The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is the perfect way to permanent residency for foreign workers. If you have worked in Canada for at least a year, you can settle here through the CEC. The program is a stream under the Express Entry immigration system that allows skilled foreign workers to settle in Canada.
The immigrants under CEC are seen as valuable assets by the government of Canada. They contribute economically and culturally to the development of the country. The Canadian government recognizes such candidates and invites them to apply for permanent residency.
The whole process of application for CEC looks simple if we look at the main steps you would need to take. To apply for CEC, you have to:
- Create an online profile
- Submit the required documents
- Get the invitation to apply (ITA)
Recently, Canada issued ITAs to 3,900 candidates under the Express Entry program. More candidates are expected to receive the ITA as Canada looks to take in more skilled professionals.
Note: CEC candidates can settle anywhere in Canada except the province of Quebec. The province runs its own skilled worker program known as QSWP. If you want to live in Quebec, you need to apply directly to the province.
Canadian Experience Class Eligibility
Candidates who have prior experience of working in Canada can apply for Express Entry under CEC. There are a few conditions:
- Minimum skilled work experience of 1 year (within last 3 years of application)
- You must have gained the experience by working in Canada legally
The work experience must be in:
- Full-time work, or
- Part-time work (total time should be equal to a full-time job)
The work experience must be in jobs mentioned in the Canadian National Occupational Classification, and include:
- Skill level 0: Managerial jobs
- Skill type A: Professional jobs
- Skill type B: Skilled trades and technical jobs
Your work experience can be in one or more categories mentioned above.
Requirements of Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
You will need to meet the criteria of Canadian experience class eligibility to qualify for this program. We have already discussed above the nature of work experience you need. Along with that, you also need to meet the Canadian Experience Class language requirements:
You need to satisfy the required language levels for the job you are going to perform. You will need to prove your ability in:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- For skill type 0 and A jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark 7
- For skill type B jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark 5
- TCF (French)
- TEF (French)
- IELTS (English)
- CELPIP – General (English)
Adding language skills also helps you score more on your CRS.
Note: The language test results can be used only for 2 years after the date of the result (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF). And, according to Canadian Experience Class language requirements, the test must be valid when you apply for permanent residence. Most applications are processed within 6 months, so it shouldn’t be a matter of concern for most candidates.
Educational Requirements
Canadian Experience Class eligibility does not depend on the education you have. You don’t need to meet any education requirements for CEC. But submitting your educational qualifications do add some extra points to your profile under CRS. You can get points for:
- Completing a degree, certificate, or diploma from a Canadian institution (secondary and post-secondary)
- Completed foreign degrees
Note: If you have a foreign degree, you need to submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. You can get it from any designated organization and prove your degree is equivalent to a Canadian institution.
CEC Application
Why Should You Consider the Canadian Experience Class?
Applying to Express Entry under the CEC has a few distinct advantages. They include:
- CEC candidates have at least a year of work experience in Canada. This advantage lets you get extra points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) under Express Entry.
- You don’t need to submit too many documents to qualify for CEC. As a result, most applications are processed within 3 to 4 months.
- CEC candidates don’t need to present any proof of settlement funds, unlike FSWC and FSTC. This can also go in your favour.
- You don’t need to be in Canada to apply for CEC. If your work experience is within the last 3 years, you can apply from outside the country.
Do note that applying to CEC doesn’t automatically grant you entry to Canada. You still need to score the cut-off required to get the ITA. The cut-off score for the last Express Entry draw was 472. This score changes from time to time and is not fixed.
How to Apply for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?
You need an experience of at least one year to apply for CEC. So the steps to get permanent residence under CEC are:
The first step to qualify for CEC is to get a job offer from a Canadian employer. You can get a job offer in many ways. An open work permit is ideal if you are-
- Eligible for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program
- Spouse or common-law partner of a foreign worker or international student in Canada
For other people, a closed work permit may be the answer. Closed work permits include intra-company transfers and those issued with Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Complete 12 months working in your full-time or part-time job. Enjoy living in Canada and get to know the people and its culture. Then move on to the next step.
