How to apply for Employment Insurance regular benefits after losing your job in Canada
Apply for Employment Insurance regular benefits in Canada as soon as you stop working, even if your Record of Employment has not arrived. Learn the 2026 EI eligibility rules, insurable hours requirement, documents and information needed, missing ROE procedure, temporary waiting-period waiver, biweekly reporting rules and what happens after you apply.
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If you lost your job through no fault of your own, apply for Employment Insurance regular benefits as soon as you stop working. Do not wait for your Record of Employment. Service Canada warns that applying more than 4 weeks after your last day of work may cause you to lose benefits. You generally need insurable employment, at least 7 consecutive days without work and pay in the last 52 weeks, enough insurable hours for your EI economic region, and you must be ready, willing and capable of working while actively looking for work. Applications are submitted online. Service Canada's service standard is to provide a decision within 28 days, and eligible applicants who have supplied all required information generally receive their first payment about 28 days after applying. For new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026, the usual 1-week waiting period is temporarily waived.
What you need
- Your Social Insurance Number.
- If your SIN begins with 9, proof of your immigration status and work permit.
- The last name at birth of one of your parents.
- Your residential and mailing addresses, including postal codes.
- Your banking information if you want direct deposit, including the financial institution name, transit number and account number.
- Details of all employment during the past 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever period is shorter, including employer names, addresses, dates of employment and the reason each employment ended.
- Your explanation of the circumstances if you quit or were dismissed from a job.
- Records of Employment from the relevant employers. Electronic ROEs are sent directly to Service Canada. Paper ROEs must be provided to Service Canada.
- Information about other amounts you received or will receive in connection with your employment separation when requested, such as vacation pay, severance pay, pension payments or pay in lieu of notice.
- After applying, your four-digit EI access code and SIN are required to submit the mandatory biweekly reports.
Eligibility
To qualify for EI regular benefits, you generally must have been employed in insurable employment, lost your job through no fault of your own, have been without work and without pay for at least 7 consecutive days during the last 52 weeks, and have accumulated the required number of insurable employment hours during the qualifying period. You must also be ready, willing and capable of working each day and actively looking for work. You are required to keep a written record of employers you contact and when you contacted them.
The number of insurable hours normally required depends on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region and ranges from 420 to 700 hours for a claimant without a violation. The qualifying period is generally the shorter of the 52 weeks immediately before the claim begins or the period since the beginning of a previous benefit period if you had an approved claim during the previous 52 weeks. Service Canada determines final eligibility after reviewing the application and employment information.
You may not qualify for EI regular benefits if you voluntarily left your job without just cause, were dismissed for misconduct, are unemployed because you are directly participating in a labour dispute, or fall within another exclusion under the EI rules. You should still apply if you are uncertain and allow Service Canada to determine your eligibility based on the facts.
How to do it
- Apply as soon as you stop working. Do not wait for your Record of Employment. Service Canada states that if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
- Check the basic EI regular benefits requirements. You generally need insurable employment, a job loss through no fault of your own, at least 7 consecutive days without work and pay, enough insurable hours in your qualifying period, availability for work and an active job search.
- Gather your personal information. Prepare your SIN, addresses, one parent's last name at birth and, if your SIN begins with 9, proof of immigration status and your work permit.
- Gather your employment history. Provide information about all employment in the previous 52 weeks or since your last claim began, whichever period is shorter, including employer names and addresses, employment dates and reasons for separation.
- Prepare your banking details. You can register for direct deposit using your financial institution name, transit number and account number.
- Submit the EI application online. The federal online application takes about 1 hour. If you leave before completing it, you can return using the temporary password provided when you start. Application information is saved for 72 hours; after that, an unfinished application is deleted and you must start again.
- Handle your ROE correctly. If an employer submits an electronic ROE, it goes directly to Service Canada and you do not need to submit a copy. You can check electronic ROEs in My Service Canada Account. If your employer gives you a paper ROE, submit the required paper ROE to Service Canada using the instructions provided with your application.
- Do not delay the application because an ROE is missing. Submit the EI application first. Check My Service Canada Account to see whether an electronic ROE has been issued. If you requested an ROE and your employer has not issued it within the applicable required timeframe, contact Service Canada.
- Keep your application confirmation. After submitting the application, keep the confirmation number as proof that Service Canada received it.
- Watch for your benefit statement and access code. Service Canada mails a benefit statement containing a four-digit access code. You need the access code and your SIN to submit EI reports.
- Submit reports every 2 weeks. Continue reporting for as long as you receive EI benefits. Report work, earnings and other required changes accurately. After each report, Service Canada tells you when the next one is due; you have 3 weeks from that date to submit it.
- Continue looking for work. You must remain ready, willing and capable of working and actively search for suitable employment. Keep a written record of employers contacted and the dates of contact.
- Check your application status. Use My Service Canada Account to review your claim status, messages, ROEs and, after processing, the start and end dates, benefit rate and weeks of entitlement.
- Request reconsideration if necessary. If Service Canada decides that you are not eligible and you disagree, you may request reconsideration. The request must be submitted within 30 days after the decision was communicated to you.
