Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a popular immigration program under the Express Entry system, designed for individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada. This program is ideal for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who wish to become permanent residents.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a popular immigration program under the Express Entry system, designed for individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada. This program is ideal for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who wish to become permanent residents. 

To be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, applicants must meet certain requirements. These requirements are as follows:

Key Eligibility Requirements for CEC:

1. Work Experience:

   • Must have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada (full-time or an equivalent amount in part-time) within the last 3 years.

   • The work experience must fall under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (skilled occupations).

2. Language Proficiency:

   • Must meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB):

-TEER 0 or 1: CLB 7 (Intermediate-Advanced)

-TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5 (Intermediate)

3. Work Authorization:

   • The work experience must be obtained while on proper authorization (e.g., work permit).

4. Education (not mandatory but beneficial for CRS points):

   • No education requirement for eligibility.

   • However, including your education credentials can improve your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

5. Intention to Reside Outside Quebec:

   • Applicants must show intent to live outside Quebec since Quebec has its own immigration programs.

6. Admissibility:

   • Must not have any criminal or medical inadmissibility.

Application Process:

1. Create an Express Entry Profile:

   • Indicate your interest in the Canadian Experience Class.

   • Enter your details (work experience, education, language scores, etc.) to get your CRS score.

2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):

   • If your CRS score is high enough, you will receive an ITA during a draw.

3. Submit Your PR Application:

   • Provide documents such as:

-Proof of work experience (e.g., reference letters, pay stubs).

-Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF for French).

-Medical exam and police clearance certificates.

3. • Pay processing fees and biometrics.

4. Wait for a Decision:

   • Processing time for CEC is typically 6 months or less after submission.

Key Points of CEC:

• Under this program, self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student, such as a co-op work term, do not qualify.

• Applicants can work as many part-time jobs as they need to meet this requirement but any hours above 30 hours/week can not be counted.

• Applicants have the option to remain in Canada during the application process. However, individuals who are no longer in Canada can still apply for the Canadian Experience Class as long as they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.

• The requirements for the Canadian Experience Class are evaluated based on a pass or fail model.

• Meeting the minimum requirements makes the applicant eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, without necessarily needing to achieve a minimum score of 67 points based on the selection factors established by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Benefits of CEC:

• No requirement to prove settlement funds (if you are currently employed in Canada).

• Recognizes Canadian work experience, which increases CRS points.

• Faster processing compared to other immigration pathways.

                                                                                                                         Category Based Selection 

In category-based rounds of invitations, IRCC invites candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal. 

candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as:

• ability to communicate in a specific official language

• work experience in a specific occupation

• education

Current categories

1. French-language proficiency

2. Healthcare occupations

3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations

4. Trade occupations

5. Transport occupations

6. Agriculture and agri-food occupations

Who's eligible for each category

To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:

• meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for 1 of the 3 immigration programs it covers, and

• meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round

When IRCC hold a category-based round of invitations, they:

• rank candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements and

• invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence

To know more about each category and their respective requirements, please click on the link below to go to Government of Canada's website:

                                                                                                                                           Category Based Selection