The deadline for applications to be submitted to the International Experience Canada (IEC) program is October 21. In December of last year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) first opened the 2024 applicant pool. Young people from over 30 countries with Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada can apply for work permits through the IEC program. Recipients of these visas are permitted to reside and work in Canada for a predetermined period of time. The goal was to receive 90,000 applications by 2024. Canadians can also apply to live and work in any of these countries.
How does the IEC program function?
Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 (or 18 and 30, depending on the country) can participate in the government work permit program, which enables them to visit Canada while gaining useful work and living experience overseas.
In line with Canada’s Express Entry initiatives, applicants who satisfy the fundamental qualifying standards have to submit an application to be considered for inclusion in the IEC profile pool. After choosing applicants from the pool, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will extend an invitation to submit an application for a work permit.
Every nation and classification has a distinct pool of qualified applicants.
Certain countries allow applicants to participate in the program more than once, under different categories, based on their citizenship. Candidates are not allowed to exceed the participation caps that each nation has imposed.
The streams
Candidates applying under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program have three options: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship).
Citizens of qualified nations may enter Canada and serve as interns for Canadian companies under the International Co-op (Internship) stream. Prior to completing their IEC application, applicants need to guarantee their co-op placement.
Candidates may apply for employer-specific work permits—also referred to as labor market impact assessment (LMIA)-based work permits—under the Young Professionals stream. People must have a job offer in order to be eligible, and they can only work for one employer while they are in Canada.
Candidates who choose the Working Holiday route are granted an open work permit, which allows them to work for most Canadian firms for a maximum of two years. There is more flexibility in terms of work location with this stream.
An applicant has 20 days from the time they receive and accept an ITA to finish and submit their work permit application. IRCC will confirm the application deadline on the candidate’s online account.
Entering Canada
An IEC participant may also be asked to show proof of adequate cash, health insurance, and a departure ticket from Canada (or the ability to purchase one) in addition to their passport and Port of Entry Letter.
Candidates are required by the IRCC to submit bank statements that were issued no more than a week before their arrival in Canada.
The candidate’s bank statement must show that they have the necessary funds, or about $2,500, to last for the first three months of their stay in Canada.