How to apply for EI after losing your job in Canada
If you lose your job, apply for Employment Insurance regular benefits as soon as you stop working. You do not need to wait until your employer issues your Record of Employment before submitting the application. Service Canada warns that waiting more than 4 weeks after your last day of work may cause you to lose benefits.
EI regular benefits are intended for eligible workers who lose employment through no fault of their own and are available for and capable of working but cannot find a job. The application is submitted online through the Government of Canada.
Who qualifies for EI regular benefits
Service Canada requires you to demonstrate that you were employed in insurable employment, lost your job through no fault of your own, were without work and pay for at least 7 consecutive days during the previous 52 weeks, accumulated enough insurable employment hours and remain ready, willing and capable of working each day.
You must also actively search for employment. Service Canada requires you to keep a written record of employers you contact, including when you contacted them.
How many insurable hours do you need for EI
The required number of insurable employment hours depends on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region. Under the standard 2026 rules shown by Service Canada, a claimant without a violation generally needs between 420 and 700 hours.
At a regional unemployment rate of 6 percent or less, the standard requirement is 700 hours. It decreases as regional unemployment increases, reaching 420 hours where the regional unemployment rate is above 13 percent. A previous EI violation can increase the number of hours you need.
What period does Service Canada use to count your hours
The qualifying period is normally the shorter of the 52 weeks immediately before your new claim starts or the period from the beginning of a previous benefit period to the beginning of the new benefit period if you had an approved EI claim during the previous 52 weeks. In certain circumstances the qualifying period may be extended.
Can you get EI if you were laid off
A layoff caused by a shortage of work is a common situation in which EI regular benefits may be available, provided you satisfy the other eligibility requirements. Seasonal and mass layoffs can also qualify.
Can you get EI if you quit or were fired
Leaving a job voluntarily does not automatically establish eligibility. Service Canada states that you may not qualify if you voluntarily left employment without just cause. You may also be ineligible if you were dismissed for misconduct.
If you quit or were dismissed, the online application asks for your version of the facts. Service Canada reviews the circumstances to decide whether you qualify. If you are unsure, the federal guidance encourages you to apply and allow Service Canada to make the eligibility decision.
What information you need to apply for EI
You need your Social Insurance Number, the last name at birth of one of your parents, your mailing and residential addresses and details about your employment during the previous 52 weeks or since your last EI claim began, whichever period is shorter.
For each employer, prepare the employer's name and address, your employment dates and the reason the employment ended. If your SIN begins with 9, Service Canada also requires proof of your immigration status and work permit.
You can provide banking details for direct deposit, including the financial institution name, branch transit number and account number. Once an EI report has been processed, direct deposit allows the payment to be deposited automatically, generally 2 business days after report processing.
Do you need your Record of Employment before applying for EI
No. Apply for EI as soon as you stop working even if the Record of Employment has not yet been issued. The ROE remains important because Service Canada uses ROEs to determine whether you qualify, the amount of benefits and how long benefits may be paid.
Electronic Record of Employment
If your employer submits the ROE electronically, it is transmitted directly to Service Canada. You do not have to request or submit a copy for the EI claim. You can view electronic ROEs in My Service Canada Account under Records of Employment.
Paper Record of Employment
If your employer issues paper ROEs, provide the required original paper ROEs to Service Canada. The application process provides instructions for submitting required documents. Missing paper ROEs can delay finalization of the claim.
What to do if your employer has not issued your ROE
Do not postpone the EI application while waiting for an ROE. Submit the application and check My Service Canada Account to determine whether the employer submitted an electronic ROE.
Service Canada states that an employer should issue an ROE within the applicable required timeframe. For many electronic ROEs where the pay period is weekly, biweekly or semi-monthly, the employer has up to 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which the interruption of earnings occurred. Paper ROEs generally must be issued within 5 calendar days of the first day of the interruption of earnings or the day the employer becomes aware of it. If you have requested the ROE and it has not been issued within the applicable timeframe, contact Service Canada.
How to submit the EI application online
The EI regular benefits application is available online through Canada.ca. Service Canada estimates that the application takes about 1 hour.
If you cannot finish it in one session, you can return using the temporary password generated when you start. Your information remains saved for 72 hours. If the application is not submitted during that period, the saved information is deleted and you must begin again.
After submitting the application, you receive an electronic confirmation number. Keep the number and the date you applied.
How long does EI take to process
Service Canada's service standard is to provide a decision within 28 days of the date you file your application, with a target of meeting that standard 80 percent of the time. Missing documents or information can delay processing.
If you are eligible and have provided all required information, Service Canada states that you will generally receive the first payment about 28 days after applying. Payments are issued only after the required reports have been processed.
Is there an EI waiting period in 2026
Under the standard EI rules there is normally a 1-week unpaid waiting period at the beginning of a claim. However, a temporary federal measure currently waives that waiting period for all new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026.
A claimant may choose to serve the waiting period when doing so is advantageous because of a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit plan. Claims beginning after the temporary measure expires are subject to the rules in effect at that time.
