Canadian Experience Class

If you are a temporary foreign worker or a foreign student who graduated in Canada, you often have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent residence. You are familiar with Canadian society and can contribute to the Canadian economy. You should have knowledge of English or French and qualifying work experience.
Applying to stay in Canada permanently in your case is simple. You can do this under the Canadian Experience Class. All the guides, information and forms you need to apply are included here.
Before you apply, make sure you get to know the requirements and current application procedures. After you apply, make sure you return to this website to find out about the steps that follow.

Canadian Experience Class:
Who can apply

You must meet these minimum requirements to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class. You must:

• plan to live outside the province of Quebec
• be either:
  • a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada, or
  • a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada
• have gained your experience in Canada with the proper work or study authorization
• apply while working in Canada – or – within one year of leaving your job in Canada
• include the results of an independent language test (from an agency designated by CIC) with your application

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:

• Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or
• Skill Level A (professional occupations) or
• Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades)

Your application will be assessed on two requirements if you apply as a temporary foreign worker:

• your work experience and
• your ability in English or French.

If you apply as a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary educational institution with Canadian work experience, it will be assessed using the above requirements, as well as:

• your education.

Principal applicant

If you are married or living with a common-law partner in Canada, and she/he also meets the above requirements, you can decide which one of you will apply for the Canadian Experience Class as a principal applicant.

Canadian Experience Class:
How to apply

Follow these steps to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class:

1. Obtain an application package
2. Read the guide
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents
4. Calculate and pay your fees
5. Mail the application form and documents

1. Obtain an application package

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.

2. Read the guide

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class before you apply.
Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.

3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents

The application package contains instructions. Read those instructions and provide the required documents. The document checklist in the application kit will tell you what documents to include.
Be sure to use the guide to complete the application.
Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. Answers can be typed or handwritten (print clearly in black ink). Applications containing incomplete forms or missing documents will not be processed, but will be returned to you to be completed properly.
You must also take a language test and include your results.

4. Calculate and pay your fees

Use the Fee Calculator to calculate your application fees.  Select “Immigration Applications for Persons Outside Canada” and fill the section under “Other classes of applicants - Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominees”.
You will have to pay the following fees:

• The processing fee for you and your dependants must be paid when you apply. It is not refundable, even if your application is not approved.
• Wait until your application is processed to pay the Right of Permanent Residence fee for you and your accompanying spouse or common-law partner, if applicable. It must be paid before Citizenship and Immigration Canada issues your permanent resident visa. This fee is refundable if you cancel your application, if your application is not approved, or if you do not use your visa.

You will also have to pay fees to third parties for:

• your medical examination
• a police certificate, if you need one as part of your criminal and security check, and
• your language test.

Information on how to pay your processing fee and your Right of Permanent Residence fee is included in the instructions for the visa office where you submit your application. Note that applicants in Canada must submit their applications to CIC’s visa office in Buffalo, U.S.

Applicants in Canada

You may pay by Canadian cheque, bank draft or money order made payable to the “Canadian Consulate General.” Do not enclose cash.
Please submit your application fee in Canadian funds.

Applicants outside Canada

You can find information on fee payment methods on the website of the visa office responsible for your area. Visa offices cannot accept receipts for fees paid in Canada.
Note: Personal cheques are not accepted as payment.

5. Mail the application form and documents

Applicants in Canada

Mail your application to CIC’s visa office in Buffalo, United States. The address is included in your application kit.

Applicants outside Canada

Mail your application to the visa office serving your home country.

Canadian Experience Class:
After applying

Once CIC has made a decision on your application, you will be sent a letter explaining the steps to take.
CIC’s Call Centre cannot answer questions about applications under the Canadian Experience Class. You must wait for an initial confirmation from CIC that your application has been received. This may take up to three months after applying.
The initial confirmation will explain the next steps.
If accepted, you will be sent a letter explaining your options to gain permanent residence, the final step. This means meeting with an immigration officer. You will need to make sure you have:

• your valid passport or travel documents. Your passport must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.
• your valid permanent resident visa, and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The officer will make sure you complete this final step before or on the expiry date on your permanent resident visa. Please note that this document cannot be extended. Make sure you use it before it expires.

The officer will ask you a few questions to make sure you still meet the requirements to immigrate to Canada. The questions will be similar to the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. This should only take a few minutes.
Your application will be denied if you give false or incomplete information, or if you do not satisfy the officer that you meet the requirements to become a permanent resident of Canada.
If there are no problems during this final step, the officer will grant you permanent resident status. The officer will also confirm your Canadian mailing address. Your permanent resident card will be mailed to you at this address.