Canadian Experience Class
Canadian Experience
The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
You must:
- meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work was:
- full-time or
- an equal amount in part-time
- have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally
According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification, skilled work experience means:
- Managerial jobs (skill level 0)
- Professional jobs (skill type A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)
You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the National Occupational Classification. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Self-employment and student work experience
Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class
But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.
- If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
OR
- If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
- a completed foreign credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
You must:
- meet the minimum language level of:
- Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
- Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs
- take approved language tests for:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- describe the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
- You must be admissible to Canada.
- You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.
- get your documents ready
- submit your profile