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GOVERNMENT FORM, EXPLAINED · CANADA (SERVICE CANADA)

The Record of Employment (ROE)

This page is the free guide. No sign-in. Read on.

The ROE is what Service Canada uses to work out an EI claim. It is also the one piece of the process you cannot do yourself.

    You do not fill this one out

    Your employer does. There is no blank ROE for you to download, complete, and submit, and waiting to receive one before you apply for EI is the mistake this page exists to prevent.

  1. 1

    What it is

    Open this section ↓

    The ROE is the form, electronic or paper, that employers complete for employees receiving insurable earnings who stop working and experience an interruption of earnings. It records the employment and the earnings that a claim is assessed against.

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  2. 2

    The deadlines your employer is working to

    The claimant-facing version is the short one: your employer should issue your ROE within 5 calendar days after the final pay period.Open this section ↓

    The claimant-facing version is the short one: your employer should issue your ROE within 5 calendar days after the final pay period. The employer-side rules are more specific.

    Electronic, weekly / biweekly / semi-monthly pay

    5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which an employee's interruption of earnings occurs.

    Electronic, monthly pay or 13 pay periods a year

    Whichever comes first of 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period, or 15 calendar days after the first day of the interruption of earnings.

    Paper

    Within 5 calendar days of the first day of an interruption of earnings, or of the day the employer becomes aware of it.

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  3. 3

    Where it goes

    For electronic ROEs, the data is transmitted directly to Service Canada's database, and employers no longer need to print a paper copy for their employees.Open this section ↓

    For electronic ROEs, the data is transmitted directly to Service Canada's database, and employers no longer need to print a paper copy for their employees. If your ROE was filed electronically, there is nothing for you to collect and nothing for you to hand in.

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  4. 4

    How to see yours

    Sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and select "Records of Employment".Open this section ↓

    Sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and select "Records of Employment".

    My Service Canada Account →

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  5. 5

    If it never arrives

    If you have requested the ROE and it has not been issued within this timeframe, contact Service Canada.Open this section ↓

    If you have requested the ROE and it has not been issued within this timeframe, contact Service Canada. In the meantime, apply for EI anyway: you can send required documents after you apply, and the 4-week application clock does not pause while you wait on your employer.

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  6. 6

    Common mistakes

    Waiting for the ROE before applying for EI: if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.Open this section ↓
    • ✗Waiting for the ROE before applying for EI: if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
    • ✗Looking for a blank ROE to fill out: there is no claimant version of this form.
    • ✗Expecting a paper copy from an employer who filed electronically: electronic ROE data goes straight to Service Canada.
    • ✗Assuming a missing ROE will sort itself out: check MSCA, and if it has not been issued within the timeframe, contact Service Canada.
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  7. 7

    Common Questions

    Do I fill out my own Record of Employment?Open this section ↓

    Do I fill out my own Record of Employment?

    No. The ROE is completed by your employer. It is the form employers complete for an employee with insurable earnings who stops working and has an interruption of earnings.

    How long does my employer have to issue my ROE?

    Your employer should issue your ROE within 5 calendar days after the final pay period. The detailed employer deadlines depend on the pay cycle and on whether the ROE is electronic or on paper.

    Where does my ROE go?

    For electronic ROEs, the data is transmitted directly to Service Canada's database, and employers no longer need to print a paper copy for their employees. There is usually nothing for you to hand in.

    How do I see my own ROE?

    Sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and select "Records of Employment".

    What if my ROE is never issued?

    If you have requested the ROE and it has not been issued within this timeframe, contact Service Canada. Do not wait for the ROE before applying for EI: apply, and send required documents after you apply.

    What is an ROE?

    A Record of Employment is the form, electronic or paper, that employers complete for employees receiving insurable earnings who stop working and experience an interruption of earnings. It records the employment and the earnings that an EI claim is assessed against, and it is what Service Canada uses to work out that claim.

    Where do I get my ROE?

    You do not collect it yourself, and there is no blank ROE for you to download. Your employer issues it, and for electronic ROEs the data goes straight to Service Canada, so there is usually nothing for you to hand in. To see your own copy, sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and select "Records of Employment".

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Just laid off?

The full guide covers the 4-week deadline, what you need to apply, what the program pays, and a free personalized checklist.

Laid off: applying for EI →Employment termination: notice and severance →

Official sources

Facts checked October 2026

Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice, verify current requirements with Service Canada. Full disclaimer.