Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : Your Pathway to Permanent Residency
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a dedicated immigration pathway for skilled workers who already have work experience in Canada and want to become permanent residents. It’s part of the Express Entry system and is ideal for individuals who’ve proven they can adapt to the Canadian job market. If you’ve worked in Canada legally for at least a year in a skilled role, and you meet the language and other basic requirements, the CEC could be your fast-track route to making Canada your permanent home.
How much money you need to live in Canada ?
The amount of money you need to support your family is based the size of your family. This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application. No Proof of Funds for Canadian Experience Class (CEC), The table below shows the general amount of money you need to live in Canada, whether you are moving alone, with your family, or with additional dependents.
| Number of Family Members | Fund you need (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CAD $14,690 |
| 2 | CAD $18,288 |
| 3 | CAD $22,483 |
| 4 | CAD $27,297 |
| 5 | CAD $30,690 |
| 6 | CAD $34,917 |
| 7 | CAD $38,875 |
| More than 7 and for each additional dependents | CAD $ 3,958 |
Eligibility for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
To apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) , you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements. These ensure you have the skills and qualifications to successfully settle and contribute to life in Canada. To be eligible, you must:
1. Canadian Work Experience
2. Language Proficiency
Please note that: Not all types of work experience will count toward your Canadian Experience Class application. If you were self-employed for example, running your own business or working as a freelancer this experience is generally not eligible. The same goes for any work done while studying full time, such as internships, co-op placements, or part-time jobs during your education. Even if those roles were paid, they won’t be considered.
There’s a special exception for physicians. If you’re a self employed doctor who provided publicly funded medical services in Canada, a temporary policy may allow your experience to qualify. In this case, when creating your Express Entry profile, it’s important that you don’t label your role as “self-employed” this helps ensure your experience is correctly assessed.
Stage 1 : When Creating Your Express Entry Profile (Before ITA)
At this point, you only need documents to prove your eligibility and calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Here’s what you must have:
Stage 2 : After You Receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply)
After getting an ITA will you need to upload supporting documents, like:
| Documents | Needed for Profile | Needed After ITA |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Language test result | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ECA (foreign education only) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Job offer | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Work experience | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Proof of fund | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Police certificate | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Medical Exam | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Fill Out the Application Form
Your ITA is valid for 60 days. It’s important to start your application promptly to gather all the required information and documents before the deadline. This means you must submit your application within 60 days from the date the ITA was issued, or it will be removed from the system.
Please note the form will inquire if you’ve previously applied to IRCC. This refers to full applications like visas or work permits; merely creating an Express Entry profile doesn’t count. If you decline the ITA, you’ll return to the Express Entry pool and may be considered in future invitation rounds, provided you remain eligible.
If your not invited to appy,
If you don’t receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) within that time, it will automatically be removed from the system. You’ll be notified through your online account.
Profiles not selected within a year are automatically deleted. You can check the expiration date in your Express Entry dashboard.
Avoid submitting a new profile while your current one is still active. If you want to start over early, be sure to withdraw your existing profile first. You can always reapply to the Express Entry pool by creating a new profile after your original one expires.
Express Entry profiles are only valid for 12 months. If you aren’t invited during that period, the system will automatically remove your profile and alert you via your account.
Once your profile expires, you’ll no longer be in the candidate pool, and the system will notify you. You may then submit a brand-new profile.
** Please note If you decline an ITA, don’t worry you’ll be put back into the Express Entry pool of candidates. You’ll be considered in future rounds of invitations, if you’re still eligible. The cut-off score varies from round to round. **
After apporval What You’ll Receive
After approval, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), which includes your personal details and photograph. You will also receive a Permanent Resident (PR) visa if you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter Canada.
If you’re inside Canada, IRCC will contact you via email to confirm your presence and provide access to the Permanent Residence Portal. They will create an account for you, so there’s no need to set one up yourself. You will receive your electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence (e-COPR) through the portal.
If You’re Outside Canada, you have to carry your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), PR visa (if applicable), and a valid regular passport. Bring proof of funds unless exempt.
At the port of entry, present your documents to the CBSA officer, who will verify your identity and eligibility. If everything is in order, you’ll be granted entry as a permanent resident.
** After arriving in Canada, you must provide your Canadian mailing address to IRCC to receive your PR card. If your address changes within 180 days, update it using IRCC’s web form. You can use your COPR or e-COPR to apply for essential services such as a Social Insurance Number (SIN), healthcare, and other newcomer support programs. **
No Proof of Funds for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
If you’re applying through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), here’s some good news: You don’t need to show proof of funds. That means you’re not required to provide bank statements or financial documents to prove you can support yourself or your family once you become a permanent resident. Now, the Express Entry system might still ask you to upload proof of funds but don’t worry! If you’re exempt, simply upload a short letter explaining why. For example, you can say:
Keep in mind: Since Express Entry profiles are considered for multiple immigration programs, it’s a good idea to keep all your details accurate and up to date. You may not always know under which program your Invitation to Apply (ITA) will come so being clear about your status helps avoid delays.
Who Needs a Police Certificate?
You’ll need to get police certificates for yourself and any family members who are 18 or older. These certificates should cover any country where you or your family members have lived for six months or more in the last ten years. Don’t worry, though you don’t need to provide certificates for time spent in Canada or for periods before you turned 18. That said, after you apply, the immigration officer might ask for additional police certificates for any time you’ve spent in other countries since you turned 18. So, it’s a good idea to be ready just in case.
How to Get a Police Certificate ?
To get a police certificate, you usually need to contact the police or relevant government authority in the country where you lived. They may ask for personal details like your photo, fingerprints, and past addresses, and you’ll likely need to pay a fee. If the certificate is not in English or French, you must also include a certified translation along with the original document. For specific steps based on your country, refer to the official IRCC website.
If You Can’t Obtain a Police Certificate in Time What will Do?
If you’re unable to get a police certificate in time after being invited to apply, don’t panic. You can still submit your application within the 60 day period. Just include a simple explanation in the police certificate section, especially if the country you’re applying from requires an official request from IRCC. Also, attach any proof that shows you’ve already requested the certificate like a payment receipt, tracking number, or a letter from the authority explaining the delay. As long as you clearly show that you’ve made a genuine effort, the officer reviewing your application will take that into account.