Table of Contents
What is the CEC Program?
This program permits foreign nationals with professional skills and work experience paving the way for the skilled worker and their family to gain permanent residence in Canada.
This program (since 2008) allows foreign nationals with Canadian work experience specifically to opt this route. CEC is also an integral part of the Canada’s Express Entry immigration system which requires an individual to complete an online profile and each profile is assigned a score. This score is primarily based on age, education, Canadian experience, language skills, adaptability, job offer and provincial nomination.
Eligibility
Minimum Eligibility criteria for this program is:
1) 1 year of CANADIAN work experience in NOC 0, A or B
2) CLB 7 for NOC 0/A Jobs and CLB 5 for NOC B jobs
3) Job offer is not required
4) No minimum education required
Skilled Work Experience
The experience gained must be for a full-time or equivalent to part-time position for one year in the previous 3 years. The work experience must have been obtained on a legal work status in Canada. Most importantly, the work experience gained must have been paid for.
Any experience gained while you were a full-time student will not qualify under this stream.
Language
Foreign nationals must take an approved language test for English or French. CELPIP and IELTS are approved language tests for English.
TEF Canada and TCF Canada are approved language tests for French.
You must obtain minimum of CLB 7 in EACH of the four components of your language test (writing, reading, speaking and listening) for NOC 0 or A jobs. For NOC B jobs, you must obtain minimum of CLB 5.
Education
For the CEC class, you do not need education. However, you’re able to gain additional points for having foreign or Canadian education.
For Canadian education, you must provide your degree or diploma.
For foreign education, educational credential assessment report is required which must be assessed by an approved designated organization. To see the list of designated organizations, please click here.
Proof of Funds
You do not need to show any proof of funds for this stream. There is no requirement to show any document with related to your finances.
Admissibility
You must not be inadmissible. To learn more about inadmissibility, please click here.
Where you can live in Canada
You may plan to live anywhere in Canada EXCEPT Quebec. Province of Quebec has its own immigration streams. To learn more about Quebec skilled worker immigration stream, please click here.
Can I apply for CEC If I'm outside of Canada?
You may apply for CEC even if you’re outside Canada. Key is to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria under the express entry system for the CEC stream.
Will self-employment experience count towards the CEC requirements?
Self-employment experience will not count towards the CEC requirements for skilled experience.
How can a foreign national apply under this stream?
Foreign nationals wishing to apply under this stream must submit an Express Entry profile using the IRCC’s website. Once a profile has been submitted, a CRS score will be assigned to your profile. The CEC class is based on a pass or fail model. If you meet the requirements for the CEC as discussed above, you automatically enter the pool of candidates.
The following documents must be provided when making your express entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program:
Language Proficiency Test Results (IELTS or CELPIP)
Passport or travel documents
Job offer letter from an employer in Canada (If you have one)
Provincial Nomination (If you have one)
Although, education is not required for this stream. However, an applicant may submit his educational credential assessment report from an authorized organization in Canada to gain additional points.
What is the processing fee for this program?
| Fees | $CAN |
| Your application | 1325 |
| Processing fee ($825) | |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee ($500) | |
| Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | 825 |
| Include your spouse or partner | 1325 |
| Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | |
| Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | 825 |
| Include a dependent child | 225(per child) |
How much settlement fund is required under this stream?
No settlements funds are required under this stream.
Ready to Apply? Please click here to contact us for an immediate response and our senior IRCC licensed immigration consultants can simplify your journey to Canada.