Canada · Work
Canada Express Entry · CEC
Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Express Entry · CEC is a work route for Canada. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · CAD 270 ≈ $190
- Processing
- Up to 180 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee CAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110; decision: up to 180 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · CAD 270 ≈ $190
- CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110)IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110).
- CAD 270 (≈ $190)IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years as a permanent resident
Needs 1,095 days physically in Canada in the 5 years before applying, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Each day as a temporary resident before permanent residence counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.
ProcessingUp to 180 days
The service standard for complete Express Entry applications is 180 days.
Presence rulesAt least 730 days
A permanent resident must be physically in Canada at least 730 days in any 5-year period to keep the status.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Canada
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- At least 1 year or 1,560 hours of paid skilled work (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in Canada, within the 3 years before applying.
- The work was done while authorised to work as a temporary resident.
- Not countable: full-time study periods and co-op terms, self-employment (except certain physicians), unpaid work, unauthorised work.
- Language minimum in all four abilities: CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) · IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110).
- A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190) · IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
Steps1
- Recent CEC-only rounds: 2,000 invitations at CRS 518 (Sept. 29, 2026) and 2,000 at 519 (Sept. 15, 2026).
What happens at day 183
How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearDay count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it.
- At least 183 days in a tax yearA person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a))
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents
All tax rules for Canada Tax records checked
Full official text
Permanent residence for people with at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience gained while authorised to work as a temporary resident, ranked by CRS score; no proof of funds is needed. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) · IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). 4
- A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190) · IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application. 4
Requirements
- At least 1 year or 1,560 hours of paid skilled work (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in Canada, within the 3 years before applying. 1
- The work was done while authorised to work as a temporary resident. 1
- Not countable: full-time study periods and co-op terms, self-employment (except certain physicians), unpaid work, unauthorised work. 1
- Language minimum in all four abilities: CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs. 2
- Recent CEC-only rounds: 2,000 invitations at CRS 518 (Sept. 29, 2026) and 2,000 at 519 (Sept. 15, 2026). 3
Stay
- Permanent residence on landing; no fixed stay term.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Permanent residents may live and work anywhere in Canada.
Family
Spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included.
Official sources
- Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class eligibility · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Express Entry: Take a language test (minimum CLB levels) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Express Entry: Rounds of invitations (draw data file ee_rounds_123_en.json read 2026-10-10) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Express Entry · CEC and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry · CEC | – | – | – |
| Atlantic Immigration | – | – | Limited |
| BC PNP Skills Immigration | Needs income from CAD 26k a year ≈ $18k | – | – |
| Employer work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Express Entry · Trades | Needs savings from CAD 15k ≈ $11k | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Express Entry · CEC?
A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190). IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
How long can I stay on the Express Entry · CEC?
Permanent residence on landing; no fixed stay term.
How long does the Express Entry · CEC take to process?
The service standard for complete Express Entry applications is 180 days.
Can I work on the Express Entry · CEC?
Permanent residents may live and work anywhere in Canada.
Can I bring my family on the Express Entry · CEC?
Spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included.
More in Canada
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 7 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class eligibility · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Express Entry: Take a language test (minimum CLB levels) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Express Entry: Rounds of invitations (draw data file ee_rounds_123_en.json read 2026-10-10) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.