The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. The CEC is an immigration category for Canada's foreign workers and Canada’s international student graduates who wish to become permanent residents.

Temporary foreign workers are ideal candidates for Canadian immigration (permanent residence). Having obtained Canadian work experience, these individuals have already settled into the Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers.

This federal program allows international students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to get Canadian permanent residence without leaving Canada.

CEC applications are processed through the Express Entry Selection System for immigration to Canada. Eligible candidates must make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada, create an online Express Entry profile, and receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence before they may make an application.

CEC requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements. They must:

- Have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date; and
- Meet or surpass a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 ("initial intermediate") or 7 ("adequate intermediate proficiency"), depending on the level of the job; and
- Plan to live and work outside of the province of Quebec (individuals with work experience in Quebec and who plan to reside in Quebec may apply to the Quebec Experience Class. 

Applicants can remain in Canada throughout the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to individuals who are no longer in Canada, provided that they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.

The Canadian Experience Class requirements are based on a pass or fail model. If the minimum requirements are met, the applicant is eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.

International students

After completing a program or course of study at a Canadian educational institution, many international graduates are able to remain in the country on post-graduate work permits. If during this time, a graduate obtains at least one year of work in a skilled, professional, or technical field, they may then become eligible to enter the Express Entry pool under the Canadian Experience Class.

Requirements:

Graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada.
- Possess 12 months of continuous work experience in Canada under a work visa or study visa
- Submit an application while working in Canada – or – within 1 year after leaving Canada
- Possess a valid language assessment (from a recognized third party agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
- Intend to reside outside the province of Quebec
In order to qualify as a member of the Canadian Experience Class, you need to meet all of the following criteria:
- You have at least the equivalent of twelve months of full-time work experience in a qualifying occupation in Canada in the previous three years preceding the date of your application.
- Your work experience in Canada was obtained while you were in Canada on proper authorization
- Your work experience was not done while a full-time student or while self-employed
- You can meet the language requirements of your occupation
o CLB 7 for NOC O and A
o CLB 5 for NOC B
- Have the required amount of settlement funds based on your family size

Note: Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (for example, on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.

Provincial Nominee Programs

There are additional Options for Foreign Workers and graduated from Canadian University/ College

These applicants may have other additional for Canadian immigration through the various Provincial Nominee Programs from applying under the Canadian Experience Class. 

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify for Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days. 

For more information, Contact us.