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International Experience Canada (IEC)

Work and Travel in Canada   

International Experience Canada (IEC) enables young people from over 35 partner countries to work and travel in Canada temporarily. Depending on your country of citizenship, you can stay for up to 1–2 years on a Canadian work permit while gaining professional experience and exploring the country.


IEC offers three main categories:

  • Working Holiday – open work permit, most flexible
  • Young Professionals – employer-specific work permit for skilled roles
  • International Co-op (Internship) – employer-specific work permit for students needing a mandatory work placement to complete their studies

Visa4you helps you determine your eligibility, select the right category, and navigate the pools, invitations, and work permit application process.


Check Your IEC Eligibility ​  ​Give Us A Call


What Is the International Experience Canada Program? 

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a temporary work-and-travel program based on bilateral youth mobility agreements between Canada and participating countries. It allows young people aged approximately 18–35 (exact age range varies by country) to obtain a Canadian work permit under one of three categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op.


  • Participation is limited to citizens of partner countries or territories, or those applying through a Recognized Organization.
  • Most countries allow one or two participations, sometimes across different categories.
  • IEC operates on annual seasons with application pools and invitation rounds, subject to yearly quotas for each country and category.  

IEC Categories – Working Holiday, Young Professionals & Co-op


 

 


International Experience Canada (IEC) offers three types of work experience:

Working Holiday  


Type of permit: Open work permit, you can work for almost any employer in Canada.


Best for:

  • Travellers who want maximum flexibility
  • Seasonal work (e.g., ski resorts, farm work, hospitality, tourism)
  • People who don’t yet have a job offer

Young Professionals    


Type of permit: Employer-specific work permit for a skilled job that contributes to your professional development.


Best for young professionals with a Canadian job offer in a skilled occupation


International Co-op (Internship)


Type of permit: Employer-specific work permit tied to a formal internship or co-op placement that’s part of your studies.


Best for students who require an internship related to their academic program


Visa4you helps you decide which International Experience Canada category matches your passport, goals and timing.

    Who Is Eligible for International Experience Canada?


To participate in International Experience Canada, you generally need to:

  • Be a citizen of a partner country with a valid passport (or use a Recognized Organization if your country has no agreement).
  • Be within the age range specified in your country’s agreement (usually 18–30 or 18–35).
  • Have access to at least CAD $2,500 on arrival to support yourself initially.
  • Have health insurance for the duration of your stay.
  • Be admissible to Canada (medical, criminality, immigration history).

Some countries allow one participation, others allow two or more (often in different categories).

Visa4you can quickly advise on country-specific rules, age limits and category options.


Application proces

IEC Pools, Quotas, and Invitations: How Selection Works  

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1

Create an IEC Profile 

  • Choose the categories you're eligible for (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op).
  • Visa4you will add your profile to the pool for your country and category.


2

Wait for Rounds of Invitations 

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) runs regular draws throughout the IEC season, inviting candidates from each pool to apply for a work permit.


 

3

Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) 

  • If invited, Visa4you will guide you through strict timelines: typically 10 days to accept the invitation, then approximately 20 days to submit your work permit application and pay fees.

4

Submit Work Permit Application 

  • Visa4you will prepare your documents and submit your application.
  • IRCC assesses your application and issues a Port of Entry (POE) letter of introduction if approved.  

What opportunities does an IEC work permit offer?

Depending on your category, an IEC permit allows you to:

  1. Work in Canada
    • Working Holiday: Employment with nearly any employer, in most occupations, across Canada (open work permit).
    • Young Professionals/Co-op: only for the employer and position specified in your work permit.
  3. Explore Canada from coast to coast, from vibrant cities like Toronto and Vancouver to charming mountain towns and rural communities.
  4. Gain Canadian work experience.

You must respect your work permit conditions, including employer restrictions, duration and any notes on the permit (for example, certain medical conditions limiting work with vulnerable populations).

      Can International Experience Canada Lead to PR?


IEC is a temporary program, but the experience you gain can be very useful for future PR applications:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – requires recent skilled Canadian work experience; IEC Young Professionals roles often qualify if they’re in the right NOC TEER level.
  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) – Canadian work boosts your points and can help with references and settlement.
  • Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) – many provinces favour candidates with work or study experience in the province, which IEC can provide.

IEC doesn’t guarantee PR, but if you plan ahead – job choice, province, NOC level, language tests – it can be a powerful stepping stone.

Visa4you can combine your IEC plan with a longer-term Canada PR strategy from day one.

Why Choose Visa4you for International Experience Canada?


  • Focused on Canada – We stay updated on IEC seasons, quotas, fee changes and invitation trends.
  • Country-specific insights – Different passports have very different chances and rules; we help you interpret them realistically.
  • Strategy beyond the work permit – We show you how to use your International Experience Canada year to position yourself for PR, study or employer sponsorship later on.
  • Multilingual service – Consultations in English, German and Dutch, online or at our offices.

Frequently Asked Questions​


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International Experience Canada is a youth work-and-travel program that lets citizens of partner countries aged roughly 18–35 get temporary work permits to live, work and travel in Canada under Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op categories.    

Most IEC work permits are valid for up to 1 or 2 years, depending on your country’s agreement and category. Some countries have shorter limits.

 

It depends on your country. Some allow only one participation, others allow two or more, often requiring different categories (for example, first Working Holiday, then Young Professionals).

  • Working Holiday: no job offer needed, it’s designed for travel and exploring Canada. 
  • Young Professionals & Co-op: yes, you need a job offer or internship offer that meets program criteria.

IEC runs on annual seasons with specified opening/closing dates.

(We’ll always check the latest season status during your consultation.)

 

      Ready for Your International Experience Canada Adventure?   

Aged 18–30/35 and looking to work and travel in Canada? International Experience Canada may be your ideal starting point.  


  Provide your age, passport country, education, work experience, and intended start date. Visa4you will help determine your eligibility, identify the IEC category that best suits you, and outline how to turn your Canadian experience into a longer-term opportunity if you wish to stay.

Start Your IEC Assessment
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