Canada Experience Class

The Canada Experience Class category of immigration is a relatively new program from Citizenship and Immigration Canada that helps foreign nationals with a certain amount of experience live in Canada permanently.

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About Canada Experience Class

Temporary foreign workers and international graduates who meet certain conditions can apply to become permanent residents of Canada. If you are accepted by Citizenship and Immigration under this immigration program, you will automatically become a permanent resident of Canada. As a permanent resident you will receive access to social services, and can live, work or study freely. Permanent residents can eventually apply for Canadian citizenship once they have fulfilled certain residency requirements.

Qualifying for the Canada Experience Class

If you wish to gain permanent residency under this program of immigration, you must fit the following criteria:

If you are a temporary foreign worker you qualify if:

• You have worked full-time (or equivalent) for at least 2 years in Canada as a skilled worker
• You are able to effectively communicate in either English or French
• You plan to live outside the province of Quebec
• You are applying for this immigration program while currently working in Canada or within 1 year of leaving your Canadian job
• You have obtained your experience with the proper work authorization

If you are foreign graduate you qualify for if: 

• You have graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution
• You have worked full-time (or equivalent) for at least 1 year in Canada as a skilled worker
• You are able to communicate effectively in either English or French
• You are applying for the Canadian experience class while currently working in Canada or within 1 year of leaving your Canadian job
• You have obtained your experience with the proper work and study authorization

Skilled Work Experience

For the purpose of applying under this immigration program, ‘skilled work experience’ refers to the following categories as defined by the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC):

• Skill Type O: Managerial Occupations
• Skill Level A: Professional Occupations
• Skill Level B: Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades

After applying for the Canada Experience Class, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will notify you by letter. If your application has been submitted incorrectly your application will be returned.

Canada Experience Class FAQ’s

What does not qualify as work experience?

• Experience that you obtained while not under the proper work authorization (for example, if you worked in Canada as an undocumented worker)
• Work in a job that does not fall under Type O, Level A or B classification under the NOC
• What qualifies as educational experience?
• Educational experience only counts towards this immigration program when it was obtained from a Canadian post-secondary educational institute. Furthermore, the experience must also satisfy one of the following criteria:
• You must have completed a full-time Canadian post-secondary program (which lasts for at least 2 years)
• Or, you have completed 1-year of educational study in Canada, followed by a 1-year Canadian Master’s degree program

Furthermore:

• English as a second language and French as a second language courses do NOT count as educational experience
• You must have studied at a private or public education institution that is provincially recognized or a private CEGEP in the province of Quebec
• You must have obtained your education while under proper study authorization in Canada (i.e. with a study permit)

What are the language requirements for the Canada Experience Class?

All applicants for the Canada experience class must have a certain level of proficiency in English or French. This means that you can effectively communicate, in speaking, reading and writing. The level of language ability that is required for the Canada experience class varies according to the job category in which your work experience was obtained. For example, if you have obtained work experience in a job classified under Skill Level A of the NOC, you will need to prove that you meet the minimum language requirement for that category.

What if I can communicate in both English and French?

If you have skill in both English and French you must choose which language you wish to use as your first official language. For the Canada experience class application, you only need to prove your ability in your first official language.

How do I prove my language ability?

1. If you are applying with English as your first language you may take an IELTS test to prove your language skills.
2. If you are applying with French as your first language you may take a TEF test to prove your language skills.
3. For either English or French, you may provide written evidence of your language skills. Please note that this option is only recommended for applicants who define English or French as one of their first languages.

How do I provide written evidence of my language skills?

If you feel confident in your language skills in either English or French you may choose to submit written evidence as opposed to taking a language test. This is only recommended for applicants who speak English or French as a first language.

Written evidence must provide the following information:

• Education you have received in English or French
• Work experience in English or French * Other life experience in English or French (social/family usage, etc).

You must also provide documentary evidence of your claim, such as:

• Degrees, diplomas etc.
• Employment letters, pay stubs, work samples etc.
• Any other relevant information proving you can communicate effectively in English or French

What if my spouse/common-law partner also qualifies?

If your spouse or common-law partner also qualifies under this immigration program, you must decide who will apply as the principal applicant. A common-law partner refers to someone who you have lived with, in a conjugal relationship for at least a year. A conjugal relationship refers to more than just living together and is essentially a marriage-like situation. Common-law relationships can be both opposite and same-sex couples.