The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program that allows individuals who have worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently. CEC is a part of Canada’s Express Entry immigration system.

Eligibility Requirements

• Work Experience: Have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equivalent in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada within the last 3 years. This experience must have been obtained while on a valid work permit and needs to be in one or more occupations classified as skill type 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The one year of experience can be gained in two different NOC codes, so long as they are skilled positions, and the work experience is gained legally.
• Intention of stay: Plan on living outside the province of Quebec.
• Language Proficiency: Meet the required language levels needed for the job for each language ability (speaking, reading, listening, and writing). For the occupations at NOC 0 or A, the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7) is required and for the occupations at NOC B the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 5 (CLB 5) is required.

Important Insights

• Work experience on earned commission basis count towards the minimum experience requirement.
• Paid part-time work experience counts towards the minimum experience requirement.
• Multiple part-time jobs count towards the experience requirement.
• Refugee claimants are not eligible to apply.
• Self-employment and work experience gained while studying full-time does not count towards the experience requirements.
• No minimum education requirement to apply under this program.