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Canadian Experience Class

There are over 100 different routes that you can take to get permanent residence in Canada. The trick is finding and applying for the Canadian immigration program that is best suited to your unique profile. Do you have skilled work experience obtained in Canada? Then the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) could be the perfect immigration program for you. Learn everything you need to know about this fast-track immigration program to Canada below.

What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?

Move to a Canadian city when your Canadian Experience Class application succeeds. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of three Canadian skilled worker immigration programs that are managed by the Federal Express Entry system. Specifically, the CEC is designed for permanent residence applicants who have Canadian work experience that they obtained through a temporary work permit. Seeing as temporary foreign workers are most likely already settled in Canadian society with support networks, they can easily transition to becoming permanent residents and eventual citizens of Canada. The CEC provides them with the path towards achieving this goal. Because the CEC is managed by the Express Entry system, successful applicants will enjoy some of the fastest processing times in Canadian immigration. Before you can enter the pool of Express Entry candidates you will first need to meet all the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class.

What are the Canadian Experience Class Requirements?

There are several requirements you will have to meet in order to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class program. It is worth mentioning that there is no education requirement for the CEC; however, your educational background can help to boost your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points which are used to rank your profile among the pool of Express Entry candidates.
Requirements for The Canadian Experience Class
Work experience You must have one year of skilled, Canadian work experience. The work experience must be:
  • for a full-time position; or
  • the equivalent time in a part-time position;
  • legally obtained in Canada;
  • from jobs defined by the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) as level 0, A or B.
Education There is no education requirement for this program. You can; however, increase your Express Entry score by:
  • earning a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or tertiary school;
  • completing a foreign credential;
  • getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) showing your previous education meets Canadian standards.
Language skill You must:
  • take an approved language test for writing, reading, listening, and speaking;
  • meet the minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs.
Admissibility You must legally be allowed to enter Canada.
Another great feature of this program is that if you qualify, you can move to any province and territory in Canada except for Quebec. Remember, the French-speaking province of Quebec has its own immigration programs with different processes and requirements. Canadian Experience Class applications also do not need proof of settlement funds making the required documentation significantly less. This allows applications to be processed in as little as three to four months!

How to Apply for the Canadian Experience Class

Businessman checks his phone for updates on his Canadian Experience Class application.

Step 1 – Work in Canada for One Year

You must have at least one year of Canadian work experience. Unfortunately, the self-employment and work experience you earned while you were a full-time student does not count. However, the work experience you obtained through temporary visas, like the Working Holiday Visa, does count towards this requirement.

Step 2 – Meet Minimum Criteria

Make sure you meet all of the requirements discussed in the table above. To discover your Canadian Language Benchmark level, you will have to complete an approved language test like IELTS for English and TEF for French. We advise you to apply for an ECA as soon as possible as this certificate typically takes quite some time to be processed.

Step 3 – Create Your Express Entry Profile

As mentioned previously, the Federal Express Entry (EE) program manages the pool of candidates for the Canadian Experience Class. Therefore you must create an online Express Entry profile to qualify for the program. Your Express Entry profile will be given a score out of a possible 1,200 according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These points take into consideration your age, work experience, language ability, education, and several other factors. Your profile is then ranked against other profiles in the Express Entry pool based on CRS scores. Candidates with the highest-ranking Express Entry profiles are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws held by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Step 4 – Gather Documents

Once you have your Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR (permanent residence) you need to gather all of the required documents. You will need a criminal record check and a medical certificate. You must then submit your application for Canadian PR within 60 days of receiving your ITA.

Step 5 – Get Confirmation of Permanent Residence

As mentioned before, CEC applications are typically processed within 4 months. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation of the permanent residence document. This will serve as proof of your permanent residence when you arrive in Canada. Here is a summary of how the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) works: Canadian Experience Class infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the advantages of the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class?

The biggest advantage of applying for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class is that there are fewer requirements to qualify. The fewer requirement means less paperwork, which means faster visa application processing. Not only are there no specific educational requirements, but you don’t need to show proof of settlement funds as you would for the Federal Skilled Worker and Trades programs.

2. How does Canada calculate experience?

Skilled work experience under the Express Entry system must be paid work. This includes paid wages or earned commission, and doesn’t include volunteer work or unpaid internships. Qualifying work experience includes up to 30 hours per week for 12 months or equal to one year of full-time or 1,560 hours. Hours will not be counted if you work more than 30 hours per week. Part-time work experience counts if you worked for more or less 15 hours per week as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours. You can work more than one part-time job to accumulate the number of hours needed to apply.

