International Experience Canada

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a migration program that provides opportunities for young people to enter Canada to work or travel to partner countries to work. The purpose of IEC is to help participants explore and experience diverse cultures, develop tangible work experiences, and contribute to the growth of the global workforce.

International Experience Canada is one of the ways Canada strengthens its economy and global presence. IEC sustains and boosts Canada’s bilateral youth mobility agreements with participating countries, thus keeping Canada’s economic, social, and cultural relationship with 32 participating countries.

The IEC program enables young Canadian citizens and foreign nationals from participating counties between the age of 18 to 35 years to experience other cultures through travels and work experiences, thereby gaining rich experiences that can influence their perspective and personal development.

Page Contents

• About International Experience Canada
• Do You Need to Apply for a Work Permit?
• Categories of IEC Programs
• Eligibility Requirements for Applying to International Experience Canada (IEC)
• Participating Countries
• How to Apply for International Experience Canada
• Pay All Appropriate Fees
• How Can Ias Help?

IEC is an alternative to the hassle of applying for a temporary resident visa or work permit. It provides a more accessible and less expensive way to enter and work in Canada as it offers work permits for participants to earn a living and get work experience in the country.

IEC work permit is valid for two years tops. There are two types of IEC work permits:

1. Open work permit – holders can work anywhere
2. Employer-specific work permit – restrict holders to an employer

Canadians who want to work in participating countries will have to apply for a work permit in their country of choice.

The type of IEC work permit participants get depends on their IEC program application. IEC offers three kinds of experiences that IEC participants can choose from depending on their needs and situation.

Here are the basic entry requirements for IEC participants:

• You must be a citizen of one of the participating countries
• You must be admissible to Canada
• You should have a valid passport from your home country
• Your passport must still be valid when participants leave Canada
• You must be at least 18 years and 35 years at most. The upper age limit depends on the home country.
• You must have sufficient funds to help cover living expenses in Canada – a minimum of CAN$2,500.
• You will need valid health insurance throughout your stay in Canada
• You should have a round-trip ticket or present evidence of financial resources to purchase a departure ticket. The essence is to convince the border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorised stay.
• If you are applying for a young professional or co-op internship, you must have a signed letter of a job offer or contract of employment in your field of program or expertise. The job offer must be for professional development purposes.
• If you are a Co-op internship applicant, you must be in a post-secondary institution.
• You must have the financial capacity to pay all required fees

Only countries in the Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada are eligible for IEC.

Accept Your Invitation to Apply

Ensure to check your account for updates continually. You will get an invitation to apply in your account if you get considered for the program. You only have ten days to accept the invitation, starting from the day to get the invite.

Apply for the IEC Work Permit

You need to apply for your work permit once you accept your invitation. You will receive a message indicating the deadline for your application after you accept your invitation, which is 20 days (UTC standard).

Furthermore, you will be requested to provide:

• Proof of the information in your profile
• Information on education and professional background
• Supporting documents (upon request)

Fill Out the Online Application Form

It is mandatory to provide all the required information about your education and work history. Ensure to provide accurate information to avoid getting disqualified. Cross-check all the information you input for errors, gaps, and accuracy.

After you complete and submit your form, you will get your personalised document checklist indicating all the supporting documents you need to provide.

Upload Your Personalised Document Request

Given that the application is online, you will have to convert all your supporting documents into soft copies. To upload your document, log in to your account and go to the Document Checklist page. You may need to submit additional documents after uploading the required documents; if not, ensure to provide your e-signature and confirm that all the information you provided is authentic before leaving the page.

If you do not have the additional document requested of you, you can write a letter stating valid reasons for not having them and back it up with a supporting document. Upload the letter in place of the document; the border services officer will determine if you can continue with the application process.

Find out the fees that apply to your program and how to pay. The processing fees you may need to pay are:

• Participation fee
• Biometrics fee
• Open work permit holder fee of CAN$100 (applies to Work Holiday participants)

Internships and work experience applicants don’t have to pay for their work permits. Submit your application after paying your fees. Ensure to cross-check all your information and documents before submitting. You may also have to submit your biometrics after submitting your application.