The Canadian Experience Class is designed for proficient professionals with prior work experience in Canada who wants to obtain permanent residency.
What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program for individuals with at having full time 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada. Operating under the Express Entry system, candidates enter a pool, and those with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores are periodically invited to apply for permanent residence. The program aims to retain individuals with Canadian work experience, enhancing the country’s skilled workforce.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is known for being one of the fastest paths to achieving Canadian permanent residence, with processing times as short as three to four months! Initiated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2008, the CEC program provides a specialized route for temporary foreign workers and international graduates seeking to secure permanent residency.
Minimum Requirements
To qualify, you must satisfy all the minimum criteria:
- Canadian skilled work experience
- language ability
1. Canadian Skilled Work Experience
- Need 1 year of skilled work in Canada (or equivalent part-time) in the last 3 years.
- Work while authorized under temporary resident status.
- Perform duties listed in the NOC, including essential and most main duties.
- Skilled work in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, 3.
- Paid work required; volunteer work or unpaid internships not considered.
Ineligibility for Canadian Experience Class:
- Not eligible if a refugee claimant is in Canada.
- Not eligible if working without authorization.
- Not eligible if work experience gained without temporary resident status in Canada.
Self-Employment & Student Work Experience
Self-employment and full-time student work experience (including co-op terms) don’t meet program requirements.
Exemption for Physicians:
1. Temporary public policy for foreign national physicians
- Invited to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry after April 25, 2023, and submitted an application.
- Have work experience in providing publicly funded medical services in Canada (e.g., fee-for-service work).
- Ineligible due to self-employment.
2. This work experience is now counted as Canadian work experience.
3. When creating your Express Entry profile, don’t check the “Self-employed work” checkbox under Work experience in Canada to ensure your work experience is considered.
2. Language ability
- Take approved language tests in writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
- Attain a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 through an authorized English or French language test if applying for jobs classified under NOC skill level 0 or A. CLB level 5 is required for NOC Sill Level B jobs.
Validity of Language Tests:
- Test results are valid for 2 years from the date of the test.
- Tests must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
Education
- No education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.
How to Apply for Canadian Experience Class?
- IRCC uses Express Entry for three programs, including CEC.
- If you lived in Canada and gained eligible work experience, you’re a strong CEC candidate.
- Eligibility extends to FSWP and, for trades backgrounds, the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Application Process
- Check eligibility for CEC or other Express Entry programs.
- If eligible, submit an Express Entry profile on IRCC’s website.
- IRCC conducts bi-weekly draws, inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores.
- CRS scores consider age, education, language skills, work and Canadian experience, among other factors.
- If invited (ITA), submit a complete application to IRCC within the specified deadline.
- IRCC aims to process applications in six months or less.
How to apply as an International Student or Temporary Foreign Worker?
- Graduate from an eligible educational program in Canada, if an International Student, Obtain one year of professional work experience in Canada if Temporary Foreign Worker.
- Apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) at IRCC after completing your program.
- With PGWP, gain at least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs.
- Take an English or French language test designated by IRCC and meet the minimum CLB requirement (CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 and 3).
- Enter the Express Entry pool.
- If invited to apply, IRCC aims to process your permanent residence application within six months.
FAQs
Do I need a job offer for the Canadian experience class?
No, a job offer is not required for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). CEC is designed for individuals with at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada.
Is proof of funds required for Canadian Experience Class?
Proof of funds is generally not required for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
What is the minimum CLB for Canadian experience class?
The minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is often CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs and CLB 5 for NOC B jobs, but specific requirements can vary.
Is it possible for me to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) even if I reside outside of Canada?
No, you might not be able to qualify for CEC if you livid outside Canada and gained your work experience outside Canada, but if you have gained your experience inside Canada and currently are outside then you will be able to apply for CEC.
Is it a requirement for my Canadian work experience to be directly related to my field of study in order to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?
No, it is not necessary to have Canadian work experience to be directly related to your field of study under CEC.
Am I allowed to include self-employment and work experience gained as a student when calculating my eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?
No, any work done as self-employment and work experience gained as a student or voluntary work will not count towards CEC.
What are the CEC’s education requirements?
You don’t generally need to have specific education requirements to be eligible for CEC. However, having a Canadian degree or diploma can enhance your profile within the Express Entry system.
What is the difference between Canadian Experience Class and Express Entry?
Express Entry is a comprehensive immigration system managing various programs, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which specifically targets individuals with at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada for permanent residency. CEC applicants go through the Express Entry pool, where selection is based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
Can I apply for CEC before 1 year?
No, you generally cannot apply for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) before completing at least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in Canada.
Is 450 a good score for CEC?
A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 450 is relatively competitive for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) within the Express Entry system, and it has been sufficient to receive invitations to apply for permanent residence in recent draws.
