The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is ideal for candidates who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent residence in Canada. CEC is also one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence, taking as little as three to four months to process!

What is the Canadian Experience Class Program?

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is an immigration stream under the Express Entry system in Canada, specifically designed for temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada. This program aims to help these individuals transition from temporary to permanent residence status.

CEC is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates. Applicants who have competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Who is Eligible for the Canadian Experience Class Program?

To qualify for the CEC program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Work Experience: At least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work) in Canada within the last three years.
• Occupation Type: Experience must fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories.
• Legal Work Authorization: The work experience must be legally obtained, paid employment.
• Language Proficiency: Applicants must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements:
  • CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A occupations
  • CLB 5 for NOC B occupations
• Intention to Reside: Candidates must plan to live outside Quebec, as the province has its own immigration programs.

Canadian Experience Class Requirements

To count your 12 months of Canadian work experience towards your CEC application, it must meet the following conditions:

• Be obtained in Canada within the 36 months before the date of submission of the Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
• Your work experience in Canada can be classified into one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3, based on your training, education, experience, and job essential duties.
• Be lawfully obtained, paid work experience in Canada.
• An applicant cannot count work experience obtained while engaged in full-time studies in Canada.
• At least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test for NOC skill level 0 or A jobs. Reach a CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.
• Must intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.
• If a candidate fulfills these criteria, they can create an Express Entry profile for the Canadian Experience Class program. However, it is important to remember that meeting Canada’s fundamental admissibility criteria, including clean criminal records and satisfactory medical conditions, is also essential, as certain offenses or health issues may lead to inadmissibility.

Application Process for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Applying for permanent residence through the CEC involves several key steps:

• Check Eligibility: Ensure that you meet all CEC requirements, including work experience, language proficiency, and residency intentions.
• Create an Express Entry Profile: Submit your profile through the Express Entry system and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA): If your CRS score is high enough, you will receive an ITA during an Express Entry draw.
• Submit Your Permanent Residence Application: Once you receive an ITA, submit a complete Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) within 60 days. This includes:

1. Personal information and documents
2. Proof of work experience
3. Language test results
4. Police clearance certificates
5. Medical examination result

• Wait for Processing: The standard processing time for CEC applications is three to four months.
• Receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR): If your application is approved, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and can complete your landing process to become a permanent resident of Canada.

How to Calculate Your Canadian Experience Class CRS Points?

Express Entry holds rounds of invitations and invites CEC candidates based on their CRS scores. To calculate your points for CEC, you can use a CRS calculator tool.

Express Entry System

The Express Entry System is an online immigration application management system used by the Canadian government to process skilled worker applications for permanent residence. It includes three main programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): It is for individuals with recent skilled work experience in Canada.
• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program: It is for skilled professionals with foreign work experience.
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program: It is for skilled tradespeople with work experience in a trade occupation.

Candidates submit an Express Entry profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. Regular Express Entry draws are held, and candidates with the highest CRS scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.