3. What is a good score for the Canadian Experience Class?

Qualifying scores for Express Entry programs depend entirely on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of other applicants in your draw pool. On average, qualifying CRS scores for the CEC class draws ranged between 357 and 462. Based on CRS scores from 2021 draws, scoring at least 407 would get you an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

4. Is a medical test required for the Canadian Experience Class?

To be considered eligible to enter Canada, you have to be able to show that you are in good health and may be required to provide a medical certificate.

5. Will the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws continue?

The IRCC has been experiencing a backlog in processing Express entry applications and has therefore stopped processing CEC and FSWP applications, just for the time being. This is to allow for the 14,000 CEC and 600 FSWP applications waiting to be processed. In a similar attempt to alleviate the backlog due to pandemic restrictions earlier this year, the IRCC dropped the qualifying CRS score to just 75 points in two consecutive draws held on February 13 2021, inviting an incredible 54,664 applicants to apply for permanent residency.

Ready to Put Your Experience to Work in Canada?

If the Canadian Experience Class sounds like it might be the right pathway for you, we’re here to make your application easy. Our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are all authorized by the Government of Canada to assist with your application. With an immigration expert, like an RCIC, working on your case your application will be more likely to succeed because they will ensure all the documentation is completed correctly and submitted on time. They provide you with a simplified, error-free immigration route to Canada. Once you sign up for our services, the first step is completing our comprehensive online evaluation. This will allow you to discover all of your immigration options, including your eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class. Our RCICs will provide you with a report detailing which programs you are most likely to succeed with. Discover if you can immigrate to Canada, sign up today! 
Ready to Start? Apply Now

Immigration FAQ’s

Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is based on the following factors:

  • Provincial Nomination;
  • Offer of employment;
  • Core capital factors;
  • Your common-law partner or spouse;
  • Skill transferability;
  • Previous Canadian study experience;
  • Siblings in Canada; and
  • French and English Ability

Provincial Nomination (600 Points)

600 points are awarded for an enhanced Nominee certificate from a province in Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Job Offers (50-600 Points)

A Canadian job offer will also earn you points; the number of points is based on the NOC level of the particular job.

Core Human Capital Factors (600 Points)

These take into account your level of education, for example:

  • Certificate;
  • Diploma; or
  • Degree

If you intend to gain higher qualifications, your score will increase. This same point system applies to your legal partner or spouse if you applied together.

Language (150 Points)

Improving your language skills in either English or French through a recognized Canadian institution can also raise your CRS score.

Work Experience

The more experience you have, the more points you earn. This also applies to your legal partner or spouse.

You must:

  • Meet all the requirements of the:
    • Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC);
    • Federal Skilled Trades Class; or
    • Canadian Experience Class

You must register with the Canadian Job Bank within 30 days unless:

  • You have arranged employment from a Canadian employer; or
  • You have received a nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program

You must have a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to earn Comprehensive Ranking System points, unless you:

  • Have worked full time for an employer with a work permit for a least one year (or a part-time job for an equal amount of time);
  • Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer that is for at least one year in duration; or
  • Have a valid employer specific temporary work permit exempt under code R204 (a), (c) or R205

If you qualify for any of the Federal Programs, you have 30 days from when you submit your profile to complete the rest of the requirements like registering with the Job Bank. If you do not, your Express Entry profile cannot be activated.

There are three programs to apply for under Express Entry:

  • Skilled Federal Worker Program (SFWP);
  • Skilled Federal Trades Program (SFTP); or
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The following factors affect your eligibility:

Work Experience

You must:

  • Have gained relevant work experience for a job listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Note: Work experience gained in another occupation you have not applied for does not apply;
  • Have gained work experience in the past 10 years;
  • Have received payment for your work;
  • Have a job at skill level 0, A or B;
  • Have a year’s worth of work experience (minimum 1,560 hours); and
  • Prove that your work experience fits the requirements of the NOC

Language Ability

You must:

  • Meet the minimum language level set by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB);
  • Take a language proficiency test That is approved by IRCC;
  • You must meet the language requirements for either French or English; and
  • Your language test results must not be more than two years old when you apply

Education

You must:

  • Have completed canadian secondary education; and a tertiary certificate, diploma or degree;
  • Have completed foreign credentials; or
  • Have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC

Proof of Funds

You must prove you can support yourself and your family financially, unless:

  • You are working in Canada; or
  • You have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer

Additional Factors to Be Considered

  • Age;
  • Valid job offers; and
  • Adaptability

This program is aimed at people who wish to become permanent residents (PR) of Canada. This only applies to people who qualify in a skilled trade.

