Program International Experience Canada (IEC) is designed for young people aged 18 to 35. It provides an opportunity to improve their knowledge of English and/or French, get acquainted with the standard of living in Canada, and work and travel for two years. All the details are below.

Participation in the programme is possible either through an approved application or through recognised organizations that provide support and services for the processing of documents. Depending on the country of origin and the chosen programme category, young people can receive one of three types of permits: Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op.

Required fees: 172 CAD/$125 (as of July 2024).

Average application processing time after submission of documents: 6 weeks.

How Can One Participate in the Program

List of recognized organizations that can assist in participation in the IEC program:

Name and description of the organization

Types of permits issued

Age

Countries that may receive permission

AIESEC Canada

Internship

18–30

All countries participating in the IEC program.

GO International

Working Holiday, Young Professionals

18–35

Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)

Internship

18–35

All countries participating in the IEC program.

International Rural Exchange (IRE) Association

Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op Internship

18–35

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

SWAP Working Holidays

Working Holiday

18–35

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

Stepwest

Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op Internship

18–35

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

To take part in the program, you need to check the possibility of participation on official website. To do this, you need to select a country (the program is only available for a limited number of countries) and one of the options:

  • Working Holiday.
  • Young Professionals.
  • International Co-op (Internship).

Working Holiday suitable if:

  • The participant does not have a job offer.
  • The participant intends to earn money to be able to travel.
  • The participant plans to work for several employers or in different locations.

If the participant plans to work in the healthcare field, with children, the elderly or in educational institutions, a medical examination will be required.

If the answer is positive, the participant receives an open work permit, which allows them to work for any employer in Canada (with a few exceptions).

Young Professionals

This option is suitable if:

  • The participant has a job offer from a Canadian employer for professional development.
  • The participant will work for only one employer in one location.
  • The work is paid.
  • The participant does not work for himself.

If the answer is positive, the participant receives an employer specific work permit, which is valid only for a specific employer. The employer must comply with all requirements, including payment of wages, which must not be less than the minimum established level.
The job must be in NOC categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 for training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER). A TEER category 4 job may also be suitable if it is related to the applicant’s specialty. A diploma, certificate or degree from higher education translated into English or French will be required.

International Co-op (Internship) is suitable for students who are studying at a university after completing high school. This option is also suitable for participants who have an offer for an internship or work experience in Canada. Additional criteria for participation in the program:

  • An internship is necessary for a student to complete his/her studies.
  • The specialist plans to work for one employer in one place.

The participant will receive an employer-specific work permit. The work must be in the specialty and the pay must comply with provincial labor laws.

Summary

The International Experience Canada program provides a unique opportunity for young people between the ages of 18 and 35 to gain valuable work and travel experience in Canada. It offers three main participation options:

  • Working Holiday.
  • Young Professionals.
  • International Co-op.

The cost to participate in the program is CAD $172 and the average processing time is 6 weeks. It is important to note that the program is not available for all countries and requires certain conditions to be met.