How to Apply for EI Benefits (Employment Insurance)
Employment Insurance (EI) is Canada's unemployment insurance. It pays 55% of your average insurable earnings, up to a yearly maximum. It pays when you lose a job through no fault of your own. You need 420–700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks. The exact number depends on your region's unemployment rate. Your employer issues a Record of Employment. You apply online through My Service CanadaService Canada — The government service counter network for SIN applications, passports, EI, and other federal programs.Click for official info ↗ Account. Apply right away. A delay can cost you weeks of benefits.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free
- Total time:
- 28 days for first payment typical
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- canada.ca
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(November 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Confirm you qualify
You need insurable employment. You need 420–700 hours in the last 52 weeks. The exact number depends on your region's unemployment rate. Higher unemployment means fewer hours needed. And you need a job loss through no fault of your own, like a shortage of work or a layoff. If you quit on your own, you generally do not qualify. The same is true if you are fired for misconduct.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare up to 5 days
Get your Record of Employment
Employers must issue an ROE within 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which your interruption of earnings occurs (electronic ROEs). Paper ROEs are due within 5 calendar days of the interruption or of the employer becoming aware of it. Most file it online, straight to Service Canada. Check your MSCA to confirm it arrived, before you apply. A paper ROE must be mailed or dropped off.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay 1 hour
Apply online right away — do not wait
Your EI application goes through My Service Canada Account. Apply as soon as you stop working. Do this even if your ROE or severance details are not final. Service Canada counts your application as on time if you apply no later than 4 calendar weeks after the week your earnings were interrupted. The other date is your last day paid. File later, and your benefit period starts later. You lose those weeks. Unless Service Canada grants you an antedate. For that, you must show good cause for the whole delay. The application takes about an hour.
Click to mark as done
- Wait ~28 days
Serve the 1-week waiting period
EI normally has a 1-week unpaid waiting period. It works like a deductible. Temporary measure: the waiting period is waived for all new claims starting March 30, 2025, to October 9, 2027. Your first payment usually arrives about 28 days after you apply, if there are no complications. Set up direct deposit. This avoids mail delays.
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- Follow Up 10 min biweekly
File your reports every 2 weeks
You must fill in online reports. They confirm that you are ready, willing, and able to work. They also report any earnings. Miss a report, and your payments stop. Keep a job-search log. Service Canada can ask for it.
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- Receive —
Get paid and report earnings
Benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the yearly maximum insurable amount. While on claim, you keep 50 cents of EI benefits for every dollar you earn. This goes up to 90% of your previous weekly insurable earnings. Earnings above that reduce your benefits dollar for dollar. Always report your gross earnings in the week you worked.
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Calculator
Canada EI Benefit Calculator
Estimate your weekly Employment Insurance benefit: 55% of average weekly insurable earnings, up to the annual maximum.
Estimated weekly EI benefit
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Estimated annual EI premium
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Employee premium on insurable earnings
Maximum weekly benefit (this year)
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Estimate only. Estimate only. Service Canada uses your best 14–22 weeks of insurable earnings (by regional unemployment rate), not a simple annual average, and benefit duration (14–45 weeks) depends on hours and region. Quebec has a separate plan. Service Canada governs. Source: Employment Insurance (Canada.ca)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I was fired. Can I still get EI?
Only if the firing was not for misconduct. Service Canada looks into firings closely. Poor performance is not misconduct. But theft, violence, or deliberate rule-breaking is. Were you denied? You can ask for reconsideration, and give your side of the story.
How long do benefits last?
Benefits last 14 to 45 weeks. It depends on your region's unemployment rate, and on how many hours you worked. Temporary measure: eligible long-tenured workers (fewer than 36 weeks of regular/fishing benefits in the 3 years before the claim, and at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premiums paid in at least 7 of the 10 years before the claim year) can receive 20 additional weeks, up to 65 weeks, for claims starting June 15, 2025, to June 12, 2027. More hours extend your entitlement. Higher regional unemployment extends it too. Your MSCA shows your exact week count.
Can I leave Canada while on EI?
Generally, no. You are not usually eligible for regular benefits while away from Canada. Exceptions are narrow. You can take up to 7 consecutive days for a family funeral, visiting a seriously ill/injured immediate family member, accompanying family for medical treatment, or a bona fide job interview. You can also take up to 14 consecutive days for a bona fide job search. You must show you are available for work in Canada (reachable and able to return within 48 hours). Always notify Service Canada of travel via MSCA or your report; otherwise benefits for that period are not payable and overpayments must be repaid.
How much EI will I get in Canada?
EI pays 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings. The maximum is $729 per week in 2026 ($695 in 2025). For example, $60,000 of annual earnings gives an estimated $634.62 per week. Enter your earnings in the calculator above to get your estimate.
How does the EI calculator estimate my benefit?
It uses a simplified calculation. It takes 55% of your annual insurable earnings, divided by 52. The result is capped at the yearly maximum. Service Canada actually uses your best 14 to 22 weeks of insurable earnings. The number of weeks depends on your region's unemployment rate. So the official figure may differ.
What is the maximum insurable earnings for EI in 2026?
Maximum annual insurable earnings are $68,900 in 2026 ($65,700 in 2025). The employee EI premium is 1.63% of insurable earnings in 2026. In 2025, it was 1.64%. The premium applies up to that maximum.
What if I apply for EI more than 4 weeks after losing my job?
You can still apply. But your benefit period starts when you apply. So you lose the earlier weeks, unless Service Canada grants an antedate. An antedate requires proof. You must show that you qualified on the earlier date. You must also show good cause for the entire delay. Not knowing about the 4-week rule does not count as good cause. So apply within 4 calendar weeks of the week your earnings stopped.
How do I file for unemployment in Canada?
In Canada, you file for unemployment through Employment Insurance (EI). Apply online through My Service Canada Account as soon as you stop working, even if your ROE or severance details are not final. You need 420–700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, and a job loss through no fault of your own. Apply within 4 calendar weeks of the week your earnings stopped, or your benefit period starts later and you lose those weeks.
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