Minimum Requirements

You must:

  • Plan to live outside of Quebec (The province has its own Quebec Skilled Worker Program);
  • Meet the language requirements for English and French;
  • Have two years’ work experience in a skilled trade (or equal amount of experience in a part time position;
  • Have work experience within the past 5 years;
  • Meet the job requirements in the National Occupational Classifications;
  • Have a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer for a minimum of one year; or
  • A certificate of qualification for that skilled trade that is confirmed from the Canadian provincial or territorial government authority

Skilled Work Experience

These skilled trades are involved in the Federal Skilled Trades Program as ranked by the National Occupational Classification.

Group NumberJob Description
72Industrial, construction or electrical trades
73Equipment operation and maintenance
82

Technical and supervisors in:

  • Agriculture
  • Natural resources
  • Production
92Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisor
Central control operators
632Cooks and chefs
633Bakers and butchers

Education

You do not need a specific qualification for this program, but you can earn more CRS points if you have:

  • Foreign qualifications;
  • An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC;or
  • A Canadian certificate, diploma or degree

Language Ability

  • Pass the Canadian Language Benchmark test at minimum language level;
  • The language test must be approved by IRCC; and
  • Your test results must not be older than two years when you apply.

Be assessed by the province or territory

Each of the provinces or territories have different requirements for the skilled trade industry.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements

You must:

  • Have skilled work experience for at least 12 months (either full time or part time for the same amount of time) within three years before you apply;
  • Have the required language skills needed for your job;
  • Have gained experience in Canada with proper authorization;
  • Have the language proficiency needed for your job; and
  • Have plans to live outside of Quebec

Skilled Work Experience

Work experience must be gained in the following job levels based on the National Occupational Classifications.

Job DescriptionSkill Type
Technical jobsB
Skilled tradesB
Professional jobsA
Managerial jobs0

Education

You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if you:

  • Have a high school diploma, tertiary diploma or degree;
  • Have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by IRCC; or
  • Have completed foreign credentials

Language Ability

To qualify you must score well in the various language tests determined by the CEC.

Canadian Language Benchmark Score NeededJob Level (NOC)
70
7A
5B

The language test must be approved by IRCC and must not be older than two years when you apply.

  • Have skilled work experience for at least 12 months (either full time or part time for the same amount of time) within three years before you apply;
  • Have the required language skills needed for your job;
  • Have gained experience in Canada with proper authorization;
  • Have language levels need for your job; and
  • Have plans to live outside of Quebec

Note:work experience gained as a student or a self-employed individual does not count.

Skilled Work Experience

Work experience must be within three years of applying for the Canadian Experience Class. Work experience must be gained in the following job levels as based on National Occupational Classifications.

Job descriptionSkill Type
Technical jobsB
Skilled tradesB
Professional jobsA
Managerial jobs0
Education

You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if:

  • have a high school diploma and/or tertiary diploma or degree;
  • have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; or have
  • completed foreign credentials

Note: Only apply for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your foreign education is either equal to, or higher than the Canadian education standard.

Language Ability

To qualify you must score well in:

  • the Canadian Language Benchmark; and
  • the language tests
Canadian Language Benchmark score neededJob level (NOC)
70
7A
5B

The Language Test must be approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada .These tests are based off your French and English ability to:

  • Read;
  • Speak;
  • Listen; and
  • Write

Your test results must be included if you are applying for this program through the Express Entry program. Note: these tests must not be older than two years when you apply.

Principal Applicant

When you apply for the Express Entry, and want to immigrate with your common law partner, you must choose who will be the principal applicant.

Note: a common law partner is a person who has been married to you for one year. This applies for same sex and opposite sex partners.

Choose the principal applicant by looking at who will score the highest points under the Express Entry program.

Inadmissibility

You may be inadmissible if you are:

  1. Considered a security risk;
  2. Lied about information in your application or interview;
  3. Have ties to organised crime;
  4. Can’t support yourself financially;
  5. Have terrible financial health;
  6. Committed a crime outside of Canada;
  7. Do not qualify under Canada’s immigration laws; and
  8. Have a family member that is not allowed in the country
Choosing Where To Live

Note:under the Express Entry you can apply to live in other provinces/territories in Canada, except Quebec. This province has its own set of requirements needed for you to enter.

These are the factors that are used to calculate CRS Points

  • Age (max 110 points);
  • Education (max 150 points);
  • Language proficiency (max 160 points);
  • Canadian Work Experience (max 80 points);
  • Skills Transferability (max 100 points); and
  • Additional Factors (max 600 points)

A legal agent is an authorized representative that must be:

  • A paralegal or lawyer who has a good relationship with the provincial or territorial legal societies of Canada;
  • A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) who has a good relationship with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council; or
  • A notary who has a good relationship with the Chambre des notaires du Québec

Note: An unauthorized agent will not be able to help you with your application.

