Foreign skilled workers and international students in Canada may be eligible for permanent residency through the Express Entry - Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Who is eligible for CEC?

To qualify for the CEC, three criteria must be met:

1. Achieving the level of competence in each language required for your job, divided into four areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The language test must be valid on the day the application is submitted.

2. At least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years of your application. Gain your work experience by working in Canada during your work-authorized temporary resident status.

3. To be eligible for CEC, applicants need to hold a job in the national occupational category NOC 0, A or B, although the NOC job classification will become Tier in the future.

Who is not eligible for CEC?

1. Volunteers, unpaid interns and self-employed persons are not eligible to participate in the program. Working hours earned as a full-time student also do not meet the eligibility criteria (and co-op hours do not count).

2. In addition, the working week does not exceed 30 hours, which means that the work experience must be accumulated over 52 weeks.

3. Also, you cannot plan to live in Quebec. The province has its own immigration system and selects skilled workers under programs such as the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).

4. Finally, you must pass a medical and security clearance to prove that you are allowed to enter Canada. Candidates with criminal records may not be allowed to immigrate to Canada, but there are some alternatives.

What is the next step in the application?

Once you have determined that you are eligible to apply for experience immigration, you will need to:

1. Have files ready for your profile. These documents include passport/travel documents; language test results; Canadian Education Certification/Educational Credential Evaluation Report; Provincial Nomination (if eligible); Written Job Offer (if obtained)/Proof of work experience/Certificate of occupational qualification from a Canadian province (if obtained); and proof of funds.

2. If an Invitation Letter (ITA) is received, a response will be required in order to apply for permanent residence. The Canadian Experience category provides those with Canadian work experience a fast-track to permanent residency and remains one of the top pathways for people to immigrate to Canada.