How many hours do you need to qualify for EI?
You need between 420 and 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate where you live. For claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026, 22 regions need 700 hours and 3 need 420.
Newfoundland and Labrador
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 6.4% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (outside St. John's) | 11.4% | 490 | 23 to 45 |
Prince Edward Island
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottetown | 5.7% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Prince Edward Island (outside Charlottetown) | 10.1% | 525 | 21 to 45 |
Nova Scotia
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Nova Scotia | 8.5% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
| Western Nova Scotia | 6.4% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Halifax | 5.6% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
New Brunswick
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John | 6.8% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Madawaska-Charlotte | 6.7% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Restigouche-Albert | 10.1% | 525 | 21 to 45 |
Quebec
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine | 10.8% | 525 | 21 to 45 |
| Quebec City | 4.6% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Trois-Rivières | 5.2% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| South Central Quebec | 2.8% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Sherbrooke | 4.5% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Montérégie | 4.5% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Montreal | 7.2% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Central Quebec | 2.9% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| North Western Quebec | 3.7% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Lower Saint Lawrence and North Shore | 4.8% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Gatineau (Hull) | 6.7% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Chicoutimi-Jonquière | 3.8% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
Ontario
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | 7.7% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Eastern Ontario | 6.1% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Kingston | 5.9% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Central Ontario | 6.5% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Oshawa | 9.0% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
| Toronto | 7.2% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Hamilton | 7.6% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| St. Catharines | 7.3% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| London | 8.4% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
| Niagara | 6.8% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Windsor | 8.0% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Kitchener | 7.0% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Huron | 7.2% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| South Central Ontario | 5.4% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Sudbury | 5.4% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Thunder Bay | 4.3% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Northern Ontario | 6.7% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
Manitoba
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | 5.0% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Southern Manitoba | 6.1% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Northern Manitoba | 28.0% | 420 | 32 to 45 |
Saskatchewan
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regina | 5.9% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Saskatoon | 5.9% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Southern Saskatchewan | 6.9% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Northern Saskatchewan | 14.6% | 420 | 28 to 45 |
Alberta
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | 6.9% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Edmonton | 7.4% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Northern Alberta | 8.8% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
| Southern Alberta | 7.0% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
British Columbia
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Interior British Columbia | 7.8% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
| Abbotsford | 7.0% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Vancouver | 6.8% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Victoria | 5.3% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Southern Coastal British Columbia | 6.5% | 665 | 15 to 38 |
| Northern British Columbia | 8.4% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
Yukon
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse | 5.5% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Yukon (outside Whitehorse) | 7.1% | 630 | 17 to 40 |
Northwest Territories
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowknife | 4.4% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Northwest Territories (outside Yellowknife) | 9.0% | 595 | 18 to 42 |
Nunavut
| EI region | Rate | Hours needed | Weeks of EI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iqaluit | 5.8% | 700 | 14 to 36 |
| Nunavut (outside Iqaluit) | 15.5% | 420 | 30 to 45 |
Common questions
How many hours do I need for EI?
Between 420 and 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks. For claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026, 22 of 62 regions need 700 hours and 3 need 420.
How do I find my EI region?
Enter your postal code in Service Canada's EI economic region lookup, or type your city or postal code in our EI calculator.
How long does EI last?
From 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and your region's unemployment rate. Long-tenured workers can get up to 65 weeks on claims starting by June 12, 2027.
Sources
Rules checked against Service Canada on November 14, 2026. Regional unemployment rates are for November 8 to December 5, 2026, from Service Canada's EI economic region pages. They change every month.
- EI regular benefits: eligibility, page dated October 15, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how much you could receive, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI temporary measures for major economic conditions, page dated October 6, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how to apply, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI regular benefits: while you are receiving benefits, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI and repayment of benefits at income tax time, page dated December 31, 2025
- Summary of the 2027 Actuarial Report on the EI premium rate, page dated September 17, 2026
- Employment Insurance Regulations, Schedule I (EI regions)
- Find your EI economic region by postal code
This is an estimate, not a decision by Service Canada. Only Service Canada can decide your claim. We do not save anything you enter.