The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Since 2008, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) has been an important pathway for candidates with Canadian work experience who wish to transition to permanent residence.

The CEC is a popular option for temporary foreign workers and international students who have built up work experience in Canada. It is 1 of the 3 programmes managed within Canada’s Express Entry system.

Overview

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) in 2008 to provide a dedicated immigration pathway for temporary foreign workers and international students who wish to become permanent residents.

Since then, the CEC has grown into one of Canada’s largest immigration programmes for highly skilled workers and is regarded by governments at all levels, by communities, by employers and by candidates themselves as a considerable success.

The advantages of the CEC

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) forms part of federal and provincial efforts to encourage more temporary foreign workers and international students to build their future in Canada. Research byImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Statistics Canada and academics has shown that highly skilled candidates have a significant advantage in integrating into the Canadian labour market if they have already lived in the country.

The combination of strong human capital criteria (for example, being young or middle-aged, holding a high level of education, and having good work experience and language skills) with the social and professional networks built in Canada makes it easier for CEC immigrants to succeed in the labour market.

In addition, candidates with Canadian work experience may receive extraComprehensive Ranking System (CRS)points in theExpress Entrypool, improving their chances of receiving anInvitation to Apply (ITA)to become a permanent resident.

Another benefit of the CEC is the speed of processing, with permanent residence applications usually processed within 6 months.

Finally, unlike the other two Express Entry programmes, CEC candidates do not need to show proof of funds to demonstrate that they can support themselves after becoming permanent residents.

CEC eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least 1 year of skilled, professional or technical work experience in Canada within the 36 months preceding the date of application.
• Meet or exceedCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)5 (initial intermediate proficiency) for work in TEER category 2 or 3 under theNational Occupational Classification (NOC), or CLB 7 (adequate intermediate proficiency) for work in TEER category 0 or 1.
• Plan to live and work outside the province of Quebec (those with work experience in Quebec who intend to settle in Quebec may apply under theQuebec Experience Program).

One year (or 12 months) of work experience is defined as at least 1,560 hours of skilled work in Canada. These 1,560 hours may be accumulated through full-time or part-time work.

Candidates may remain in Canada throughout the processing of their application. However, the CEC also applies to those who have already left Canada, provided they apply within 3 years of the date they stopped working in Canada.

CEC requirements are assessed on a pass or fail basis. If the minimum requirements are met, the candidate is eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.

Note: work experience gained through self-employment, or work accumulated while studying full-time, does not count towards the CEC.

If a candidate is eligible for the CEC, they may also be eligible for the category-based Express Entry draws announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Meeting the criteria for these draws gives candidates additional chances of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

How does the CEC work?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the Express Entry system to manage the profiles of skilled worker candidates under three programmes, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). If a candidate has previously lived in Canada and has eligible Canadian work experience, they may be a strong candidate for the CEC. They may also be eligible for theThe Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)orFederal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

The first step is to make sure the candidate meets the criteria of the CEC or of one of the other Express Entry programmes. If eligible, the candidate needs to create and submit an Express Entry profile on theIRCC website. Roughly every two weeks, IRCC holdsExpress Entry drawsand issues invitations to apply (ITAs) to the candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. The CRS score is determined by each candidate’s human capital factors, including age, level of education, language skills, work experience and Canadian experience.

If they receive an ITA, the candidate must submit a complete permanent residence application to IRCC within the set deadline. IRCC aims to process applications within 6 months or less.

The CEC process for international students

International students who have graduated from an eligible educational programme in Canada are a key group able to become permanent residents through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Below is the most common route for international students to become Canadian permanent residents through the CEC:

• Step 1:Complete a course of study at aDesignated Learning Institution (DLI)in Canada.
• Step 2:Apply for aPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Step 3:Use the PGWP to accumulate at least 1,560 hours of work experience in Canada in an occupation classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
• Step 4:Sit an English or French test recognised by IRCC and achieve the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level (CLB 7 for work in NOC TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for work in NOC TEER 2 and 3).
• Step 5:Submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. If an invitation to apply (ITA) is received, IRCC will aim to process the candidate’s permanent residence application within 6 months.

The CEC process for temporary workers

Temporary foreign workers may become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) after accumulating one year of professional work experience in Canada.

Below is the most common route for temporary foreign workers to become Canadian permanent residents through the CEC:

• Step 1:Obtain a work permit for Canada.
• Step 2:Accumulate at least 1,560 hours of work experience in Canada in an occupation classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
• Step 3:Sit an English or French test recognised by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and achieve the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level (CLB 7 for work in NOC TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for work in NOC TEER 2 and 3).
• Step 4:Submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. If an invitation to apply (ITA) is received, IRCC will aim to process the candidate’s permanent residence application within 6 months.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)