Canadian Experience Class
Fast-track your way to a fulfilling career in Canada with the Express Entry program.
Book a 30 min consultation and have an immigration lawyer advise you on your options based on your individual circumstances.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the federal economic immigration programs under Express Entry for applicants with recent Canadian paid full-time (or part-time equivalence) skilled work experience.
The IRCC uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank the applicants. Applicants who meet/exceed the CRS cut-off score will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to submit their permanent residence applications.
CEC Primary Benefits
- CEC has been known to have the fastest processing time compared to other Express Entry programs.
- CEC intakes will remain steady and available for the foreseeable future.
- You will not be required to provide proof of settlement funds.
- You can enter the Express Entry pool anytime you want as long as you meet the minimum requirements.
- Express Entry implements electronic systems from profiles to final PR submissions, so you can enjoy paper-free flexibility.
CEC Basic Requirements
To qualify for CEC, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Skilled work experience: You must have at least 1 year full-time paid work experience or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience (min 1,560 hours). Your Canadian skilled work experience must be paid and obtained within the last 3 years (36 months) of the date of submission of eAPR (see below). Please note that work experience obtained while studying full-time do not count towards the CEC work experience.
- Language: You must have a valid French or English language test attesting to your skill level. Depending on the TEER level of your primary Canadian skilled occupation, please refer to the chart below:
| TEER level | Minimum requirements for all four English abilities | Minimum requirements for all four French abilities |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 or 1 | CLB 7 | NCLC 7 |
| TEER 2 or 3 | CLB 5 | NCLC 5 |
- Job offer: Not required
- Intention to live outside the province of Quebec: You must have the intention to live outside Quebec since the province of Quebec has its own immigration system.
CEC Application Process
As long as you meet the minimum requirements, we can create and launch your Express Entry profile to enter the pool. Once an ITA (Invitation to Apply) is received, we will have 60 days to prepare for the permanent residence application.
We can submit the application online as soon as the eAPR (Electronic Application for Permanent Residence) is completed with all supporting documents.
CEC Processing Times
We will process your case as soon as we receive all supporting documents. The government processing time for Express Entry applications is generally 6 months.
Due to processing delays and staff shortages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 6-month processing time cannot be guaranteed. However, Express Entry programs still enjoy relatively shorter processing durations as opposed to other types of applications.
CEC Processing Fees
For up-to-date pricing information, please visit the Government of Canada Website.
If you have questions about the Express Entry process or are ready to start your application, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can provide you with the guidance and support you need to complete the process successfully.
Questions? Answers.
Yes you can apply under CEC if you are outside Canada, as long as you have at least 1 year of full-time, paid Canadian skilled work experience (or part-time equivalence) within the past 36 months from the date of application, and you meet the minimum language requirement with an acceptable language test that is less than 2 years old, you can apply from outside Canada.
No, the IRCC does not count any hours you work above 30 hours per week. Therefore, for full-time jobs, you would need at least 1 year to fulfill the minimum requirement.
No, you can’t use the internship or volunteer experiences as part of the CEC work experience. Work experience qualified under CEC must be paid work including paid wages or commissions earned. The IRCC does not count unpaid internships, volunteer work or work performed while studying full-time.
No, self-employed work experiences do not count towards CEC.
No, any acceptable language test results must be less than 2 years old.
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