One of the immigration programs available through the Canada Express Entry system is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This program is for people who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada and want to move from temporary status to becoming permanent residents. To apply, you need to meet the Canadian Experience Class eligibility requirements, which include:
- Have worked full-time (or comparable part-time) in CEC Canada for at least 12 months in a skilled occupation classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill category 0, A, or B in the previous three years.
- Provide legitimate language test results (such as IELTS or CELPIP for English or TEF for French) to demonstrate competency in English or French.
- While there is no minimum academic requirement for the CEC, greater levels of education can gain you more points in the Express Entry system.
- The CEC does not apply to those wanting to live in Quebec, as the province has its own selection standards and immigration programs.
- Applicants must ensure that their job experience in CEC Canada fits the IRCC standards, including having legal authorization to work in the nation and acquiring relevant work permits.
To apply through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), candidates must first create an Express Entry profile and meet the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required. The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) holds regular draws from the CEC Express Entry pool, inviting those with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residency. Once applicants receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they have a certain amount of time to send a complete application with all the required documents and fees. The IRCC aims to process most CEC applications within six months.
The Canadian Experience Class allows people who have gained valuable work experience in Canada to become permanent residents. This helps them continue to contribute to Canada’s workforce and economy in the long term. If you want to check your Canadian Experience Class eligibility, you will need to have relevant work experience in Canada and meet other requirements like the CRS score.
What are the advantages of the CEC?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Immigration program is a joint effort between the federal and provincial governments. It helps temporary foreign workers and international students settle permanently in Canada. People who have already worked or studied in Canada through the CEC have an advantage when finding jobs. According to IRCC, Statistics Canada, and researchers, those with Canadian work experience can succeed more easily in the job market. This is because they are often young or middle-aged, have high levels of education and work experience, and have built strong social and professional networks in Canada.
Candidates who meet the Canadian Experience Class eligibility also get higher points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) under Express Entry. This improves their chances of getting permanent residency. Once selected through Express Entry, most CEC candidates receive their permanent residency within six months. A key benefit of the CEC is that applicants don’t need to show proof of settlement funds, which is required by other Express Entry programs, making it easier for them to become permanent residents.
How does the CEC’s immigration process work?
If you want to apply as a skilled worker in Canada, the IRCC uses Express Entry to manage applications for three programs, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). You could be a good fit for the CEC if you’ve lived in Canada before and have work experience that meets the Canadian Experience Class eligibility. If you work in a trade, you might also qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
The first thing to do is check if you’re eligible for the CEC or another Express Entry program. If you meet the requirements, you need to create an Express Entry profile on the official IRCC website. Every two weeks, IRCC holds Express Entry draws, inviting people with the highest scores to apply for permanent residency. These scores are based on factors like your age, education, language skills, work experience, and Canadian work experience, among others.
If you get an invitation to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to fill out an application and submit it to IRCC before the deadline. The IRCC tries to process applications within six months or less.
As an International Student, you can now apply for the CEC.
Most who obtain permanent residency through the CEC are overseas students who have completed a qualifying educational program in Canada. The following are the most common ways for a foreign student to obtain permanent residence in CEC Canada through the CEC:
Step 1: Finish your study at a Canadian-approved learning institution.
Step 2: Apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) at IRCC.
Step 3: Accumulate a minimum of 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in a NOC skill level 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations while holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Step 4: Take an IRCC-approved English or French language test and meet the minimal Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) criterion.
Step 5: Fill out the Express Entry form. If you are granted an invitation to apply, the IRCC will handle your permanent residence application within six months.
Temporary foreign workers can apply to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Temporary foreign workers can apply for the Canadian Experience Class eligibility for Indians scheme after one year of professional work experience in Canada. The CEC is the most commonly used method for attaining Canadian permanent residence as a temporary foreign worker:
Step 1: Secure a work authorization document to work in Canada legally.
Step 2: To meet the requirement, you must have a minimum of 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in occupations classified under NOC skill levels 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Step 3: Take an IRCC-approved English or French language test and meet the minimal Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) criterion.
Step 4: Fill out the Express Entry form. If you are granted an invitation to apply, the IRCC will handle your permanent residence application within six months.