Pathway to Permanent Residency: Unlocking the Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is designed for skilled workers who have gained Canadian work experience and wish to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

Key Eligibility Requirements

1. Canadian Skilled Work Experience
   To be eligible, your work experience in Canada must meet certain criteria. Begin by identifying the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for your occupation and ensure it aligns with the skilled work experience requirements.
   
   Your skilled work experience must:
   
   • Fall under NOC categories TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
   • Be acquired while working in Canada under authorized temporary resident status.
   • If you worked remotely, you must have been physically present in Canada and employed by a Canadian company.
   • Demonstrate that your job duties align with those described in the NOC job description and include most of the primary duties listed.
   • Be paid work (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count).
   • Total at least 1 year of work experience or 1,560 hours (30 hours per week) within the 3 years preceding your application.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Citizenship

2. Counting Your Work Hours:
   You can meet the 1,560-hour requirement in different ways:
   
   • Full-time employment at one job: 30 hours per week for 12 months equals 1 year of full-time work (1,560 hours).
   • Part-time work: For example, 15 hours per week for 24 months can also meet the 1-year requirement.
   • Multiple part-time jobs: Combine hours from different jobs to meet the 1,560-hour total.
   • Full-time at more than one job: Work 30 hours per week for 12 months across multiple jobs.

3. Self-Employment and Student Work Experience: Self-employment and work experience during studies can count toward your eligibility under specific conditions.
   
4. Language Ability
   You must prove your proficiency in English or French by taking an approved language test. You need to meet the minimum language score in all four skills:
   
   • Reading
   • Writing
   • Listening
   • Speaking

5. Education
   There is no formal education requirement to apply under the Canadian Experience Class. However, if you wish to enhance your ranking in the applicant pool, education may play a role in improving your chances.

6. Admissibility
   You must be admissible to Canada. Certain factors, such as security, criminal, or medical reasons, may affect your eligibility to enter Canada.
   
7. Where You Can Live in Canada
   Applicants must plan to reside outside of Quebec, as the province has its own selection system for skilled workers. If you plan to live in Quebec, please refer to the Quebec-selected skilled workers program for more details.
   
   When you complete your application profile, you will need to indicate where you intend to live in Canada. However, you do not have to settle in that province or territory. If you are a Provincial Nominee, you must live in the province or territory that nominated you.
   

By meeting these requirements and following the outlined process, skilled workers with Canadian work experience can apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class.