Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Many immigrants from all over the world visit Canada in search of work and a better life.

Among all these people, there are a few who wish to become permanent residents of Canada for a variety of reasons.

CEC is an ideal Canadian immigration category for temporary foreign workers in Canada and international graduates who want to become permanent residents.

What is a Canadian Experience Class?

Canadian Experience Class or CEC is a program that allows people who have previously worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently to the country.

Canada’s Express Entry immigration system includes the Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry System

In an effort to increase Canadian immigration, the Express Entry System was launched on January 1, 2015.

With Express Entry, the Canadian government has welcomed so many economic immigrants since it was launched.

The Express Entry system provides the best immigration for students and highly skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry helps select applicants based on guidelines set by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada or IRCC.

As per IRCC, candidates with higher scores and ranking in the Express Entry pool are sent an ITA or invitation directly from the country if they have skills and abilities that will make a contribution to the growth and expansion of the Canadian economy.

The applicant must follow the standard procedure once the application is received if they wish to immigrate to Canada through the Canadian Experience Class.

In addition to the Canadian Experience Class, there are other Express Entry pool options you can choose from.

If you wish to immigrate to Canada, you must meet the requirements of either of the following programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program

No Canadian work experience is required to apply for a visa through either of the two above programs.

Benefits of CEC PR visa?

There are various benefits of the PR visa obtained through the Canadian Experience Class. These benefits are given below:

Immigrants in the Canadian Experience Class have already gained a year of working experience, which is highly valued in the Comprehensive Ranking System.

Canadian Experience Class applications are usually processed within three to four months since the required documents are relatively few.

Unlike the FSTP and FSWP, candidates under the Canadian Experience Class are not required to show any proof of settlement funds.

Does Canada Experience Class require a job offer?

It is not necessary to have a job offer to qualify for the Canada Experience Class visa. However, applicants must have at least one year of experience in an occupation that is listed in the NOC.

Can we apply for Canada PR without work experience?

If you don’t have any work experience in a Canadian province, you cannot apply for the Canada PR under the Canadian Experience Class. You must have at least a year of work experience in a Canadian province.

Who is eligible for the Canadian Experience Class?

The Canada Experience Class program is not open to everyone residing in Canada. Only individuals who are currently residing in Canada and who meet certain eligibility criteria are eligible to apply.

Canadian Experience Class applicants must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within three years of their application date.

To apply for the Canadian Experience Class, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Within three years of your application date, you must have at least one year of skilled work experience in any of the provinces in Canada.
  2. Work experience in Canada must be authorized.
  3. Among the Canadian NOC or National Occupational Classification list, skilled work is defined as managerial, professional, technical, or skilled trade jobs.
  4. Ideally, you should have at least 12 months of full-time work experience, which is 30 hours a week of paid work or more, or an equivalent number of hours if you work part-time.
  5. A candidate’s working experience while a full-time student will not be considered.
  6. The Canadian Language Benchmark, or CLB, is the language level needed for the job, and you must meet or exceed it.
  7. As well, you must take a language test that is approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to demonstrate your proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing in either English or French.
  8. The state of Quebec has its own program for skilled workers called the Quebec skilled worker program, which requires you to live and work outside of Quebec.
  9. While education is not an essential requirement for the Canadian Experience Class, if you want to earn more points for your education under the Express Entry program, you will need to provide the relevant documents like:
  • Diploma or degree certificate from a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution.
  • You must provide the CIC with a completed foreign credential along with an ECA or Educational Credential Assessment report.
  1. In addition, candidates must obtain a security clearance and undergo medical examinations. The processing time for the Canadian Experience Class is approximately six months.

How much does it cost to get this visa?

The cost of applying for permanent residence through the CEC program can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the number of family members included in the application, whether or not the applicant needs to take language tests or obtain educational credential assessments, and any fees associated with medical exams or police certificates.

As of March 2023, the fees associated with a CEC application for a single applicant are as follows:

  • Processing fee for the main applicant: CAD $1,325
  • Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF): CAD $500

If the applicant is including family members on the application, additional fees will apply. For example, the processing fee for a spouse or common-law partner is CAD $1,325, and the processing fee for a dependent child is CAD $225.

It is also worth noting that there may be additional fees associated with obtaining language test results or educational credential assessments, as well as any fees associated with medical exams or police certificates.

It is important to check the most up-to-date fee schedule on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website before submitting a CEC application, as fees can change over time.

What are the requirements for Canadian Experience Class?

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a program designed to help foreign workers who have gained skilled work experience in Canada to transition to permanent residence status. To be eligible for the CEC, an individual must meet the following requirements:

  1. Skilled Work Experience: The applicant must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the past three years. The work experience must be in an occupation classified as Skill Type 0 (Managerial Occupations), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades) of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
  2. Language Proficiency: The applicant must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements in either English or French, which is typically demonstrated through a standardized language test such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) for English, or the TEF (Test d’évaluation de français) for French.
  3. Educational Qualifications: The applicant must have completed at least a high school education or equivalent. However, higher levels of education can improve an applicant’s eligibility for the program.
  4. Intention to Reside Outside Quebec: The applicant must intend to reside outside the province of Quebec, as Quebec has its own immigration programs and requirements.
  5. Admissibility: The applicant must be admissible to Canada, which includes passing a security and criminal background check, and not being inadmissible for health or financial reasons.
  6. Other Requirements: The applicant must meet any additional program-specific requirements or criteria, such as work experience in a specific industry or occupation.

Overall, the CEC program is a great option for individuals who have gained valuable skilled work experience in Canada and wish to transition to permanent residence status. Meeting the above eligibility criteria is essential to submitting a successful CEC application.

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