Employment Insurance

Employment Insurance (EI)

Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills. Canadians who are sick, pregnant, or caring for a newborn or adopted child, as well as those who must care for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death or who must provide care or support to their critically ill or injured child may also be assisted by Employment Insurance.

Temporary foreign workers must meet the same eligibility requirements as Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Benefit Types

Regular benefits

Apply for benefits if you have lost your job through no fault of your own.

Sickness benefits

Apply for benefits if you are unable to work due to illness, injury or quarantine.

Maternity and parental benefits

Apply for benefits if you are pregnant, you have recently given birth, you are adopting a child or you are caring for a newborn.

Caregiving benefits and leave

Apply if you are providing care or support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care.

Benefits for the self-employed

Register and apply for special benefits if you are self-employed.

Fishing benefits

Apply for benefits if you are a self-employed fisher who is actively seeking work.

General Information