Canadian immigration program
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is the Express Entry stream for people already working in Canada. Eligibility turns on skilled Canadian work experience and a language result, then candidates compete in the pool on their Comprehensive Ranking System score. Below, each requirement is quoted from the governing regulation and IRCC guidance, so the rule can be read as written.
Sources on this page last verified Jul 16, 2026.
Eligibility criteria
The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class. Each is anchored to the verbatim source text, not a paraphrase, so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.
“certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one)”
“Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (even if you were on a co-op work term) doesn’t count toward the minimum requirements for this program.”
“meet the minimum score in all 4 abilities:”
“CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations”
“CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations”
“take approved language tests in English or French”
“You must: take approved language tests in English or French”
“language test results”
“be at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week) in the 3 years before you apply”
“show that you performed: the actions in the lead statement of the NOC job description, and most of the main duties listed”
“Your skilled work experience must: be in 1 or more of these NOC categories: training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3”
“be paid work (you must have been paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count)”
“a passport or travel document”
“were invited to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry on or after April 25, 2023, and submitted an application”
“have work experience in providing publicly funded medical services in Canada (such as fee-for-service work)”
“proof of work experience (such as a reference or experience letter from an employer)”
“If you worked remotely, you must have been physically in Canada and working for a Canadian employer.”
“You must plan to live **outside the province of Quebec**.”
“1 year in Canada in the last 3 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work)”
“be at least **1 year of work** or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week) in the 3 years before you apply”
“show that you performed: - the actions in the **lead statement** of the NOC job description, and - most of the main duties listed”
“be gained by working **in Canada** while authorized to work under temporary resident status”
“be in 1 or more of these NOC categories: training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3”
“Canadian work experience in an occupation listed in 1 or more of these NOC TEER Categories: - TEER 0 - TEER 1 - TEER 2 - TEER 3”
“be gained by working in Canada while authorized to work under temporary resident status”
“written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)”
Documents and eligibility gates
Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official source and linked back to it. Navisa reads and cites the governing text rather than restating a document name from memory. This is a reference summary, not immigration advice, and it does not replace review by a licensed RCIC.
“CLB 4 for reading and writing”
“CLB 5 for speaking and listening”
“Your skilled work experience must: be in 1 or more of these NOC categories: training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3”
“CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations”
“Work experience in a skilled trade under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3”
“CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations”
“Work experience in an occupation listed in 1 of these NOC TEER Categories: - TEER 0 - TEER 1 - TEER 2 - TEER 3”
“Your skilled work experience must: ... be gained by working in Canada while authorized to work under temporary resident status”
“certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one)”
“If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool”
“proof of Canadian education or an educational credential assessment report for immigration purposes”
“If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool. If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution.”
“written job offer from an employer in Canada”
“take approved language tests in English or French”
“language test results”
“a passport or travel document”
“Most applicants will also need to upload: police certificates”
“You’ll have to include proof and expect officers to check anything you provide.”
“proof of work experience (such as a reference or experience letter from an employer)”
“certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory”
“When you apply online, you’ll need to provide one of those documents.”
“Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for five years.””
“proof of work experience”
“be gained by working in Canada while authorized to work under temporary resident status”
“written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)”
Recent policy changes affecting this program
Tracked changes Navisa has tagged to this program, dated and cited to their official source.
Find IRCC application forms and instructions - Canada.ca
IRCC has updated form IMM 0017 (Letter of explanation – Open work permit for vulnerable workers), changing its modification date from 2025-12 to 2026-07. Pra…
Canada Gazette, Part II: Volume 160 - Canada.ca
Regular edition containing enacted regulations SOR/2026-3 to 14 and statutory instruments SI/2026-1 to 2. This is early in 2026 and may include carry-over im…
2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Updates | ontario.ca
As part of Phase 1 of the OINP redesign, eight former streams have been permanently closed: Employer Job Offer (Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, Internation…
Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca
IRCC updated the status notice for Express Entry French-language proficiency round #418 (May 28, 2026). The BEFORE text stated that IRCC was aware some eligi…
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