If you are currently working in Canada and you have applied for permanent residence under CEC class, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if your work permit will expire in four months or less. This means you can keep working while IRCC makes a decision on your permanent resident application.

You do not need to be working in Canada at the time of application, and you can apply from abroad, as long as your skilled work experience in Canada had a duration of at least 12 months within the 3 years before sending in your application.

You do not need a job offer in Canada. Most successful CEC applicants in recent years did not have a job offer at the time of their application. Still, a valid job offer is a strong benefit that will boost your point score for Express Entry.

You need at least 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience to qualify. However, foreign work experience and reference letters from previous employers outside Canada help increase your ranking for Express Entry, and therefore your chances to be selected.

There are no minimum education requirements to qualify for the program, and you do not have to present an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your foreign education papers. However, proof of secondary or post-secondary education (for foreign credentials including an accompanying ECA) will give you more points for Express Entry and improve your eligibility for the CEC.