To participate in International Experience Canada (IEC), you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 to 35, or a citizen of a participating country with a youth mobility agreement (YMA) with Canada. In some cases, recognized organizations (ROs) may assist a limited number of youth from non-partner countries. Eligibility varies by country, with some allowing participation only once, while others may permit participation twice in different categories. Ensure you verify your country’s specific rules before applying.

1. Working Holiday

This category is suitable if:

• You do not have a job offer,
• You wish to work for multiple employers in Canada,
• You want to work in different locations,
• You aim to earn money while traveling.

With the Working Holiday category, you receive an open work permit, allowing you to work for most employers in Canada, with some exceptions. Certain jobs may require a medical exam.

2. Young Professionals

This category is intended for you if:

• You have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development,
• You will work for the same employer at the same location throughout your stay.

In this category, the work must be:

• Paid,
• Not self-employment.

You will receive an employer-specific work permit. Your employer must comply with provincial or territorial labor laws, including minimum wage standards. The job must align with the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). A TEER 4 job may qualify if it is related to your field of study. You must provide your post-secondary diploma, certificate, or degree, translated into English or French.

3. International Co-op (Internship)

This category is designed for you if:

• You are a student at a post-secondary institution,
• You have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada,
• The work placement or internship is required to complete your studies,
• You will work for the same employer at the same location during your stay.

In this category, you will receive an employer-specific work permit. The internship must be directly related to your field of study. Wages and labor standards must adhere to provincial or territorial laws, which will also determine whether the internship is paid.

The Working Holiday permit provides an open work permit, allowing candidates to work for any employer and change jobs or locations without restrictions. No job offer is needed, and candidates can live in various places while earning income. The advantages of a Working Holiday permit include:

• No job offer from a Canadian employer is required.
• Ability to work for multiple employers.
• Flexibility to live in various locations.
• Opportunity to earn income while traveling.

The Young Professionals category allows candidates to gain professional experience in Canada by working for a specific Canadian employer. Candidates need a job offer from a Canadian employer and will receive a work permit tied to that employer.

The International Co-op category allows foreign students to complete internships or work placements in Canada as part of their post-secondary studies. Candidates must have a job offer related to their field of study. This program is designed for international students who:

• Are enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution.
• Have a job offer for a placement or internship in Canada.
• Need the placement or internship to complete their studies.
• Are willing to work for the same employer at the same location during their stay in Canada.

If you are a citizen of a partner country, you may apply to one or more of these categories. In certain cases, recognized organizations (ROs) may assist small numbers of youth from non-partner countries.

Your profile remains in the pool until:

• You receive an Invitation to Apply for a work permit,
• The profiles are removed at the end of the season,
• You are no longer eligible for IEC.

Invitations are issued regularly during the IEC season.

You can only have one IEC profile at any given time, but you may be eligible for multiple pools. When completing your profile, you will be informed of the pools available to you, such as Working Holiday and Young Professionals. You can submit your profile to any of these eligible pools.

Invitations are issued in the following order:

1. International Co-op (Internship),
2. Young Professionals,
3. Working Holiday.

If you are in both the International Co-op (Internship) and Working Holiday pools, you will first receive an Invitation for the International Co-op category. An Invitation for the Working Holiday category will only be issued if no spots are available in the International Co-op (Internship) category.

Receiving an Invitation to Apply does not automatically grant a work permit. To obtain a work permit, you must:

• Provide proof of the information in your IEC profile,
• Submit additional details about your education, work history, and background,
• Supply any other required supporting documents.

Start gathering necessary supporting documents as they may take time to obtain. An Invitation to Apply can be issued at any time, so be prepared to submit your application and documents promptly.

Processing typically takes 6 weeks, starting after submission of all required documents, including biometrics.

As an IEC participant, you are protected by Canadian labor laws. Your employer must:

• Pay you the minimum wage for your work,
• Ensure a safe working environment,
• Not retain your passport or work permit.

Participation limits are based on your country’s agreements with Canada. Even if invited to apply, you cannot exceed your country’s allowed number of participations. Eligibility, including past participations, will be assessed during your application process. It is essential to understand all requirements before submitting your application. Note that holding a refugee travel document does not qualify you for participation if your country has a YMA with Canada.

Family members cannot join you under the IEC program. However, they may apply independently to work, visit, or study in Canada. Each application will be considered separately.

• Maintain legal status in Canada.
• You must leave and re-enter Canada at a port of entry to activate your work permit.
• Ensure you meet U.S. immigration requirements if re-entering through the U.S.

• Extensions are only possible under limited circumstances and cannot exceed the maximum duration specified by the youth mobility arrangement.
• If your work permit has expired, you may apply to restore your status if eligible.

• Contact IRCC via the web form with “IEC work permit application withdrawal – (your application ID number)” in the enquiry box.
• If approved, you will receive a refund for the IEC fee and, for Working Holiday applicants, the open work permit fee. Refunds are typically processed within 8 weeks to the credit card used for payment.

You are no longer eligible to withdraw your application or receive a refund, except if your employer withdraws the job offer before you travel. In this case, your application will be refused, and you will receive a refund of your IEC fee.

Canada sets specific quotas for candidates from each country, which affects the likelihood of success. Applicants should review their country’s quota to improve their chances of selection.

• Must have a job offer from a Canadian employer that supports professional growth.
• Must work for the same employer at the same location throughout their stay.
• Positions should correspond with TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

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