International Experience Canada (IEC)

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International Experience Canada (IEC) provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable personal and professional experience while traveling and working in Canada.

The program facilitates work opportunities in Canada for youth through a simplified process, which does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Foreign nationals from 35 countries can participate in one or more of its three programs.

Why is International Experience Canada Such a Hit

Successful applicants obtain work permits without so called Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA is very difficult to obtain and it may take many months to process by a Canadian employer.
Those taking part in Working Holiday Visa sub-program will receive an open work permit. As a result, they will be able to work for almost any employer in Canada.
IEC work permits range in validity from 12 to 24 months. Repeated participation is often permitted but different rules apply based on the applicant’s country of origin.
For some, an International Experience Canada work permit is a stepping stone towards permanent residency. After gaining Canadian work experience, an IEC work permit holder may qualify to apply under one or more provincial and federal programs for permanent residence.

What are the International Experience Canada Programs

International Experience Canada program consists of three sub-programs.

If you want to work in Canada through IEC, you will need to meet requirements of one of these programs.

Click on the names of the sub-programs below to learn what they are about.

Working Holiday

Young Professionals

International Co-op (Internship)

International Experience Canada Country List

On the International Experience Canada Country List, there 34 countries and counting. Soon, coming up will be ‘Luxembourg.’

Click on the names of the countries to see basic characteristics of the programs available for their nationals.

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Working Holiday

The Working Holiday category of IEC (also referred to as Working Holiday Visa Canada) allows obtaining an LMIA-exempt open work permit.

Open work permits are popular because their holders can work at any location in Canada and for almost any employer. No employment offer is needed to apply in this category. Participants are allowed to change employers at any time during the validity of the document. There is no reporting duty or requirement to obtain a new work permit each time employment is changed. IEC participants may accept temporary jobs across Canada and thus discover the country.

Where You Cannot Work, Unless...

Open work permit prohibitions apply to occupations that require a medical examination. Foreign nationals who intend to work in childcare, primary or secondary school teaching and health services occupations must undergo a medical examination. Ideally, medical exam results are submitted along with the IEC work permit application. Furthermore, applicants who have resided in one or more designated countries for 6 months in a row during the past year will need to undergo a medical examination regardless of their intention not to work in restricted occupations.

The List of Designated and Non-Designated Countries

You will need a medical examination if you want to work in any of the below occupations:

workers in the health sciences field
clinical laboratory workers
patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
medical students admitted to Canada to attend university
medical electives and physicians on short-term locums
teachers of primary or secondary schools, or other teachers of small children
domestics
workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly and the disabled
day nursery employees and
other similar jobs

Young Professionals

The Young Professional category is designed to give opportunities for professional development through employment in Canada.

In order to qualify under this category of International Experience Canada, the applicant must have a job offer from a Canadian employer.

As a result, approved applicants will receive an employer-specific work permit. It is expected that you will work for one employer in one location for the duration of the work permit.

In some instances, work for one employer in multiple locations is permitted.

Participants may change employers. However, there must be a rationale for a change.

For example, the original employer terminates business activities, etc. Participants who want to change employers must apply to IEC with all the required documentation and obtain a new work permit.

Young Professionals Program - Job Offer

In this category, applicants must a have a job offer that is in field of their expertise, and which contributes to their professional development.

An expertise can be gained through education or work experience.

For example, a fresh graduate of a computer science program, who is offered a job of a programmer, may apply under this category. Similarly, an individual with 2 years of work experience in marketing with a job offer of a marketing assistant qualifies to apply.

The job offer should in a skilled occupation NOC 0, A or B. However, NOC C job offer may be accepted if the applicant submits a proof of education related to the offered occupation.

Verify NOC Skill Levels for Your Occupation.

NOTE!

International Experience Canada participants in this category must secure a paid employment. Unpaid internships do not qualify. Furthermore, participants are not permitted to engage in self-employment. There must be an employer-employee relationship established. Finally, employers are obliged to pay at least the minimum wage applicable in the province or territory of the employment.

See Minimum Wage Rates Across Canada.

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International Co-op (Internship)

The International Co-op category allows students to engage in a work placement or internship.

It is required that the placement in Canada constitutes a part of the student’s academic program. The type of employment must be directly linked to the person's studies. Only post-secondary students may apply.

The expectation is that applicant will work for one employer in one location for the entire duration of the work permit. Although, employment with one company in multiple locations may be considered, if certain conditions are met.

As a rule, successful applicants will be issued an employer-specific work permit. The internship can be paid or unpaid. Importantly, the labour laws of the province or territory must be followed to see if the participant can engage in an unpaid internship.

How the Online Application Process Works

International Experience Canada program is a pool-based system.

In this system, applicants are selected from all eligible candidates who submitted their profile online. Each season, regular draws are conducted and applicants are issued so called Invitation to Apply for a work permit.

Only with the Invitation a candidate can apply for the actual work permit.

Each country that participates in the International Experience Canada program has a specific number of positions available every year. Once all positions are filled, candidates can no longer apply that year. As a result, it is advisable to register a profile as early as possible. Frequently, registrations open in December for the following year. Candidates can specify in their profile an interest to participate in one or more IEC categories.

IEC Countries Have Limited Number of Spots for Participants

International Experience Canada Application Steps

Complete the Come to Canada questionnaire to receive a personal reference code.
Create your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account. Select “Apply to come to Canada” and submit your personal reference code to start the application.
Complete the profile as instructed in your online account.
Submit your profile and select the category (Working Holiday, Young Professional or Internation Co-op) you want to participate in.
If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you will have 10 days to accept the invitation. (If you need more time to prepare all your documents, accept the invitation as late as possible and buy yourself time.)
Once you accept the invitation and start the work permit application, you will have 20 days to complete all the information, upload supporting documents, pay the fees and submit.
If you are applying under the Young Professionals or International Co-op categories, during the 20 days, your employer needs to pay the Employer Compliance Fee of $230 CAD through the Employer Portal. Once the fee is paid, the employer needs to send you an employment number. You will need to provide this number in your application.
Upload all supporting documents, including police certificates and medical exam results (if applicable).
Pay your participation fee of $150 CAD with a credit card online through your account. Include a $85 CAD biometrics fee and $100 CAD Working Holiday open work permit holder fee, if applicable.
Upon request, you will have 30 days to provide biometric information. You will receive instruction where to go. In some cases, the biometric collection service will not be available in your country and you may be required to travel.
A review process follows, which can take up to 56 days. You may also be required to provide additional supporting documents.
When approved, you will receive a Port of Entry Letter to bring with you when you travel to Canada. You will need to hand this letter to an immigration officer at an airport, land crossing or harbor where you enter Canada. In return, you will be issued a work permit.
Pack you bags. Keep in mind that you will need to have your own private health insurance for the International Experience Canada program.