The 2024 International Experience Canada (IEC) pool is now accessible as Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announces its opening. The IEC program, a work permit initiative, enables eligible youth from countries with bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangements with Canada to temporarily live and work in the country. This year’s intake aims to accommodate nearly 90,000 applicants from over 30 countries, providing them with the chance to acquire valuable Canadian work experience. Eligible and interested individuals can now submit their IEC profiles to IRCC, starting today.
The International Experience Canada (IEC) operates by granting eligibility to citizens from partner nations with bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada, provided they fall within the specified age range (18-29, 18-30, or 18-35, all-inclusive, depending on nationality).
Following a system akin to Canada’s Express Entry management, the IEC utilizes a candidate/applicant framework. Individuals interested in the program can submit a candidacy profile to IRCC, meeting the essential eligibility criteria. At this stage, they are considered candidates. If the department selects a candidate’s profile, an invitation is extended for them to apply for consideration to obtain a work permit. Upon submission of this application, candidates transition to being applicants—bringing them one step closer to securing their work permit.
Within the program, individuals have the option to obtain a work permit through one of three distinct streams:
- The Working Holiday stream provides an Open Work Permit (OWP) that spans up to two years, enabling holders to work for a wide range of employers in Canada across various industries.
- The Young Professionals stream caters to individuals who have received a job offer from a specific employer in Canada and intend to work exclusively for that employer. This stream grants an employer-specific (or LMIA-based) work permit to eligible candidates.
- The International Co-op Internship stream enables individuals from participating countries, who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in their home country, to come to Canada and engage in an internship or work experience with a designated Canadian company. Prior to submitting their application, applicants must have already secured a co-op placement.
Basic requirements
Applicants for the IEC program must meet the following criteria:
1. Hold citizenship or a valid passport from one of the 35+ partner countries that have Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada.
2. Possess a valid passport for the entire duration of their stay in Canada.
3. Fall within the eligible age range at the time of application, which varies depending on the applicant’s nationality (18-29, 18-30, or 18-35, all-inclusive).
4. Have a minimum of $2,500 CAD in funds upon arrival in Canada.
5. Be able to obtain health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay.
6. Meet the admissibility requirements set by Canada.
7. Possess a round-trip ticket or have the financial means to purchase a departure ticket at the end of their authorized stay in Canada.
8. Not be accompanied by any dependents.
9. Pay the necessary fees.