canadian experience class

Migrate / Canada / Canadian Experience Class

Since 2008, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) has provided a significant pathway for candidates who have worked in Canada and want to move to Canada permanently.

The CEC is a popular choice for temporary foreign workers and international graduates seeking Canadian work experience. The CEC is one of three programs overseen by Canada's Express Entry system. This comprehensive Canada Visa page contains all of the information you need to know about the CEC.

Overview

In 2008, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme to provide a dedicated skilled worker pathway to temporary foreign workers and international graduates seeking permanent residence.

Since then, the CEC has grown into one of Canada's largest immigration pathways for skilled workers, and it is regarded as a resounding success by governments across the country, communities, employers, and immigration candidates themselves.

Benefits of the CEC

The CEC is part of a coordinated federal and provincial government effort to encourage more temporary foreign workers and international students to build their futures in Canada. According to IRCC, Statistics Canada, and academic studies, skilled worker candidates who have previously lived in Canada have a significant advantage in integrating into the Canadian job market.

CEC immigrants can be very successful in the labour market by combining high human capital criteria (e.g., being young and middle-aged, having high levels of education, work experience, and education) with building social and professional networks in Canada.

Additionally, candidates with Canadian experience are eligible for more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Express Entry. This improves their chances of being granted permanent residency.

Third, CEC candidates who are successful through Express Entry usually receive their permanent residence status within six months.
A fourth significant advantage of the CEC is that, unlike the other two Express Entry programs, candidates who succeed under the CEC do not need to demonstrate to IRCC that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves financially once granted permanent residence.

Eligibility Criteria

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the CEC :

Have at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within the last 36 months; and Meet or exceed a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 ("initial intermediate") for NOC B jobs, or a CLB of 7 ("adequate intermediate proficiency") for NOC skill levels 0 or A jobs.
Make plans to live and work outside of Quebec (individuals with work experience in Quebec and who plan to reside in Quebec may apply to the Quebec Experience Class).
In Canada, one year of work experience is defined as at least 1,560 hours of skilled work. The 1,560 hours can be obtained by working full-time or part-time.
Applicants are permitted to remain in Canada during the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to people who are no longer in Canada, as long as they apply within three years of leaving their job in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class prerequisites are graded on a pass/fail basis. The applicant is eligible to enter the Express Entry pool if the minimum requirements are met.

How the immigration process works with the CEC

IRCC uses Express Entry to manage skilled worker applications for three programmes, including the CEC. If you have previously lived in Canada and gained eligible work experience, you may be a strong candidate for the CEC. You may also be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and, if you have a trades background, the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

The first step is to ensure that you are eligible for the CEC or one of the other Express Entry programmes. If you meet the requirements, you must create an Express Entry profile on the IRCC website.

IRCC holds Express Entry draws every two weeks, awarding permanent residence invitations to candidates with the highest CRS scores. CRS scores are calculated using human capital characteristics such as age, education, language skills, work experience, and Canadian experience, among other factors.

If you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence, you must complete an application and submit it to IRCC by the deadline. The IRCC's goal is to process applications in six months or less.

Become Eligible for the CEC as an International Student

The majority of individuals who gain permanent residence through the CEC are international students who graduate from an eligible educational programme in Canada.

As an international student, the following is the most common way to obtain Canadian permanent residence through the CEC :

Step 1 : Finish your education at a Canadian designated learning institution.
Step 2 : Apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit at IRCC (PGWP).
Step 3 : Obtain at least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in a NOC 0, A, or B job with your PGWP.
Step 4 : Take an IRCC-approved English or French language test and meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement (a CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A work experience and CLB 5 for NOC B work experience).
Step 5 : Fill out the Express Entry form. If you are granted an invitation to apply, the IRCC will process your permanent residence application within six months.

Become Eligible for the CEC as a Temporary Foreign Worker

After one year of professional work experience in Canada, temporary foreign workers can apply for the Canadian Experience Class programme.

The following is the most common method for obtaining Canadian permanent residence as a temporary foreign worker through the CEC :

Step 1 : Get a Canadian work permit.
Step 2 : At least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in a NOC 0, A, or B job are required.
Step 3 : Take an IRCC-approved English or French language test and meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement (a CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A work experience and CLB 5 for NOC B work experience).
Step 4 : Fill out the Express Entry form. If you are invited to apply, IRCC will process your permanent residence application within six months.

NEED HELP ?

Fill below form and we will get back!