The Canada Experience Class

Individuals who have worked in Canada and who wish to settle permanently in Canada with their accompanying dependants may qualify to apply for Permanent Residence under the Canadian Experience Class.Eligibility for permanent residence under this class is assessed on a pass-fail basis where the primary criteria are the following: 

• Candidate has acquired 12 months of full-time work experience in an occupation categorized as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Qualifying occupations are those of a managerial, professional, technical or skilled trade nature.
• The qualifying Canadian work experience was acquired within the 36 months immediately preceding the date of application;
• Candidate demonstrates sufficient proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages. The level of proficiency required is determined by the occupation in which the candidate gained qualifying Canadian work experience;
• Not be inadmissible to Canada on medical, criminal or security grounds.

Qualifying work experience must be full time and skilled. “Full-time” refers to 30 hours per week. Part time work will be considered, but only on a pro-rata basis. For example, 6 months in a part time skilled position at 15 hours per week will count as three months towards the required 12. Multiple concurrent part time jobs can also be used to meet the experience requirement.

Any work experience acquired in Canada without valid work authorization will not be considered. Nor will periods of self-employment or work experience gained while the candidate was enrolled in a program of full-time study.

Minimum proficiency must be demonstrated in all four language abilities, namely: Reading; writing; speaking; listening. Applicants whose qualifying work experience is in an occupation categorized as NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A must meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7. Applicants whose qualifying work experience is in an occupation categorized as NOC Skill Level B must meet CLB level 5.

Equivalencies between the required level of proficiency in French or English and test results under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) are:

Canadian experience class does not apply to foreigners wishing to settle in Quebec. However, education and work experience accumulated in that Province is valid to meet Quebec program requirements.

Learn more about Canadian Experience Class Immigration