🇨🇦 Canadian Experience Class: A Pathway to Permanent Residency
Are you a temporary worker or student in Canada looking to become a permanent resident? The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) may be the immigration program for you. This program allows individuals with work experience or education in Canada to apply for permanent residency. In this article, we will dive into the eligibility criteria, application process, and requirements for the CEC.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the CEC, you must meet the following criteria:
Work Experience
You must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years before you apply. This can be achieved by working full-time at one job (30 hours per week for 12 months), part-time work (1560 hours or equal amount in part-time work), or full-time work at more than one job. Your work experience must be gained while under temporary resident status and authorized to work in Canada. Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student, even if you were on a co-op work term, do not count towards the minimum requirements for this program.
Language Requirements
You must meet the English or French language levels for your job in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. For the English language, you can take the Selfie General Exam or IELTS General Exam, and for the French language, you can take TEF or TCF. The required language levels depend on your job category. If you have a NOC zero or A job (managerial or professional), you need at least CLB7 in all four sections of your language exam. If you have a NOC B job (technical or skilled trade), you need at least CLB5 in all parts of your language exam.
Plan to Live in Any Province Other Than Quebec
To be eligible for the CEC, you must plan to live in any province other than Quebec.
Application Process
The first step in the application process is to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, you can submit your Express Entry profile on the IRCC website. Every two weeks, IRCC makes Express Entry draws and gives permanent resident invitations to candidates with the highest CRS score. After you receive an ITA (invitation to apply) for permanent residence, you need to complete your application within two months or 60 days and submit a few documents like a police certificate, medical examination, and proof of financial support.
Requirements
To be eligible for the CEC, you must meet the following requirements:
Skilled Work Experience
Your skilled work experience must be paid work, including paid wages or earned commission. Volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count towards the minimum requirements for this program. For part-time work, you can work more or less than 15 hours per week as long as it adds up to 1560 hours. You cannot count any hours you work above 30 hours per week. Your work experience must be one of the NOC code zero, A, or B jobs.
Language Levels
You must meet the English or French language levels for your job in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. Your test results must be valid, less than two years old when you complete your Express Entry profile or apply for permanent residence. If your test results expire soon, you should retake the test and update your Express Entry profile with your new test results.
Admissibility to Canada
You must be admissible to Canada, which means you should not have any criminal charges. For example, if you drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or commit a serious crime, you may be inadmissible for serious criminality.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The CEC is a pathway to permanent residency for individuals with work experience or education in Canada.
- The application process is straightforward and can be completed online.
- There is no education requirement for the CEC.
Cons:
- You must meet the eligibility criteria, including having at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada.
- You must meet the language requirements for your job category.
- You must be admissible to Canada, which means you should not have any criminal charges.
Highlights
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program that allows individuals with work experience or education in Canada to apply for permanent residency.
- To be eligible for the CEC, you must meet the eligibility criteria, including having at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada, meeting the language requirements for your job category, and being admissible to Canada.
- The application process is straightforward and can be completed online.
- There is no education requirement for the CEC.
FAQ
Q: What is the Canadian Experience Class?
A: The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program that allows individuals with work experience or education in Canada to apply for permanent residency.
Q: What are the eligibility criteria for the CEC?
A: To be eligible for the CEC, you must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada, meet the language requirements for your job category, and be admissible to Canada.
Q: What is the application process for the CEC?
A: The first step in the application process is to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, you can submit your Express Entry profile on the IRCC website. Every two weeks, IRCC makes Express Entry draws and gives permanent resident invitations to candidates with the highest CRS score. After you receive an ITA (invitation to apply) for permanent residence, you need to complete your application within two months or 60 days and submit a few documents like a police certificate, medical examination, and proof of financial support.
Q: Is there an education requirement for the CEC?
A: No, there is no education requirement for the CEC.
Q: What are the pros and cons of the CEC?
A: Pros of the CEC include being a pathway to permanent residency for individuals with work experience or education in Canada, a straightforward application process, and no education requirement. Cons of the CEC include having to meet the eligibility criteria, including having at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada, meeting the language requirements for your job category, and being admissible to Canada.
