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WHAT IS A CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS (CEC)?

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The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is for skilled workers who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent immigration to Canada. This is based on the amount of time they spent in Canada while contributing to the economy and society. A candidate should prove a minimum of 1 year's Canadian Work Experience to get this visa.

Managed under the Express Entry system, it 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.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS (CEC)

In order to be eligible of Canadian work experience towards your CEC application, you must meet the following conditions:

Work Experience

  • One must have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply—you can meet this in a few different ways:

    • full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full-time (1,560 hours)

    • equal amount in part-time work: for example 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours) You can work as many part-time jobs as you need to meet this requirement.

    • full-time work at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

  • One should have gained their work experience by working in Canada while under temporary resident status with authorization to work

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:

  • managerial jobs (skill level 0)

  • professional jobs (skill type A)

  • technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)

Your work experience can be in 1 or more NOC 0, A or B jobs.

You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.

If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool for immigration purposes, there are 2 ways you can do this.

  • If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:

    • secondary institution (high school) or

    • post-secondary institution

    or

  • If you have foreign education, you can get points for:

    • a completed foreign credential, and

    • an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:

      • secondary institution (high school) or

      • post-secondary institution

Language Ability

You must:

  • meet the minimum language level of:

    • Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or

    • Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs

  • take approved language tests for:

    • writing

    • reading

    • listening

    • speaking

  • describe the test results in your Express Entry profile

Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE 

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is for skilled workers who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent immigration to Canada. This is based on the amount of time they spent in Canada while contributing to the economy and society. A candidate should prove a minimum of 1 year's Canadian Work Experience to get this visa.

Managed under the Express Entry system, it 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.

Applicants will also need to upload the following:

  • police certificates

  • medical exams

  • proof of funds

  • birth certificate

    • required if you’re declaring dependent children

  • use of a representative form (PDF, 137 KB)

    • required if you’ve hired a representative

  • common-law union form (PDF, 2.22 MB)

    • required if you’ve declared your marital status as “common-law”

  • marriage certificate

    • required if you’ve declared your marital status as “married”

  • divorce certificate and legal separation agreement

    • required if you’ve declared your marital status as “divorced”

  • death certificate

    • required if you’ve declared your marital status as “widowed”

  • adoption certificate

    • required when a dependent child is listed as “adopted”

Other documents

You only need to submit these if we included them in your personalized document checklist. Your application may not be refused or rejected if you don’t submit these documents. They’re only used to check if you meet the requirements of the program you’re applying for.

  • proof of relationship to a relative in Canada

  • digital photos to confirm your identity

  • other name to confirm aliases

  • authority to release personal information to a designated individual form

  • any other documents that you feel are relevant to your application

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