If you are planning to apply for permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry system, this is something you need to know.

Starting from February 18, 2026, the Canadian government is increasing the minimum work experience required for candidates applying under occupational categories. The change affects all category-based selections under Express Entry.

What Has Changed?

Under the updated Express Entry rules, applicants must now have:

• At least 12 months of work experience
• In an eligible occupation
• Gained within the last three years

The experience does not have to be continuous.

Previously, candidates needed only six months of continuous work experience in the past three years to qualify under a category. So the bar has effectively doubled.

How the 12 Months Will Be Calculated

The new work experience requirement is based on total hours, not on whether you worked without breaks. To qualify, applicants must have:

• Full-time work of at least 30 hours per week, or
• An equivalent amount of part-time work.

However, any hours worked above 30 per week will not be counted toward the requirement.

In simple terms, you cannot speed up the process by working 50 or 60 hours weekly. Only 30 hours per week will count.

One Occupation Only

There is another important detail. The 12 months of work experience must relate to a single eligible occupation. You cannot combine different occupations to reach the total.

The experience must also fall within the last three years. This applies whether the work was done in Canada or abroad, unless a specific category requires Canadian work experience.

What Does Not Count

For those who studied in Canada, there is a key restriction. Work experience gained while enrolled as a full-time student does not count. This includes:

• Co-op placements
• Internships completed during full-time study

That rule, as of now, remains unchanged.

Why This Matters for Express Entry Applicants

Category-based selection within Express Entry gives certain occupations priority. If your job falls under a targeted category, your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence can increase.

By raising the work experience requirement from six months to 12 months, Canada is tightening eligibility for these targeted draws.

For many candidates, especially newer workers, this could delay eligibility. For others who already meet the new threshold, it may not change much, except that competition could narrow slightly.

Who Will Be Affected?

This update applies to all Express Entry occupational categories starting February 18, 2026. It mainly impacts:

• Candidates preparing new Express Entry profiles
• Applicants counting on category-based selection
• Skilled workers with less than one year of recent experience

If you are close to completing 12 months of eligible experience, timing will matter.

The Bottom Line

Canada has not changed the overall structure of Express Entry. But it has made category-based eligibility stricter.

You now need one full year of recent work experience in a single eligible occupation. It can be full-time or part-time equivalent. It does not need to be continuous. And it must fall within the past three years.

If permanent residence through Express Entry is part of your plan, this is the kind of rule change you cannot afford to miss.

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