Good news for international students who want PR through Express Entry

In the Canadian immigration context, it is well known that experience gained while holding a study permit in Canada is not valid for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category of the Express Entry system.

However, after consulting with immigration authorities, Immiland Canada was able to confirm that there is an exception related to category-based draws or "Special Draws" and that the points even count toward the Federal Skilled Worker program.

So, if you are studying or have already graduated and have acquired at least 6 months of experience in a category eligible for a Special Draw in the last 3 years, you can apply with an advantage to Express Entry. Read on to the end and find out how the Special Draws exception works, how the application management system works, and what requirements you must meet to apply successfully.

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The exception of "Special Draws" and their advantage in Express Entry

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Special Draws offer an advantage for applying more successfully to Express Entry, as invitation scores are usually much lower than those required in the general Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.

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Express Entry is an online system that manages immigration applications from skilled workers. To understand how it works, you need to know about its four fundamental programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for those who already have one year of skilled work experience in Canada.
• Category-based Selection: lotteries for specific sectors (Health, STEM, Trades, Education, Agriculture, or French), which tend to issue ITAs with much lower scores than general lotteries.
• Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP): for professionals with experience abroad. For this program, you must first pass a 67-point filter based on age, education, and languages.
• Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP): exclusively for workers in technical trades. Requires a valid job offer or Canadian certification of competency.

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Special categories and experience times

Special categories include:

1. Health: occupations in the health and social services sector.
2. STEM: occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
3. Agricultural and agri-food occupations.
4. Careers in education.
5. Trades. When you have at least 6 months of full-time work experience in one of these specialized categories, it is fully valid for Express Entry.

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Eligibility requirements for special categories

An international student must:

1. Browse the list of five special categories (Health, STEM, Agriculture, Education, Trades) and search for their respective NOC.
2. Work there full-time for 6 months (if you are on academic break), or the equivalent of 12 months part-time in the last 3 years.
3. Assess whether you have 12 months of prior experience in your country of origin. Once you graduate, you may be eligible for permanent residency.

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Do Co-Op internships count as work experience?

According to this update, international students' work experience gained through internships (Co-Ops) also counts toward Express Entry points, provided that it falls within one of the five special categories.

Important: Remember that the Express Entry system requires an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) if your studies were completed outside of Canada.

If, during your studies, you obtain a job in an area that is not a special category (for example: marketing, human resources, business development, etc.), the experience does not count toward earning points in Express Entry.

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Recommendations for successful implementation

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To increase your chances of success in your future application, it is important that, while you are studying, you look for a job in a special category. This requires carefully reviewing the available positions that you can apply for as a part-time student.

Once you have acquired 6 months of full-time or 12 months of part-time experience, focus on preparing to take the official English exam, apply for ECA if necessary, and if you have 12 months of experience abroad, even while you are studying, create your Express Entry profile.

By following these steps, you will be ready to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and apply for permanent residence, even before graduation. You can find more information in the video: Student Work and Express Entry.

Do you need to verify if your current NOC code qualifies for upcoming category draws? At Immiland Canada, we can help you.

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Immiland Canada Immigration Services

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At Immiland Canada, we are regulated consultants and Canadian lawyers specializing in immigration cases. Our team is ready to evaluate your profile, design an immigration plan tailored to your requirements, and increase your chances of obtaining permanent residence.

You can request a free evaluation of your profile here. If you would like to schedule a consultation, visit https://www.immilandcanada.com/migracion/consultas and book your appointment.

I hope this topic helps you increase your chances of success in the next rounds of Express Entry. 

Thank you for reading. Don't miss our next blog: First PNP draws in January 2026: find out the dates and available spots for Canadian residency.

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With love,

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Immiland Canada