International Experience Canada - Themillenniumimmigration

International Experience Canada (IEC) Program

The IEC program provides young people with the chance to work in Canada for temporary periods.

Youth from over 30 countries can obtain an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada. The IEC program aims to strengthen economic, social, and cultural ties between Canada and participating countries. For more information on how you can benefit from IEC, visit their website.

Overview
Working Holiday
Young Professionals
International Co-op
Employer-specific Work Permits
Countries with Bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada
Eligibility Requirements for the IEC Program
How IEC works
Contact the Cohen Immigration Law for Assistance

Overview

Citizens from countries with a Youth Mobility Arrangement with Canada, aged 18 to 35, may be eligible for IEC work permits, which do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA assesses the impact of foreign workers on the Canadian job market, but the IEC program focuses on strengthening ties with participating countries.

IEC offers three main categories:

Working Holiday:
Participants receive an open work permit valid for one to two years, allowing them to work for almost any employer in Canada without a job offer. This category is ideal for those looking to work with multiple employers or in various locations.

Young Professionals:
This category provides employer-specific work permits for individuals with valid job offers in Canada that contribute to their professional development. Applicants must secure a job offer classified under National Occupation Code (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A, or B.

International Co-op Internship:
This category is for students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in their home countries who wish to intern in Canada. Applicants must have a job offer that is part of their study requirements and plan to work for the same employer throughout their stay.

Participants must arrange co-op placements before applying.

Employer-specific Work Permits

An employer-specific work permit identifies a foreign worker’s employer, occupation, work location, and the authorized duration of employment.

The IEC program allows Young Professionals and International Co-op internship candidates to work for the same employer at different locations, provided those locations operate under the same Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number. Applicants must submit the addresses of the work locations along with the CRA number when submitting the Offer of Employment. It’s essential that the occupation, duties, and wages remain consistent across locations.

Young Professionals and International Co-op Internship applicants must ensure their employment in Canada aligns with their studies, training, or professional experience.

In certain cases, holders of employer-specific work permits can request a change of employer. To do this, participants must provide the necessary documentation for the new employer and occupation and justify their request, such as citing company closure. Approval of such requests is at the discretion of the case processing agent.

If a change is requested after the initial work permit has been issued, the authorized work period will be adjusted according to the time already elapsed, as per the bilateral agreement.

Countries with Bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada

The validity/length of each visa type is specified in the three central columns and will depend on the nationality of the applicant and the visa type that he or she has applied for.

Country	Working Holiday	Young Professionals	International Co-op	Age Limit
Andorra	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-30
Australia	Up to 24 months	Up to 24 months	Up to 12 months (unless it is the applicant’s second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months)	18-35
Austria	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 6 months (internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism)	18-35
Belgium	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-30
Chile	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Costa Rica	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Croatia	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Czech Republic	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Denmark	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-35
Estonia	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
France*	Up to 24 months	Up to 24 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Germany	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Greece	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Hong Kong	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-30
Ireland	Up to 24 months	Up to 24 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Italy	Up to 12 months **	Up to 12 months **	Up to 12 months **	18-35
Japan	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-30
Latvia	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Lithuania	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Luxembourg	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-30
Mexico	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-29
Netherlands	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	N/A	18-30
New Zealand	Up to 23 months	N/A	N/A	18-35
Norway	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Poland	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Portugal	Up to 24 months	Up to 24 months	Up to 24 months	18-35
San Marino	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-35
Slovakia	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Slovenia	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
South Korea	Up to 12 months	N/A	N/A	18-30
Spain	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Sweden	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-30
Switzerland	N/A	Up to 18 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Taiwan	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
Ukraine	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	Up to 12 months	18-35
United Kingdom	Up to 24 months	N/A	N/A	18-30

Eligibility Requirements for the IEC Program

Candidates must:

Be a citizen (passport holder) of a country with a bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangement with Canada, or a resident of a participating territory.
Have a valid passport for the entire duration of their stay in Canada (the work permit will not exceed the passport’s validity).
Be between the ages of 18 and 30 or 35 at the time of application (the upper age limit varies by country).
Have at least $2,500 CAD upon arrival to cover initial expenses.
Obtain health insurance for the duration of their stay (evidence of insurance may be required at the Canadian border).
Be admissible to Canada.
Have a round-trip ticket or sufficient funds to buy a departure ticket for the end of their stay.
Not be accompanied by dependents.
Pay the applicable fees.

Please note that specific age and eligibility criteria may differ by country.

How IEC Works

The IEC operates using an Expression of Interest/Invitation to Apply model. Eligible candidates must create an IEC profile and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) before submitting their application.

Here’s a step-by-step overview of the IEC program process:

1. Complete the Come to Canada questionnaire and obtain your personal reference code if eligible.
2. Use this code to set up your online account.
3. Complete the remaining steps in the IEC profile builder.
4. Submit your profile and select the IEC pools you wish to join.
5. If you receive an ITA, you will have 10 days to start your application or decline the invitation. If you accept, click the “Start Application” button in your account.
6. After clicking “Start Application,” you have 20 days to complete, pay for, and submit your work permit application.
7. For Young Professional and International Co-op categories, your employer must pay the $230 Employer Compliance Fee through the Employer Portal before your 20 days expire. Ask your employer for the offer of employment number they receive after payment, as you will need it to apply.
8. Upload all supporting documents, including police and medical exam certificates, if necessary (if you lack these documents, you can upload proof that you’ve applied for a medical exam and requested a police certificate).
9. Pay your participation fee of CAD $153 using a credit card through the online payment system in your account.
10. For the Working Holiday Category, applicants also pay the open work permit holder fee of CAD $100 at this time.
11. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin assessing your temporary work permit application. They may request additional documents. This is your final opportunity to withdraw from IEC and receive refunds. IRCC generally processes complete applications within eight weeks.
12. If your application is successful, a letter of introduction (LOI), officially called a Port of Entry (POE) Introduction Letter, will be sent to your account. This letter must be presented upon arrival at a Port of Entry in Canada to obtain your work permit.

There are situations where IRCC may allow IEC work permit holders to extend their work permit validity beyond the initial period granted by the border services officer.

Typically, extensions are not authorized under the IEC program, but participants may extend their work permits under specific circumstances outlined by IRCC.

Contact THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION for Assistance

Would you like to enter Canada to work temporarily? THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION can help. With over 11 years of expertise, THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION assists workers and employers in navigating Canadian immigration regulations.