How to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) after losing your job

• You lost your job through no fault of your own, for example a layoff, shortage of work or the end of a contract.
• You have been without work and pay for at least 7 days in a row in the last 52 weeks.
• You worked enough insurable hours in the last 52 weeks (see the table below).
• You are ready, willing and able to work each day, and you are looking for work. Keep a written list of employers you contact.

Service Canada

The hours depend on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region. Look up your region by postal code.

You need more hours if you had an EI violation before. Service Canada

If you quit: you can get EI only with just cause, meaning quitting was the only reasonable choice. Examples include harassment, discrimination, unsafe work, moving with a spouse or dependent child, caring for a family member, a firm offer of another job, or major changes to your pay or duties. You are expected to try other options first, such as talking to your employer or asking for a leave. Service Canada

If you were fired: you can still qualify unless it was for misconduct, meaning something you did on purpose that broke the conditions of your job. Not being good enough at the job is not misconduct on its own. Service Canada

From October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027, Service Canada reviews only the reason you left your most recent job. If you lost that job through no fault of your own, all your insurable hours count. Service Canada

Your employer must issue a Record of Employment when your pay stops. Most employers file it electronically within 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which your job ended. You can see it in My Service Canada Account. ROE guide · View your ROE

Do not wait for your ROE to apply. Service Canada can get it after you apply. Service Canada

Apply within 4 weeks of your last day of work, or you may lose benefits. The application takes about an hour. Your answers are saved for 72 hours if you need to stop. Service Canada

Have this ready

• Your Social Insurance Number. If it starts with 9, also your immigration document and work permit. See how to get a SIN.
• Your parent's last name at birth
• Your mailing and home addresses, with postal codes
• Bank details for direct deposit: institution, branch (transit) and account numbers
• Every employer in the last 52 weeks, with addresses, dates worked and why you stopped

Service Canada will not ask you to send information by email.

• Rate: 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings.
• Maximum: $729 a week in 2026. Maximum insurable earnings are $68,900 a year.
• Length: 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and your region's unemployment rate. Service Canada
• Long-tenured workers can get up to 20 extra weeks, to a maximum of 65 weeks, on claims starting June 15, 2025 to June 12, 2027. Service Canada

1. Watch for your benefit statement in the mail. It has a 4-digit access code you need for reports.
2. Fill out a report every 2 weeks, online or by phone, for as long as you get benefits. Payments only go out after a report is processed.
3. If you are eligible and sent everything, Service Canada says the first payment comes about 28 days after you apply.

Service Canada

• No waiting week: waived for new claims starting March 30, 2025 to October 9, 2027. Some Service Canada pages still mention a one-week wait; the temporary measures page is the more specific rule.
• Severance and vacation pay do not reduce EI for claims starting March 30, 2025 to October 9, 2027.
• Only your last job's reason for leaving is reviewed for claims starting October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027.
• Up to 65 weeks for eligible long-tenured workers, for claims starting June 15, 2025 to June 12, 2027.

Service Canada: temporary measures

You can work part-time. You keep 50 cents of benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of your previous weekly insurable earnings. Above that, EI is reduced dollar for dollar. Report your work and pay for the week you did the work, not the week you were paid. Service Canada

Keep your job search record for 6 years. You usually cannot get regular benefits while outside Canada; report any travel. Service Canada