Canada · Skilled Worker

Canadian Experience Class

A federal permanent-residence pathway for skilled workers who have at least one year of authorized skilled work experience in Canada (TEER 0–3), meet language minimums, and plan to live outside Quebec. Candidates compete for invitations through Express Entry.

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Status note. The Canadian Experience Class is an active Express Entry permanent-residence program for skilled workers with qualifying Canadian work experience. Meeting minimums enters the pool but does not guarantee an invitation.

Decision fit

Who this pathway serves

Good fit

Workers with at least 1,560 hours of paid skilled Canadian work in TEER 0–3 occupations within the last three years, authorized temporary-resident work status at the time of that work, and IRCC-approved language results.

Important limits

People without qualifying Canadian skilled work experience, applicants relying on self-employment or full-time student work (which generally do not count), those planning to settle in Quebec under provincial selection, or candidates who cannot meet language or admissibility rules.

Minimums

Eligibility

Age

No hard age floor or ceiling is modeled.

There is no stated hard maximum age for Canadian Experience Class eligibility. Age affects Comprehensive Ranking System points in the Express Entry pool.

Work experience

Minimum: 1 years

At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid skilled work in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations is required within the 3 years before applying. The work must have been performed while authorized under temporary resident status and must match the NOC lead statement and most main duties. Self-employment and work while a full-time student generally do not count, subject to limited physician public-policy exceptions.

Language

CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0–1; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2–3

Minimum language level depends on the NOC TEER of the skilled work: CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four abilities for TEER 0 and 1, and CLB 5 or NCLC 5 for TEER 2 and 3. Results must be less than two years old when the Express Entry profile and permanent-residence application are submitted.

Education

Minimum: Unknown — confirm with the official source

Assessment: No

IRCC states there is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class. Canadian or foreign credentials with an Educational Credential Assessment can still improve Express Entry ranking.

Selection threshold

Points: Not stated

Competition: high

Health and character

Medical exam: Yes

Police certificate: Yes

Costs

Funds and fees

Settlement funds

No settlement-fund table is published.

Application fees

1590 CADPrincipal applicant, including right of permanent residence fee
990 CADPrincipal applicant, without right of permanent residence fee
1590 CADSpouse or partner, including right of permanent residence fee
270 CADDependent child

Outcomes

Residence, work, and family

Permanent residence

A successful Canadian Experience Class application grants Canadian permanent residence directly through Express Entry.

Work: Yes · Study: Yes

Family

A spouse or common-law partner and dependent children must be declared and may accompany the principal applicant, subject to admissibility and document rules.

Partner: Yes · Children: Yes

Citizenship

Permanent residence can lead to citizenship after the separate citizenship physical-presence, language, and other requirements are met.

Processing time

Processing time is dynamic and depends on the application and current IRCC inventory. Use the official processing-times tool for the current estimate after an invitation to apply.

Modeled: Unknown — confirm with the official source–Unknown — confirm with the official source months

Sources