Everything You Need To Know About Canadian Experience Class

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program in 2008 to provide a specialized skilled worker pathway to temporary foreign workers and international graduates seeking permanent residence status.

Canadian Experience Class applications are processed using the Express Entry system. Eligible candidates must first create an online Express Entry profile and receive an invitation to apply before applying for permanent residency.

CEC provides an excellent pathway to Canadian permanent residency for temporary foreign workers, especially international students. Having Canadian work experience gives these individuals a “head start” over other Express Entry candidates because it is a highly regarded factor under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The CEC has now grown to become one of Canada’s main immigration channels for talented workers, and it is widely recognized as a huge success by governments, communities, employers, and immigration hopefuls alike.

Benefits : Canadian Experience Class

1. You have the right to receive government benefits, such as healthcare and other services, in the same way as other permanent residents and Canadian citizens do.
2. You can legally sponsor your spouse and family members to work in Canada.
3. As an international student, you can study at some of Canada’s greatest universities.
4. After three years of residence in Canada and obtaining a Canadian passport, you can apply for citizenship.
5. You can live and work anywhere in Canada.
6. The Canadian Experience Class offers a fast-track option for foreign workers with prior job experience in Canada.
7. It also enables these workers to apply for permanent residency without first obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada.
8. CEC applicants are more likely to be employed and earn greater wages than other immigrants because they enter the labor force at a younger age, build social and professional networks faster, and leave their home country for study or work sooner.

1. Candidates who have worked and lived in Canada for at least a year may receive extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points through Express Entry. This increases their chances of gaining permanent residency.

1. Candidates who meet the CEC requirements are typically able to get permanent resident status within six months.
2. Candidates who meet the CEC requirements are not required to prove to IRCC that they have settlement funds to gain permanent residency.
3. One of the primary benefits of the Experience Class Program is the expedited immigration process it provides. This not only benefits the individuals, but it also answers Canada’s labor market needs more effectively.
4. Another key benefit of the Experience Class Program is that it promotes cultural interchange. Immigrants who have previously spent time in Canada, whether as temporary workers or overseas students, have developed a better knowledge of Canadian culture and values.
5. By providing them permanent status, Canada can foster multiculturalism and variety, improving the country’s social fabric.

Eligibility Criteria : Canadian Experience Class 

The aspirants must go through Express Entry. The following are the minimum requirements to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class Visa.

Work Experience

Applicants must have at least one year of full-time or comparable part-time legal domain experience in Canada within the previous three years prior to the application process.

According to the National Occupational Classification Code in Canada, skilled job experience includes the following types:

Managerial positions (Skill level O)

Professional occupations (Skill Level A)

Mechanical jobs and skilled trades (Skill Level B)

Language Ability

Applicants are expected to have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for NOC ‘O’ or ‘A’ positions and a CLB of 5 for NOC ‘B’ jobs. Applicants must present test results from an approved agency.

Educational requirements

This curriculum does not require any prior educational background. However, in order to be awarded points for Express Entry, applicants must take an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) administered by World Education Services.To qualify, candidates must have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary school certificate, diploma, or graduation degree.

How To Apply : Canadian Experience Class 

Let’s take a look at the procedure, beginning with your arrival in Canada as a worker and ending with your Permanent Resident Card.

1. Get a Canadian work permit

This program requires you to be able to work in Canada. Some people, such as those eligible for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program or the spouse/common-law partner of an international student or foreign worker in Canada, may be able to obtain an open work permit.

For others, an employer-specific (‘closed’) work permit may be granted. Closed work permits include those that have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and are for intra-company transfers.

2. Finish a year of work in Canada

Eleven-and-a-half months will not be enough; you must have at least a year of work experience (or longer if part-time) to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class.

3. Ensure you meet the other eligibility criteria

Get your language test completed. Candidates for English can take either the IELTS or the CELPIP. For French, the TEF and TCF are now viable options. Candidates who have some proficiency in both English and French may be awarded bonus marks for their second language ability.

4. Create an Express Entry profile

This phase is conducted through the IRCC website. You will be required to supply certain personal information, some of which is self-declared (such as your employment history), and some of which requires verification (such as confirmation of language proficiency).

5. Improve your profile and ranking in the CRS

If you got an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) and completed your studies outside of Canada, you are eligible for these points. To boost your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency, obtain an ECA or provide verification of your Canadian educational credentials.

6. Get an invitation to apply

This is undoubtedly the most exciting step, as it allows you and your family, if applicable, to apply for permanent residence. You will have 60 days from this point to submit a completed application. ITAs are awarded when the IRCC draws from the Express Entry pool. If your work permit is about to expire in the next four months, you can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit, which allows you to continue working during the rest of the process.

7. Take a medical exam, perform security background checks, and submit an e-application

All Canadian Experience Class applicants are evaluated for potential medical and criminal inadmissibility. By your application, you must demonstrate that you have undergone a medical checkup by an IRCC-recognized panel physician.In addition, you must present a police background check (also known as a clearance certificate) for each nation where you have lived for at least six months since the age of 18.

The e-application, due within 60 days after acquiring an ITA, must also contain thorough work reference letters from past employers.Given the limited time window, it is advisable to obtain background checks and work reference letters before receiving an ITA.

8. Your electronic application is reviewed

A Canadian immigration officer will analyze your submitted e-application and notify you if any additional information is required.

9. Obtain confirmation of permanent residence status and conclude your landing

80% of applications for the Canadian Experience Class are handled in less than six months. When a person is approved, he or she is given a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) document. When permanent residence is granted, this document is signed and dated by a Canadian port of entry officer or an IRCC office employee.

10. Get your PR card

Once you have your confirmation of status, you may then apply for your PR card. If you travel outside Canada, you may use this card as proof of your status in Canada.

Processing Time : Canadian Experience Class 

According to IRCC’s estimated processing times, CEC applications are currently taking 6 months to process from the time a full application is submitted. This does not include the time taken for the Express Entry profile to receive an ITA. 

Application Fee :  Canadian Experience Class 

Yes, when applying under the CEC program, applicants will need to pay government processing fees. On applying, applicants must pay a processing fee of CAD $950 for the main applicant and spouse included on the application and CAD $260 for each dependent child listed in the application. Applicants must also must pay a Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) of CAD $575 per adult.

The Canadian Experience Class does not apply to foreigners wishing to establish themselves in the Province of Quebec; however the work experience accumulated in that province is valid to meet the CEC program requirements if the candidate wishes to relocate to another province.