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.
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 CEC.
Canadian Experience Class Requirements?
There are several requirements you will have to meet in order to qualify for this 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.
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
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, do 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 permanent residence document. This will serve as proof of your permanent residence when you arrive in Canada.
