How to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

If you study or work in Canada, you may be able to apply for permanent residence and qualify under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates who qualify for the CEC must still submit an Express Entry profile and wait to receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency.

Canadian Experience Class requirements

In order to qualify for the CEC, you must meet the following requirements:

1 year of full time skilled work experience in Canada within 3 years of submission of your application
Self-employed work experience or work as a co-op student may not be eligible
Minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 to 7, depending on the level of the work experience
Plan to live outside the province of Quebec (Candidates with work experience in Quebec can apply to CEC or the Programme de l'Expérience Québécoise, also known as the PEQ.
Must not be inadmissible to Canada

What types of jobs qualify as work experience?

Your 1 year of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) work experience must fit into one of these National Occupation Classifications (NOC):

Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
Professional jobs(NOC skill level A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill level B)

Proof of funds

One of the advantages of applying under the Canadian Experience Class is that you do not need to show proof of funds in your application. Therefore, you will not be required to possess a minimum of $12,475 for a single applicant to settle in Canada.

For International Students

After completing studies at a Canadian educational institution, international graduates may continue to stay in Canada on a Post-Graduate Work Permit. With experience gained through the post-graduate work permit, a student would then be qualified for the Canadian Experience Class if he/she gains at least one year of skilled Canadian Work Experience.

For International Workers

If you are a foreign worker applying under the Canadian Experience Class, don't forget that you may also be eligible for a Provincial Nominee Program.