By Setareh Moradian Nejad, Founder of SMILE to Canada
Hello! I am Setareh Moradian Nejad, with over 5 years of experience in immigration consulting. I’m here to guide you on your journey to immigrate to Canada. I know that transitioning from temporary status (such as a work permit) to permanent residency can have its challenges. That’s why, in this series of articles, I aim to help you find the best path to permanent residency.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the main and popular ways to convert a work permit to permanent residency in Canada. This program is designed for individuals who have work experience in Canada and want to use this experience to apply for permanent residency.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is suitable for individuals who:
If you are working in Canada with a work permit and have at least one year of full-time work experience or two years of part-time work experience in Canada, you can apply for this program.
Note: Your job must be at certain skill levels, meaning in managerial, professional (such as engineers and teachers), or technical and specialized fields. Jobs like service work that do not require high levels of expertise are not included in this program.
You must have a score equivalent to the acceptable level in English or French language tests. Valid tests include IELTS, TOEFL for English and TEF, TCF for French. For example, for specialized occupations, a CLB 7 language level is required, and for technical occupations, CLB 5 is sufficient.
Unlike some other programs, having a degree is not mandatory for the CEC. However, if you hold a valid degree (such as a bachelor’s, master’s, etc.), it can earn you additional points in the Express Entry system.
The CEC program is processed through the Express Entry system. Express Entry is a points-based system that calculates your score based on several different criteria. These criteria include:
If you meet the above conditions, you can follow the steps below to apply for the CEC program:
You need to create an online profile on the Canada Immigration Website. In this profile, you will enter your personal information, work experience, education, and language test scores.
Based on the information entered, the system will calculate your score. If you achieve a sufficient score, your profile will enter the *Pool* (applicant pool), and you will wait for selection.
Invitation to Apply (ITA): If your score is high, you may be selected in one of the periodic Express Entry draws and receive an invitation.
After receiving the invitation, you must submit your documents for review and evaluation.
After the documents are evaluated by the Canadian Immigration Office, your permanent residence will be issued if approved.
This method is one of the most popular options for individuals working with a work permit due to its simpler process and focus on work experience in Canada. Some of its advantages include:
In future articles, we can explore other programs such as the *Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)* and the *Startup Visa Program* to introduce more options for transitioning from temporary status to permanent residency.
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