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Express Entry guide
Part-time work and Express Entry: how the hours count
Part-time work can count, but only if the hours are on paper. Your reference letter has to show hours per week, and the total has to add up to what the program needs.
The numbers IRCC uses
- Full time means 30 hours of paid work a week.
- For the Canadian Experience Class, one year of experience equals 1,560 hours.
- For occupation category draws, you need at least 12 months of full-time work, or an equal amount of part-time work, in one listed occupation within the past three years. It doesn't have to be continuous.
What your letter has to show
Hours per week is one of the items IRCC lists for every reference letter. For part-time or shift work it matters most, because the officer uses it to add up your time. If your hours changed, ask for the letter to show each period and its weekly hours.
Common problems
- A letter that says part-time with no hours per week
- Shift work with no average hours
- Several part-time jobs at once with letters that don't show the dates clearly
Common questions
How many hours is full time for Express Entry?
30 hours of paid work per week. For the Canadian Experience Class, one year of experience equals 1,560 hours.
Does part-time work count for category draws?
Yes. You need at least 12 months of full-time work or an equal amount of part-time work in one listed occupation within the past three years, and it doesn't have to be continuous.
Related guides
Sources: IRCC, Canadian Experience Class; IRCC, category-based selection; IRCC, Express Entry program delivery instructions, completeness check.