Canada · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
- Processing time
- 6 months service standard for invited applications (actual varies).
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 principal applicant (includes RPRF); plus CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF for a spouse/partner and CAD 270 per dependant child (fee schedule effective 30 April 2026 — confirm on the IRCC fee list).
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 1 August 2026, the Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for Canada has a typical government cost of about CA$1,675 and typical processing of 7 months (a live IRCC service estimate that changes with application volume and completeness). Sources: official Canada government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/canada/express-entry-cec#answer
What is the Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) in Canada?
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an unsponsored Canada route. Indicative government fees are CAD 1,590 principal applicant (includes RPRF); plus CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF for a spouse/partner and CAD 270 per dependant child (fee schedule effective 30 April 2026 — confirm on the IRCC fee list); indicative processing time is 6 months service standard for invited applications (actual varies); typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on 1 July 2026.
Canada Express Entry money stack
Canada FSW, CEC and PNP cost and proof-of-funds answer
The route guide answers eligibility. This stack keeps the separate money answer beside it: IRCC fees, third-party preparation costs, settlement funds and province fees.
| Route | Mandatory paid-away baseline | Proof-of-funds rule | Province layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CA$2,275-CA$3,055 | CA$15,263 show-only settlement funds unless the applicant is authorized to work in Canada and has a valid job offer. | No province fee in the base FSW route. |
| Canadian Experience Class | CA$2,075-CA$3,005 | CEC settlement funds are CA$0 in the model because IRCC says CEC invitees do not need proof of settlement funds. | No province fee unless the applicant also uses a PNP stream. |
| Express Entry PNP | CA$3,775-CA$4,555 | CA$15,263 show-only funds unless the invitation/program basis creates a CEC or valid-job-offer exemption. | Province layer included: CA$1,500 Ontario-style nomination fee, with province-specific variation. |
Paid fees versus funds
Refundable settlement funds are not fees paid away. They are a cash-flow barrier that must stay separate from IRCC processing fees, the right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, language tests, ECA, medicals, police certificates and province-specific nomination fees.
- FSW cost-to-complete
- CEC cost-to-complete
- PNP cost-to-complete
- Federal Skilled Worker guide
- Express Entry PNP guide
- Canada CRS calculator
- Cost-to-complete JSON feed
Source dates: FSW checked 21 July 2026, CEC checked 1 July 2026, PNP checked 1 July 2026. Latest source record in this cluster: 21 July 2026. These figures separate paid-away charges from proof-of-funds requirements so you can compare budgets without treating available funds as a fee.
Overview
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of three Express Entry streams. It targets candidates with at least 1 year of skilled Canadian work experience in the past 3 years. CEC applicants typically score well in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and benefit from regular draws.
Recent changes to this route
- Canada: PR fees rise (30 Apr 2026), category-based Express Entry, Start-up Visa closed, arranged-employment points removed30 April 2026
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian nationals are consistently the largest single Express Entry cohort. IRCC has run category-based draws for STEM, h…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian applicants face heightened document scrutiny around employment letters and salary evidence. Police certificates…
Filipino applicants
Filipino healthcare and IT candidates are well-positioned for the Canadian Experience Class after time on a Post-Graduat…
Chinese applicants
Chinese candidates benefit from high education-credential scores. The Public Security Bureau (公安局) issues the police cer…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓At least 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in the 3 years before applying.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓Language test meeting minimum CLB level (CLB 7 for TEER 0/1, CLB 5 for TEER 2/3).Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓No settlement-funds requirement when invited under Canadian Experience Class; upload an explanation letter if the Express Entry checklist still asks for proof of funds.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓Intent to reside outside Quebec.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Common blockers
- !Experience classified at TEER 4 or 5 (unskilled under Express Entry).Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- !CRS score below cut-off in category-based or general draws.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Letters from Canadian employers documenting duties.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ·Language test results (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF).Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ·Police certificates from every country lived in 6+ months since age 18.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Application pathway
Create Express Entry profile
Submit profile to the Express Entry pool with language, education, and experience details.
Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA)
ITAs are issued based on CRS score and draw type.
Submit complete application within 60 days
Upload documents and pay fees.
IRCC processing and landing
Once approved, land in Canada as permanent resident.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Canada. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantCreate Express Entry profile ↗
CEC candidates use this IRCC page to create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) application runs about CA$1,675 in government fees (single CEC principal applicant, no dependants). A decision then typically takes 7 months (a live IRCC service estimate that changes with application volume and completeness). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare Canada with
Related routes
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.
Frequently asked questions
Does studying in Canada count toward CEC?+
Time spent studying itself does not count. Post-graduation work experience under a Post-Graduation Work Permit at TEER 0–3 level does count, provided it is continuous and meets the skilled-occupation definition.
How much does Express Entry cost for a family with a spouse and children?+
For the Canadian Experience Class, the IRCC government fee is CAD 1,590 for the principal applicant before biometrics (CAD 990 processing plus CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee). A spouse or common-law partner adds CAD 990 processing plus CAD 600 RPRF, each dependent child adds CAD 270, and biometrics are CAD 85 for one person or capped at CAD 170 for an eligible family applying together.
How much Canadian work experience do I need for the Canadian Experience Class?+
You need at least 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in the 3 years before applying. Experience classified at TEER 4 or 5 is treated as unskilled and does not qualify under Express Entry.
Can I use the Canadian Experience Class if I plan to settle in Quebec?+
No. The Canadian Experience Class requires an intent to reside outside Quebec.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in CanadaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Last checked: 1 July 2026