The next requirement is meeting all the language abilities. Take your tests and ensure you meet all other criteria we discussed to apply for CEC.
You must create a profile on the IRCC website to include yourself in the Express Entry. The process requires you to submit some personal information like history. Some information is self-declared, while for others like language abilities, you need to provide documentation.
You need to get a good CRS rank to get the ITA. Several steps can be taken to increase your score and get a high ranking.
You can provide your Canadian educational qualifications and add up to 250 points. Foreign candidates can also boost their scores by submitting the ECA.
Another way is to look for provincial immigration programs aligned with Express Entry. Your work and skills can get you 600 points if they are in demand in a specific province.
Complete all information and create a strong profile to get a good CRS ranking.
You will have to wait till the IRCC conducts an Express Entry draw to receive your ITA. Once you get it, you have to submit the application within 60 days.
Note: You should have a valid work permit for at least 4 months after you get your ITA. If it’s expiring before that, you have to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit. You can only do this after you submit your application for CEC.
CEC requires you to complete a medical and security check before you can get permanent residence. You will need to submit a medical report from an IRCC-approved panel physician.
You also need to provide a clearance certificate that proves you have completed a police background check. You will have to submit clearance certificates from each country you have resided in for a minimum of 6 months (after the age of 18).
You will need to submit an e-application within 60 days of getting your ITA. The application should be submitted along with comprehensive work reference letters from your previous employers.
Your e-application will be evaluated by the immigration officers. If everything is alright, you will receive a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) letter. Most candidates receive the COPR within 6 months or less. This means you have been granted permanent residence by the Canadian government.
You can apply for your PR card once you receive the COPR. The PR card is proof that you are a resident of Canada from now on.
CEC Outlook
Canada is planning to welcome more than 1.2 million immigrants between 2021 and 2023. And good news is that Canada plans to bring in more skilled workers who have experience working in Canada under the CEC. So, if you are looking to immigrate to Canada and have the required work experience, you can apply for CEC right away!
Future Predictions – 2021 and Beyond
Canada has issued 92,350 ITAs in 2020 making it a new record-breaking year for Express Entry. And the tendency seems to be continued.
The future looks bright for candidates who want to come to Canada under CEC in 2021 and beyond. You can enter yourself in the Express Entry pool and wait for the next draw to get your ITA (if you get the cut-off CRS score).
Road to CEC PR – How to Get Started?
Once you get through CEC, you will receive your ITA. Then you can apply for permanent residency and get your COPR, followed by the PR card.
Assistance from RCIC Agent
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) can help you sail through the immigration process. You can take the assistance of our registered IRCC agents for professional guidance, and to save time and effort.
Commonly Asked Questions about Canadian Experience Class
Here we have answered some of the questions you may have regarding traveling and working with a Canadian Experience Class. Feel free to reach out to us and ask any questions you have – our team would be happy to help!
Then you can receive your ITA, which you must submit within 60 days of receiving it. Then the IRCC will issue you the COPR document within 6 months.
You can expedite the process by-
- Creating your Express Entry profile at the earliest
- Providing accurate information
- Cooperating with all verification processes
- Arranging fees and documents in advance
Work experiences gained while studying are also not considered under the CEC. So if you are a full-time student and worked a co-op term, you still don’t qualify for CEC.
Passport and travel documents: You can get your passport usually within 1 month.
Language test results: It takes around 2 to 3 months to get your language results. They are valid for another 2 years.
Educational qualifications: You need to submit your Canadian education qualifications or CEC.
Medical report: It may take a few weeks to get your medical exam reports.
Security check: Police background check usually takes a few weeks.
- Arrange the documents beforehand
- Sit for language tests before you create your profile
- Get your police verification done in advance (you can go to a passport Seva Kendra)
- Keep your job reference letters ready
- Pay all fees on time
You can add more point to your profile by:
- Having multiple degrees or certificates
- Getting a good score in language tests
- Work experience of more than 1 year
- Establishing a Canadian connection
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