Independent advisory firm — not a government agency. Invitations and permanent residence are decided only by IRCC.
Updated 3 November 2026. Figures and rules change; verify at canada.ca.
What Is the Canadian Experience Class?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of three federal programs managed through Express Entry. It is for skilled workers who have gained at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, such as former international students on a post-graduation work permit and temporary foreign workers.
CEC candidates are ranked by their CRS score and invited in general or category-based rounds. The CEC does not require an education assessment, proof of funds or a job offer.
| Feature | Detail | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 12 months full-time (1,560 hours) or the equivalent part-time, in skilled work in Canada (TEER 0 to 3), within the last 3 years | ||
| Authorisation | The work must have been done with proper work authorisation and while not a full-time student; self-employment does not count | ||
| Language | CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs; CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 jobs, in all four abilities | ||
| Education | No minimum requirement; an assessment adds CRS points | ||
| Funds and job offer | No proof of funds and no job offer required | ||
| Intended residence | Outside Quebec |
Why Candidates Choose the Canadian Experience Class
- •Canadian Experience Counts — The program values work you have already done in Canada.
- •No Education Assessment or Funds Needed — The minimum requirements are simpler than the FSWP.
- •Strong CRS Points — Canadian work experience earns CRS points directly and through skill transferability.
- •No Job Offer Required — You do not need a job offer, although a high-wage offer can add points from 3 November 2026.
- •Family Included — A spouse or partner and dependent children can be included.
- •A Natural Next Step — It is a common route for graduates on a post-graduation work permit and for workers on employer-specific permits.
Canadian Experience Class Requirements
Work experience
- •At least 12 months of full-time paid skilled work (30 hours a week) in Canada, or an equivalent amount of part-time work.
- •The work must be in one or more TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations under the National Occupational Classification.
- •The experience must have been gained in the three years before you apply.
- •The work must have been done while you were authorised to work.
- •Work done while a full-time student, self-employment and unpaid work do not count.
Language
- •CLB 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing for TEER 0 and 1 jobs.
- •CLB 5 in all four abilities for TEER 2 and 3 jobs.
- •An approved test, less than two years old: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
Other requirements
- •No minimum education requirement, although an Educational Credential Assessment can add CRS points.
- •No proof of funds and no job offer.
- •Medical and security admissibility.
- •An intention to live outside Quebec.
How the CEC Process Works
A general overview. Your sequence may vary, and none of the timelines are guaranteed.
Step 1 — Check your work history and status
Confirm your 12 months of skilled experience, your NOC code and the dates you were authorised to work.
Step 2 — Take a language test
Take IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada to reach CLB 7 or 5, as your job requires.
Step 3 — Complete an optional education assessment
An ECA is not required, but it can add CRS points if you studied outside Canada.
Step 4 — Create your Express Entry profile
Submit your profile to the pool. It stays valid for 12 months.
Step 5 — Improve your CRS score while you wait
Update your language results, education, experience or nomination status.
Step 6 — Invitation to Apply
If you are selected in a round, you have 60 days to submit a complete application.
Step 7 — Submit your application
Upload documents, reference letters, police certificates and a medical exam, pay the fees and provide biometrics.
Step 8 — Check bridging options
Some applicants whose work permit is about to expire may qualify for a bridging open work permit, subject to the conditions.
Step 9 — Decision and landing
IRCC reviews the application and decides. If approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence, and you land in Canada if you are abroad.
Which Express Entry Program Fits You?
| Feature | FSWP | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Trades | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience needed | 1 year skilled work, in or outside Canada | 12 months skilled Canadian work in the last 3 years | 2 years in a skilled trade in the last 5 years | ||||
| Language | CLB 7 | CLB 7 (TEER 0 and 1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2 and 3) | CLB 5 speaking and listening; CLB 4 reading and writing | ||||
| Education | Assessed credential for foreign study | None required | None required | ||||
| Job offer | Not required | Not required | Job offer or certificate of qualification | ||||
| Selection grid | 67 out of 100 | None | None | ||||
| Best suited to | Professionals abroad | Workers and graduates with Canadian experience | Tradespeople |
How the CRS Ranks CEC Candidates
- •Canadian work experience earns 40 points for one year, rising to 80 points for five or more years for a single applicant.
