What is Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program?

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the three primary economic immigration routes under Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Unique among the trio, which also includes the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the CEC specifically targets individuals with Canadian work experience.

 

Eligibility for the CEC Program

To be eligible for immigration under the CEC, candidates must have at least one year (or 1,560 hours) of paid skilled work experience in Canada within the previous three years. This experience needs to be in managerial, professional, or skilled trade roles as classified under the NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories. Importantly, this experience must be gained legally while on a temporary resident status with work authorization in Canada.

Language proficiency is also crucial; candidates must meet specific Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels depending on their job classification:

• CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs.
• CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 or 3 jobs. Applicants must provide results from an approved language test, such as the IELTS or CELPIP for English, or the TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French, which should be valid at the time of application.

While there is no mandatory educational requirement, having Canadian educational credentials or a foreign credential verified through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) can enhance a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

 

Who Should Consider the CEC?

The CEC is ideally suited for those who have already integrated into the Canadian job market and society through previous work or study in Canada. This makes it an excellent pathway for temporary residents looking to transition to permanent residency.

If your CRS score currently falls short for FSW or FSTP criteria, gaining work experience in Canada could be a strategic move. Consider obtaining a study permit first, as it’s generally easier to secure, though bear in mind that work undertaken during studies isn’t counted towards CEC eligibility.

 

Applying for Permanent Residence under the CEC

Here are the steps to apply for PR under the CEC program:

1. Accumulate Work Experience: Secure at least one year of eligible work experience in Canada.
2. Estimate Your CRS Score: Before creating an Express Entry profile, calculate your CRS score to assess your chances.
3. Prepare Necessary Documents: This includes your passport, language test results, proof of Canadian work experience, and any relevant educational credentials.
4. Create and Submit Express Entry Profile: Complete your profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website and pay the application processing fee.
5. Respond to an Invitation to Apply (ITA): If selected, you will have 60 days to formally apply for PR and submit all required documents.

 

Financial Requirements and Fees

Unlike the FSW and FSTP streams, CEC applicants are not required to show proof of settlement funds if they are currently working in Canada and have a valid job offer. The application fee for the CEC is $850 CAD per adult, with a $515 CAD right of permanent residence fee. For families, a fee of $230 CAD applies for each dependent child.

 

Processing Times

The estimated processing time for CEC applications is typically nine months from the ITA response, although this can vary depending on several factors including the completeness of the application and the current application volume.

 

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