Internship, work or study in Canada

Temporary visa to do your internship, work or study in Canada

If you want to travel to Canada temporarily, for example, because you want to do your internship, work or study in Canada, you need to apply for a visa. Even if you are planning an unremunerated internship, you will require a work permit.

International Experience Canada

The ‘International Experience Canada’ program is all about temporary work permits, specifically set up for young people. If your age is between 18 and 30/35 years old, you could qualify for this visa category (depending on your citizenship). 

Given that there is a limited number of work permits available, it is important that you register in time. In addition, the program only opens once (sometimes twice) per year. Therefore, it is necessary to plan your trip 6 to 12 months in advance. The program knows three different types of visa, explained below.

The visa categories in the IEC program are not available for all countries. Also, the maximum age, the duration of the visa and the number of work permits available depend on your country of citizenship.

Working Holiday Canada – Open work permit

Based on a Working Holiday work permit, you are allowed to perform (un)remunerated internships. Furthermore, you may work for more than one employer, and you can study in Canada for up to six months. Of course, you are not obligated to work this entire period. You can also choose to travel through Canada based on this visa.

Young Professional Canada – Employer-specific work permit

With an approved Young Professional work permit, you are allowed to work for one employer in Canada. This Canadian employer will be required to offer you a temporary job and pay a compliance fee of CAD $230,-. Therefore, it is called an employer-specific work permit. There are a few additional criteria for this application; the position and salary must meet a certain level specified by Immigration Canada.

International Co-op Internship Canada

The International Co-op work permit is specifically set up for students wishing to do their internship in Canada. This means that you must be studying when applying for this visa, and your internship should be directly linked to your field of studies.

Sign up for ‘International Experience Canada’

If you are interested to go to Canada in 2023/2024, it is important that you register with us timely. Would you like to qualify for a work visa within the youth mobility program? Contact us quickly to check if you can do your internship, work or study in Canada.