- •Canadian work experience also adds to skill transferability, together with education and language.
- •Language, age and education still make up most of the score, so a strong CLB level matters.
- •Study in Canada can add 15 or 30 points, and strong French can add 25 or 50 points.
- •CEC-specific rounds have been held in 2026, and reported cut-offs in some rounds were in the 500s, so many candidates need more than the minimum.
New from 3 November 2026 (announced 16 October 2026)
- •Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation: reported at 20, 40 or 70 points for at least 12 months, depending on whether the occupation's wage is at least 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the Canada-wide median.
- •A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation: reported at 50, 70 or 100 points on the same tiers, with no LMIA required for the CRS points.
- •Invitations pause for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated.
- •Job-offer points were removed from the CRS in March 2025, so this is a partial return, limited to IRCC's high-wage occupations.
If You Worked in Canada and Are Now in the UAE
- •The three-year window — Your qualifying experience must fall within the three years before you apply. Count the dates carefully.
- •Reference letters — Ask each Canadian employer for a letter showing your title, dates, hours, salary and duties.
- •Evidence of authorisation — Keep copies of your work permits and pay records to show you were authorised to work.
- •Planning a route — If you plan to gain Canadian experience first, a post-graduation work permit, an employer-specific permit or the Francophone Mobility Program can build qualifying experience.
- •Police certificates — Provide one from each country where you lived for six months or more since age 18, including the UAE.
- •Status — Check whether your status allows you to apply, and plan early if a work permit is about to expire.
Canadian Experience Class: What Changed in 2026
Confirmed
- •3 November 2026: new CRS points for Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation, which directly affects CEC candidates.
- •Higher PR fees from 30 April 2026: about CAD 990 for the principal applicant and CAD 600 for the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
- •Ten category-based rounds confirmed on 18 February 2026, some of which CEC candidates may also qualify for.
- •CEC-specific general rounds have continued to be held during 2026.
Proposed — not yet in force
- •A merger of the FSWP, CEC and FSTP into a single federal stream, which needs regulatory change and is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
- •Other consultation ideas, such as changes to bonus points, are not confirmed.
Monitor
- •IRCC's rounds of invitations and category lists.
- •Changes to study permit and post-graduation work permit rules, which affect who reaches the CEC.
- •The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, due around 1 November 2026.
Typical Government Costs for the Canadian Experience Class (2026)
| Item | Amount | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal applicant processing fee | About CAD 990 | From 30 April 2026; a spouse pays the same. | |||
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | CAD 600 | Principal applicant and spouse; refunded if refused. | |||
| Dependent child | About CAD 270 | IRCC fee. | |||
| Biometrics | Varies | Per person; confirm the current fee. | |||
| Language test, medical exam, police certificates | Varies | Paid to the providers. |
Fees are set by the Government of Canada and change from time to time. Confirm current amounts on canada.ca before publishing or applying.
Canadian Experience Class — Frequently Asked Questions
Related Advisory Services
Canada Express Entry
The system that manages the CEC.
Explore Express Entry Advisory →Federal Skilled Worker Program
If your experience was gained outside Canada.
Explore FSWP Advisory →Study in Canada
Build Canadian experience through a study route.
Explore Study in Canada →Francophone Mobility Program
A work permit that can build experience.
Explore Francophone Mobility Advisory →Immigration regulations, eligibility criteria, CRS points, language requirements, proof-of-funds thresholds, fees and processing times are set by the Government of Canada and are subject to change without notice. Applicants should always verify the latest requirements with IRCC at canada.ca before submitting any application.
Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE (licence [INSERT NUMBER]). We are not IRCC or the Government of Canada, and we do not guarantee invitations, CRS outcomes, approval or processing times. Regulated immigration advice on Canadian applications is provided by [RCIC name and CICC licence number] — verify at college-ic.ca. Government fees are paid directly to IRCC; payments to Visatrix are for advisory services only.
Check Your Canadian Experience Class Eligibility
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