EI Eligibility: How Many Hours You Need to Qualify (2026)

The conditions

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

Hours you need

Hours worked in the last 52 weeks, or since your last claim started, whichever is shorter. More hours are needed if you received a notice of violation on an earlier claim.

Find your region's rate with Service Canada's EI economic region lookup by postal code.

When you usually can't get EI

• You quit without just cause
• You were fired for misconduct
• You are on strike or locked out
• You are in jail

Under a temporary measure, for claims starting October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027, only the reason you left your most recent job is reviewed. See temporary EI measures.

Not sure? Apply anyway

Service Canada encourages everyone to apply and let it decide. Special rules apply to farmers, fishers, teachers, apprentices, self-employed people and people working for a relative.