Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration classification for Canada’s foreign workers who wish to become permanent residents.

Canadian Experience Class applicants shall have the qualities which enable them to make a successful conversion from Temporary Foreign Worker to Permanent Resident. They should meet the minimum requirements and obtained Canadian work experience. These individuals have already settled into Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers. Nevertheless, under Express Entry, applicants are ranked against each other and if you have the best qualifications among other applicants you will be given an Invitation To Apply under this stream.

Canadian Experience Class applications are processed through the Express Entry selection system for immigration to Canada. Under this stream, an eligible candidate must make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada, create an online Express Entry profile, and receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence before they may make an application. To avoid the possibility of denial, an applicant should enlist the expertise of an immigration professional.

CEC requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional or technical work experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date; and
• Meet or surpass a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 (“initial intermediate”) or 7 (“adequate intermediate proficiency”), depending on the level of the job; and
• Plan to live and work outside of the province of Quebec (individuals with work experience in Quebec and who plan to reside in Quebec may apply to the Quebec Experience Class).
• Applicants can remain in Canada throughout the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to individuals who are no longer in Canada, provided that they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.

The Canadian Experience Class requirements are based on a pass or fail model. If the minimum requirements are met, the applicant is eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.

Note: Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (for example, on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.

A Popular Option for International Students

For many international graduates, the Canadian Experience Class may offer the fastest and most simple path to achieving permanent residence.

After completing a program or course of study at a Canadian educational institution, many international graduates are able to remain in the country on post-graduate work permits. If, during this time, a graduate obtains at least one year of work in a skilled, professional or technical field, they may then become eligible to enter the Express Entry pool under the Canadian Experience Class.

Additional Options for Foreign Workers

If you want to apply under the Canadian Experience Class, you have other additional for Canadian immigration through applying various Provincial Nominee Programs.