strong qualifications but a lower CRS score because of the points lost for age.
After the age of 30, applicants begin losing age-related points each year. More than 100 points may be lost because of age.
After crossing the age of 45, applicants receive zero points for age.
Therefore, applicants who are working in higher-level occupations and qualifying for the new experience points may receive additional recognition through the updated system.
9. Do You Need Median Wage to Claim the Additional Points?
No. You do not need to earn the median wage. You need to meet the minimum wage requirement for the relevant NOC code.
There are three important requirements to justify a NOC code:
Job responsibilities
Minimum wage rate
Background eligibility
All three requirements must be met.
The minimum wage rate is defined for each NOC code, and it varies depending on the location of the employer.
The median wage has been mentioned repeatedly in the recent update, which has created confusion. However, the minimum wage requirement is what needs to be checked for the NOC code.
10. Three Requirements to Justify Your NOC Code
A. Job responsibilities must match
IRCC has defined job responsibilities for each NOC code.
If approximately 70% to 80% of the major responsibilities of your job match the responsibilities mentioned on the official website, you may be able to claim that NOC code.
However, matching the job responsibilities alone is not enough.
B. Your wage rate must meet the minimum wage requirement
The minimum wage depends on:
Your NOC code
The location of your employer
The wage rate for the same NOC code may differ between Toronto, Halifax, Moncton, Vancouver, and other locations.
You need to check the minimum wage for your particular NOC code and the location where your employer is based.
C. You must meet the background eligibility requirements
The third requirement is your background eligibility.
The requirements are mentioned on the NOC webpage. You need to check whether you have the necessary education, qualifications, professional credentials, or work experience for the occupation.
For example, someone may directly become a restaurant manager under a TEER 0 occupation without having any previous experience in the restaurant industry.
Even if the job responsibilities and wage rate match, the visa officer may question how the person became a restaurant manager without the required background.
For certain occupations, the eligibility requirements may include:
CPA
Master’s degree in finance
Bachelor’s degree in finance
Bachelor’s degree in computer science
Multiple years of experience
The specific requirements depend on the NOC code.
You need to fulfill all three criteria before claiming the NOC code.
11. How to Check the Minimum Wage on Job Bank
The minimum wage for a NOC code can be checked on Job Bank.
Website: jobbank.gc.ca
The wage rates are provided according to the NOC code and location.
For example, if you are claiming NOC 00012, which is for senior managers in financial communications or other business services, you need to check the minimum wage for the particular location where your employer is based.
In Ontario, there are several regions, including:
Hamilton
Kingston
Kitchener
London
Northeast Ontario
Northwest Ontario
Ottawa
Stratford
Toronto
Other regions
Each province is divided into different regions, and the wage rate may vary between them.
For example, the minimum wage for NOC 00012 in the Toronto region is mentioned as $53.12 per hour.
Similarly, if you check British Columbia and select the Lower Mainland region for Vancouver, you need to meet the minimum wage requirement for that specific location.
The wage requirement is based on the location of the employer.
12. Examples of Minimum Wage Requirements for Different NOC Codes
The minimum wage requirement varies depending on the NOC code.
NOC 00012 — Senior managers in financial communications or other business services
For this NOC code, the minimum wage requirement in Toronto is mentioned as $53.12 per hour.
The median wage is approximately $100, and the high wage is approximately $151. However, the requirement being discussed is the minimum wage, not the median wage.
NOC 10019 — Other administrative services
For NOC 10019, the minimum wage requirement in Toronto is mentioned as $30 per hour.
The wage requirement can be checked for other locations as well.
NOC 11101 — Financial and investment analysts
For NOC 11101, the minimum wage requirement in Toronto, Ontario, is mentioned as $28 per hour.
These examples demonstrate that the wage requirement depends on the NOC code and location.
You need to check the minimum wage for your own NOC code rather than assuming that the same wage applies to every occupation.
13. Minimum Wage Is Important for Other Immigration Applications Too
The minimum wage requirement is not limited to Express Entry.
Whenever you claim a NOC code in an application submitted to IRCC, you need to meet the applicable minimum wage requirement.
This includes applications for:
PNP
RCIP
Express Entry
Spouse Open Work Permit Extension
Other applications where a NOC code is being claimed
In spouse visa applications, visa officers may sometimes ignore the minimum wage if the salary does not match the website. However, in Express Entry and PR applications, the wage requirement can become a reason for refusal.
For example, consider NOC 11101, which is the business analyst or financial analyst occupation.
If you are claiming this NOC code and earning $18 per hour, the visa officer may question whether you are actually working under that NOC code.
The minimum wage mentioned for this NOC code in Ontario is $28 per hour. If you are earning only $18 per hour, your salary may not support the NOC code you are claiming.
The officer may question why you are claiming a TEER 1 position when your salary is much lower than the minimum wage requirement.
Your NOC code should not be selected merely because the job responsibilities match. The wage rate and background eligibility are equally important.
14. Be Careful Before Changing Your NOC Code
If you want to change your NOC code to claim additional points, you need proper justification.
You may need:
An updated job reference letter
Confirmation from your employer
Proof of job responsibilities
Background eligibility documents
Proof that your salary matches the applicable minimum wage
You should not suddenly change your NOC code simply because another NOC code is included in a table that provides more points.
For example, suppose you were previously claiming NOC 00014, but now you want to claim NOC 00012 because it is included in the 2x table.
The visa officer may question why you are claiming a different NOC code.
You need to provide supporting evidence to justify the change.
Your salary history must also match the NOC code. You cannot change the salary you previously received or the salary slips that have already been issued.
Even if your employer is ready to support you, you need to ensure that the previous employment records, salary deposits, salary slips, job responsibilities, and background eligibility all support the NOC code you are claiming.
If your earlier NOC code was different and you now claim a new NOC code without justification or matching wage requirements, it may create doubts in the mind of the visa officer.
Therefore, be very careful before changing your NOC code to obtain additional points.
15. Final Takeaways: How to Claim 20, 40, or 70 Additional Points
To receive the additional experience points:
Complete one year of eligible Canadian work experience.
Ensure your NOC code is included in the 2x, 1.5x, or 1.3x table.
Your experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
The points will be automatically added to your Express Entry profile.
You do not need to update GCKey or make any additional effort to claim these experience points.
You do not need to earn the median wage; the minimum wage requirement applies.
Your job responsibilities, wage rate, and background eligibility must match your NOC code.
If you change your NOC code, you need proper justification and supporting documents.
If you want to discuss your case and understand whether you can receive additional points, you can contact us through WhatsApp.
You can call after 6:00 p.m. Ontario time, which is usually early morning in India. Sunil and Tamanna are also available to connect and discuss your case.
If you have zero Canadian work experience, you may still be able to claim 100 points through a qualifying job offer. Watch the separate video explaining how to obtain the offer letter, how much effort is required, and how to claim those points.
