The Canadian Experience Class is an Express Entry permanent-residence route for skilled workers with qualifying authorised Canadian work experience. It has no education requirement; education may improve CRS ranking. Current fees and processing information are shown separately below. Processing estimates are not guarantees.
IRCC fee list (modified 2026-09-21), in CAD: economic immigration application CAD 1,590 for the principal applicant including the right of permanent residence fee (CAD 990 without it); spouse or partner CAD 1,590 (990 without the right of PR fee); each dependent child CAD 270. Biometrics CAD 85 per person. Provincial or other program fees are not on this list.≈ $1,161
IRCC processing tool (updated September 3, 2026): Canadian Experience Class applied online via Express Entry, about 6 months. These are estimates, not a guarantee.
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Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(2)Canadian Work Experience
MandatoryCEC: at least 1 year/1,560 hours of paid Canadian work in the last 3 years, full-time or equivalent part-time, counting at most 30 hours/week. Work must be authorised under temporary resident status. Remote work counts only while physically in Canada for a Canadian employer. Full-time student work and self-employment do not count, except eligible physicians under IRCC’s policy.
Verified officialLanguage Proficiency
DocumentMandatoryCEC: CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four abilities for TEER 0/1; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2/3. Use an IRCC-approved test; results must be less than 2 years old at profile completion and permanent-residence application.
Verified official
Qualification
(1)Settlement funds
InformationalCEC applicants do not need settlement-funds evidence. If the application system requests it, upload a letter explaining that you were invited under CEC. Applying under CEC does not waive other document requirements.
Verified official
Preparation
(2)Police certificates when required
DocumentConditionalAt permanent-residence application, applicants and family members aged 18+ need certificates for countries other than Canada where they stayed 6 consecutive months or more in the last 10 years after turning 18. An officer may request older periods. Current-country certificates: issued within 6 months before submission; other countries: after the last qualifying stay. Follow country-specific IRCC instructions.
Verified officialMedical Examination
DocumentConditionalPermanent residence requires an immigration medical exam by an IRCC panel physician, including family members not accompanying you. If living in Canada with an IME from the past 5 years, another exam may not be needed: provide the previous IME/UMI or report and follow IRCC instructions. If no prior exam, arrange it after invitation; a reused exam is subject to IRCC acceptance.
Verified official
Application
(2)Intention to settle outside Quebec
MandatoryYou must intend to settle outside Quebec. Qualifying work experience gained in Quebec can count, but you must provide evidence that you do not plan to settle there. A provincial nominee must settle in the nominating province or territory.
Verified officialSkilled Occupation
MandatoryYour work experience must be in a job classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Verified official
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Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
IRCC — Canadian Experience Class minimum requirements
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
CEC paid authorised Canadian work, equivalent part-time, TEER/NOC, exclusions and physician-policy exception.
IRCC — Express Entry: Proof of settlement funds
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
FSW/FST settlement funds and joint authorised-work plus valid-offer exemption; CEC exemption and explanatory upload letter; annual family-size table currently dated2025-07-07, checked2026-10-10.
IRCC — Express Entry approved language tests and program thresholds
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
CEC TEER0/1 CLB/NCLC7 and TEER2/3 level5; FST speaking/listening5 reading/writing4; results less than2years at profile and application.
IRCC — Express Entry police certificates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Adult applicants/family; last10years,6consecutive months,excludesCanada/pre18; officer additional requests; issue-date conditions.
IRCC — Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry
IRCC
IRCC Express Entry application page: invitation valid 60 days; fees (processing, right of PR, biometrics) shown in the system, no amounts here; processing fee not refunded once processing starts.
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