Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

In 2008, IRCC introduced the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) as a route to permanent residence for candidates with eligible work experience in Canada. It was developed for temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates with qualifying Canadian work experience. The program criteria include qualified, skilled Canadian work experience and a minimum English or French proficiency level. The program targets those who have already established themselves in professional work experience in Canada and have demonstrated the ability to integrate well and contribute to the Canadian economy. About 30,563 invitations were issued to CEC Candidates in 2019 under the economic immigration program.

Furthermore, before an applicant can apply for an LMIA work permit or an employer-specific work permit, they must receive an offer of employment from an employer with a positive LMIA. In 2019, about 190,000 employer-specific work permits were issued to foreign nationals.

The chart below shows the number of invitations issued under the CEC program for the last three years.

The chart below shows processing time for the Canadian Experience Class Program based on the final decision in 2016 and 2017.

Data Source: Express Entry Year-end Report 2017

The ideal candidates for the Canadian Experience Class are skilled workers who have valid work experience in Canada and wish to become permanent residents of Canada. The work experience must be a minimum of 1-year professional work experience in the last three years in any of the National Occupational Classification Group with skill type 0, A & B. See below a list of top 10 NOC occupations and the number of invitations issued in 2019.

Data Source:  Express Entry Year-End Report 2019.  Express Entry Year-End Report 2019 – Canada.ca

There are two steps to apply for the CEC program: Creating your profile and submitting your PR application. Both steps are done online. 

Step 1: Submit your Express Entry profile:

Submitting an express entry profile is done by filling an online form. To create your profile, you need to answer some eligibility questions, which takes about 15 minutes to complete through this link. After you completed the eligibility questions, you will be issued a number as your reference code. You will need this number to move your information from the eligibility tool to your Express Entry profile.

If you are eligible, you will receive instruction to create an online account to fill out an Express Entry profile. Enter your reference number (if you have one) and enter your personal information, language test details, and National Occupation Classification (NOC Code).

After you submit your Express Entry profile, you will know your score to determine your place in the Express Entry Pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System. Visit this link to see how you are ranked in the express entry pool.

You have 60 days to complete and submit your express entry profile. Your profile is valid for one year, but you can submit another profile if you did not receive an ITA within one year.

Note: Submitting an online Express Entry profile does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

Step 2: Apply for Permanent Residence

Applying for a Permanent Resident Visa after receiving an invitation to apply is done through the express entry online system. You will need to fill out the online forms through the account you created while submitting your express entry profile. Scan and upload all your supporting documents, as listed above. Pay your application fees and submit your completed application.

Pay your application fees:

Estimated cost per Adult $1,325 and per child $225. 

Estimated cost per Adult $1,325 and per child $225. See the breakdown of the fees below. How to make payment & Fees table

Applicants may be required to give their biometrics for permanent residence applications.  Fingerprints and photos will be taken. Visit this link to learn more about how to give your Biometrics. Estimated Cost – $85 Individual, $170 Family.

The processing time for a complete PR application is six months. You have 90 days to submit your application.

If your application is successful, you will be required to submit your passport and Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), and a Visa will be issued.

Due to Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 and travel restrictions, the  IRCC had program-specific draws to invite candidates who most likely are already in Canada. Ten draws were targeted towards the Canadian Experience Class from March 23 to August 20, 2020. The lowest CRS score was 431 on June 25, 2020, while the highest CRS score was 467 on March 23, 2020 draw. Find below information on all the draws explicitly made to target  CEC candidates.

Data Source: Express Entry Result – Round of Invitations