There are currently 3 Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants working with Canadianvisa.org:

David Allon #R513335

Mario Antolinez #R515931

Jimmy Park #R510391

If you want to ensure that your Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is an authorized consultant, you can check with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

The ICCRC’s website has a register of all the persons that are qualified to be Canadian Immigration Consultants. Any individual who claims to be a legal consultant will have a RCIC code. If there are no results for a person’s RCIC code, then they are not a legal Canadian Immigration Consultant.

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EXPRESS ENTRY CHECKLIST

  • Stage 1: Applying for Express Entry
  • Passport Copy (all pages including stamps and visa);
  • Job Letter on company letterhead;
  • IELTS
  • Education documents 10th onwards;
  • Education Evaluation i.e., WES
  • Stage 2: After ITA (Invitation to Apply)
  • Police Clearance Certificate
  •  Employment Documents i.e., Recent Job Letter, Pay Slips and Bank Statement
  • Offer of Employment: If you have LMIA, provide copy of your LMIA approval and offer of
    employment
  • Upfront Medical
  • Digital Photo with dimensions 50 mm wide X 70 mm high

If you are married provide following documents for your spouse and dependent child whether they are
accompanying or not:

  • Passport Copy (all pages including stamps and visas)
  • Immigration Documents (i.e., work permit, study permit and visitor record) If Applicable
  • Police Clearance Certificate
  • Employment Documents
  • IELTS or CELPIP
  • General Exam Certificate
  • Education Evaluation from WES or CES or ICAS or IQAS or ICES.
  • Education Documents
  • Medical
  • Digital Picture
  • Marriage Certificate

Please note that CIC provide us 60 days to submit 2nd stage documentation from the date of Invitation
and we may take up to 7 business day to submit from the date of receipt of all documents from you.
So kindly start collecting all documents beforehand.

Visitor Visa & Super Visa

  • Documents from Canada:
  1. Scanned copy of passport with front, back and all stamped pages
  2. Notarized Invitation Letter (we will write it for you, then you have to
    notarized)
  3. Bank statements
  4. Proof of status (PR CARD/work permit/study permit)
  5. Job letter/enrollment letter
  6.  Notice of assessment
  7.  Birth Certificate
  8.  If applying for convocation: Offer letter + fees receipt + student id+
    Transcripts + Enrollment letter + Convocation Letter from college
  • Documents from Applicant:
  • Scanned copy of passport with front, back and all stamped pages
  • Digital photos with 35 mm X 45 mm dimensions
  • Marriage certificate (if not available, then affidavit)
  • No Objection Certificate (if Government employee)
  •  Funds (Bank Statement + Balance Certificate) (Minimum 6-7 lakh
  • Property evaluation from CA which includes:
  1. Property Papers – Map, Registry, Jamabandi
  2. Motor Vehicle – RC copy
  3. Gold Receipt
  4. Insurance Policy
  • Income Proof includes:
  1. J forms (Last 2-3 years) or Tehsildar Income Certificate or Lease
    Agreement
  2. Business Registration, ITR’s on company name, Company’s Pan Card
  3. ITR’s, NOC, Salary Statement/Salary Slips, Experience Letter
  • If applying for SUPER VISA, additional documents required:
  1. Health Insurance from Canadian Company
    • valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
    • at least $100,000 coverage
  2. Upfront Medical from India
    **All documents should be in English**
    EMBASSY FEES: $100 + $85 (Biometrics Fees) = $185

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Checklist

  • Travel documents and passports
Copy of pages of your passport or travel documents for you, your spouse and your dependent children,
  • Front page
  • Back page
  • All stamped pages
  • Confirmation of provincial Endorsement
Submit the endorsement letter from Atlantic province that has endorsed you
  • Proof of language Proficiency i.e. IELTS General
Submit the original results of your language proficiency test that shows you meet a minimum of level 4 of CLB. Your test result must not be more than two years old on the date of application.
  • Proof of Education

Your all education documents after 12th class. If your diploma, certificate or degree
was not issued in Canada, you must also provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

  • Proof of previous relevant work experience

You must show that you have at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the 36
months before your application.

  • Letter of employment
  • Paystubs
  • Bank statements
  • ITR’s
  • Identity and Civil Status documents

You must provide the following documents of you and your spouse:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
  • If married more than once, include certificates from each marriage and divorce.
  • Children Birth certificate
  • Police Certificates and clearance
You must get a police certificate from each country where you live for six or more months in a row since the age of 18.
  • Photo Requirement
Include 1 photo of each family member, whether accompanying or not, and yourself. Dimensions are 50 mm wide X 70 mm High. Family member means you, your spouse and your children’s.
  • Proof of funds

Submit bank statement or balance certificate to prove you have enough funds to settle in
Canada.

**All documents in a language other than English or French must be translated. Provide both a
photocopy of the document and the translation in English or French. **