Express Entry work experience: how IRCC counts hours, gaps and reference letters

Key takeaways

One year of work = 1,560 hours in total (30 hours a week for 12 months), or an equal amount of part-time work
IRCC does not count hours above 30 a week, so a 40-hour week still counts as 30
CEC: the hours must be in the 3 years before you apply, and the work must be Canadian, paid, and in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
FSW: the experience must be within the last 10 years, and IRCC says “1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total”
CRS points for work experience do not need to be continuous
Each job you declare needs an employer reference letter with specific contents. If you cannot get one, IRCC’s process is a letter of explanation with supporting proof, and the officer decides

How IRCC counts hours

IRCC’s Canadian Experience Class page says you need “at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)” in the 3 years before you apply. Here is how the count works, using IRCC’s examples and our own arithmetic (labelled as illustrations):

Situation	What counts
Full-time at 1 job	Up to 30 hours a week for 12 months = 1,560 hours (IRCC)
Part-time, 15 hours a week	24 months = 1,560 hours (IRCC). In weeks, that is 104 weeks (our arithmetic)
Several part-time jobs	IRCC says you can work as many part-time jobs as you need
Two jobs at once	Up to 30 hours a week combined, for 12 months (IRCC). Example: 20 hours + 20 hours counts as 30 hours a week (illustration)
40 hours a week	IRCC does not count hours above 30 a week, so it still counts as 30 (illustration)

If you are short of 1,560 hours in the window, you do not meet the work requirement on that experience. IRCC’s CRS table gives 0 points for work experience of “none or less than a year”.

CEC and FSW: different windows, different continuity wording

The two programs use different rules. We quote IRCC’s wording and do not add a rule about gap length, because IRCC does not publish one.

Item	CEC	FSW
Time window	3 years before you apply	“Within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad”
Amount	1 year or 1,560 hours total	1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total
Where	In Canada, while authorized to work under temporary resident status	In Canada or abroad
Skill level	TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	Same occupation (NOC) as your primary occupation. It may not be your most recent work
Paid	Yes. Experience can be in more than 1 job or NOC	Part-time can add up: “as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours”

The CEC page does not use the word “continuous”. So, as written, a gap between contracts does not restart the clock, if your total hours fall inside the 3-year window. The FSW page says “continuous work or 1,560 hours total”. IRCC’s Help Centre answer says: “Work experience does not need to be continuous to get points under the CRS. But, to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience.”

What does not count for CEC

work while studying full-time (co-op terms do not count)
self-employment (except some physicians under a temporary public policy)
volunteer work or unpaid internships
work without legal authorization

For both programs, the job must show that you performed the lead statement and most of the main duties of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. IRCC checks your duties, not your job title. Use our NOC code finder to compare. IRCC says FSW student work counts toward the minimum only if it is paid by wages or commission and is “continuous (no gaps in employment)”.

What a reference letter must show

IRCC’s completeness check instructions say a reference letter is mandatory for each work experience you declare. It must be an official document on company letterhead and include:

your name
the company’s contact information (address, telephone, email)
the name, title and signature of your immediate supervisor or a personnel officer
all positions you held at the company
for each position: job title, duties and responsibilities, job status (if it is a current job), dates worked, number of work hours per week, and annual salary plus benefits

For Canadian work, proof may also include T4 slips and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notices of assessment for the years of the experience. Self-declared duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof for self-employment.

At the completeness check, IRCC only checks that the required documents are included. It judges whether they are valid during processing. An incomplete application is rejected, fees are refunded, and you need a new profile.

If you cannot get a letter

IRCC’s Help Centre answer on missing documents gives this process: write a letter explaining why you cannot provide the document, include supporting documents, combine them into 1 file, and upload it in place of the missing document. IRCC says: “The officer reviewing your application will decide if your application is complete without the document.” Your application could be delayed, returned or refused.

IRCC does not publish a list of accepted supporting proof for this case. These are practical options, not IRCC rules. Payslips, contracts, bank deposits, tax records, and an appointment or relieving letter can be supporting evidence. So can a signed letter from a former supervisor with their contact details. In India, Form 16 or salary slips are local examples. They do not replace the reference letter and do not guarantee acceptance.

What this means for you

You work 2 part-time jobs: add your weekly hours, but count no more than 30 a week in total.
You work more than 30 hours a week: the extra hours do not make you eligible faster.
You had a gap between jobs: CEC and CRS points do not need continuity as written. FSW wording says continuous work or 1,560 hours total. Check the FSW page for your case.
Your employer closed or will not write a letter: follow the letter of explanation process above and collect the best proof you have.

What to do next

List each job with dates, weekly hours and duties.
Check your NOC code with the NOC code finder.
Ask each employer for a reference letter early. Our document checklist generator lists the other documents.
Estimate your points with the CRS calculator.
Read our guides on Express Entry and study permit to PR.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is one year of work for Express Entry?

1,560 hours in total, which is 30 hours a week for 12 months.

Do hours above 30 a week count?

No. IRCC does not count hours above 30 a week.

Does Express Entry work experience need to be continuous?

CRS points do not need continuity. FSW says “continuous work or 1,560 hours total”. The CEC page does not use the word continuous.

What is the time window for CEC and FSW?

CEC: the 3 years before you apply. FSW: within the last 10 years.

What if I cannot get a reference letter?

Upload a letter of explanation with supporting documents in place of the missing document. The officer decides if your application is complete without it.

Sources

Facts as provided in our research brief dated October 10, 2026.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.