International students and temporary foreign workers living legally in Canada are eligible to apply to stay permanently in Canada under either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The main differences between eligibility for the two categories are the length of time you have spent in Canada and the way you will be assessed.
CEC applicants must meet specific minimum requirements for language ability, and for those in the worker stream must have 2 years of Canadian work experience and, for those in the student's stream, the minimum of 2 years post-secondary education plus one year of work experience.
The Canadian experience class was implemented in September 2008. The primary objective of this program is to ease labour force shortages by selecting foreign workers and international students who have clearly demonstrated that they have adapted to Canadian society and have successfully integrated into the Canadian labour force.
Criteria for Post-Graduation Stream
Successful completion of a program of study of at least two academic years at a Canadian public post-secondary institution, such as an accredited college or university; OR
Successful completion of a program of study of at least two academic years at a Canadian private post-secondary institution authorized by provincial law to grant degrees; AND
Completion of at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada after graduation in Skill Levels O, A or B of the National Occupational Classification.
Criteria for Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
Applicant has accumulated at least two years of full-time skilled, professional or technical work experience, in the three years prior to the application, in Skill Type O, Level A or B of the NOC;
Skill Type O and Skill Level A occupations must meet requirements of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for language and Skill Level B occupations must meet requirements of Canadian Language Benchmark 5.
You may contact us to determine which application would be best for you based on your particular circumstances.