How severance and vacation pay affect EI in 2026
Normally, certain earnings paid because employment ends, including vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, closure bonuses and some sick-leave credits, can affect EI benefits. A temporary federal measure suspends the allocation of separation earnings when the claim or allocation starts between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026. During the temporary measure, those separation earnings are not deducted from EI benefits under that allocation rule.
How much can you receive from EI in 2026
For most claimants, the basic EI regular benefit rate is 55 percent of average insurable weekly earnings up to the federal maximum. From January 1, 2026, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $68,900, producing a maximum regular EI benefit of $729 per week.
Under the standard rules, EI regular benefits can generally be paid for between 14 and 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region and your accumulated insurable hours. Temporary measures can provide additional weeks to qualifying long-tenured workers with claims starting during the period specified by the federal program.
What happens after you apply for EI
Shortly after you apply, Service Canada mails a benefit statement containing your four-digit access code. You need this code and your SIN to file your EI reports online or by telephone.
You can use My Service Canada Account to review the status of your application, verify that your contact and banking information is correct, see your electronic ROEs and read claim messages.
EI reports must be submitted every 2 weeks
You must complete reports every 2 weeks for as long as you receive EI benefits. The reports confirm continuing eligibility and are required before payments are issued.
After submitting a report, Service Canada tells you when to complete the next one. You have 3 weeks from that date to submit it. You must accurately report work and earnings. Failure to report earnings can result in an overpayment that you have to repay.
Do you have to look for work while receiving EI
Yes. EI regular benefit claimants must remain capable of and available for work and actively search for suitable employment. Keep a written record of your job-search activities, including employers contacted and the dates of contact, because Service Canada can require evidence of your job search.
What happens if you start working while receiving EI
If you work or earn money while receiving EI, report the work, hours and earnings for the week in which they occurred. Depending on your circumstances, EI can be reduced or stopped.
If you return to full-time, part-time, short-term or contract work before your claim ends, report the change through your EI reports. A short-term claim interruption may allow an existing claim to be reactivated if you become unemployed again and benefits remain available.
What if your EI application is refused
If Service Canada determines that you are not eligible, you will be notified and can review information about the decision in My Service Canada Account. If you have additional evidence or documents, provide them as soon as possible so the claim can be reviewed.
If you disagree with the decision, you can request reconsideration. Service Canada states that the reconsideration request must be submitted within 30 days after the decision was communicated to you.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I apply for EI after losing my job?
Apply as soon as you stop working. Service Canada warns that if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
Can I apply for EI before I receive my Record of Employment?
Yes. You should apply immediately even if your employer has not issued the ROE. Service Canada can receive an electronic ROE directly from the employer, while a required paper ROE can be submitted after the application.
What should I do if my employer has not sent my ROE?
Submit your EI application without waiting. Check My Service Canada Account to see whether an electronic ROE has been issued. If you requested the ROE and it has not been issued within the applicable employer deadline, contact Service Canada.
How many hours do I need to qualify for EI regular benefits?
Under the standard rules, a claimant without a violation generally needs between 420 and 700 insurable hours, depending on the unemployment rate in the EI economic region. Previous EI violations can increase the requirement.
Can I receive EI if I was laid off?
Potentially yes. EI regular benefits are designed for eligible workers who lose their employment through no fault of their own, including situations such as a shortage of work, and who meet the other eligibility requirements.
Can I receive EI if I quit my job?
You may not qualify if you voluntarily left employment without just cause. Service Canada reviews the circumstances. If you quit, the application requires your version of the facts.
Can I receive EI if I was fired?
It depends on why you were dismissed. Service Canada states that you may not qualify if you were dismissed for misconduct. You should provide the facts in your application so Service Canada can make the eligibility decision.
Is the one-week EI waiting period waived in 2026?
For new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026, the federal temporary measure waives the usual one-week waiting period. A claimant may serve it if doing so is advantageous because of a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit plan.
How long does Service Canada take to decide an EI application?
Service Canada's service standard is to provide a decision within 28 days of filing the application, with a target of meeting that standard 80 percent of the time.
When will I receive my first EI payment?
If you are eligible and have provided all required information, Service Canada states that the first payment is generally received about 28 days after you apply. Required EI reports must be processed before payments are issued.
How much is the maximum EI regular benefit in 2026?
For most people, the basic rate is 55 percent of average insurable weekly earnings up to the maximum. As of January 1, 2026, maximum yearly insurable earnings are $68,900 and the maximum EI regular benefit is $729 per week.
How often do I have to submit EI reports?
You must submit reports every 2 weeks while receiving EI. After each report, Service Canada tells you when the next one is due, and you have 3 weeks from that date to submit it.
Do I have to look for a job while receiving EI regular benefits?
Yes. You must be ready, willing and capable of working and actively search for work. Service Canada requires you to keep a written record of employers you contact and when you contacted them.
How long do I have to appeal an EI decision?
If you disagree with an EI decision, you can request reconsideration. The request must generally be submitted within 30 days after the decision was communicated to you.