An applicant worked for the same Canadian employer for 2 years but spent about 9 months of that period working remotely from outside Canada (short stretches in 2021, 2022, and 2023). They wanted to know whether that remote, out-of-Canada time could count toward the second year of Canadian Experience Class (CEC) work experience, given that CEC generally requires the experience to be gained "in Canada."
What the thread indicated:- Work performed physically outside Canada generally does not count toward CEC's in-Canada experience requirement, even if it's for the same Canadian employer and even if pay stubs, taxes, and banking are all Canadian.
- Only paid vacation time taken while the underlying employment was still "in Canada" payroll appears to count, based on one member's experience — specifically, up to 2 weeks of paid vacation within a 52-week payroll period was recognized, but the remote working days themselves were not.
- This was described by more than one member as unresolved/uncertain in their own applications, so applicants in this situation should not assume the extra months will be credited without pushback from IRCC.
Practical takeaway: if you've worked remotely from outside Canada for a Canadian employer, don't count on that time satisfying CEC's in-Canada requirement. Track exactly which days you were physically present in Canada versus abroad, and be prepared to only claim the days genuinely worked on Canadian soil (plus limited paid vacation, per the above). If in doubt, consider getting a formal opinion before submitting, since this area appeared genuinely unsettled among the applicants who discussed it.