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RCIC · Travel & Work in Canada

International Experience Canada

Three streams. One country. A working-holiday year, a career-building internship, or a co-op placement — all under Canada's youth-mobility agreements.

What is International Experience Canada?

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a set of youth-mobility agreements between Canada and partner countries that lets young citizens travel and work in Canada temporarily, with paperwork far simpler than a standard work permit.

IEC is open to citizens of Canada's partner countries, usually within an age range that depends on which country's passport you hold. There is no LMIA, no employer petition, and no PR commitment — but it can absolutely lead there.

For many people, IEC is the cleanest first chapter in a longer Canadian story: spend time working here, build experience, decide if Canada is home, and then transition into a further work permit or an Express Entry path.

Three Streams

Choose your route

The right stream depends on whether you want flexibility, a specific employer, or a co-op tied to your home studies.

Open Work Permit

Working Holiday

The most flexible stream. You arrive without a job offer and look for work once you're here — ideal if you want to fund travel, change cities, and try different employers as you go.

  • Work for almost any Canadian employer
  • Change jobs, change provinces, change your mind
  • Permit length varies by country
Employer-Specific Permit

Young Professionals

For young workers with a signed offer letter for a paid, career-aligned role in Canada. The permit is tied to that named employer — so you get career-relevant experience, not just any job.

  • Requires a signed Canadian job offer in your field
  • Paid work, career-development focus
  • A strong stepping-stone to Express Entry
Employer-Specific Permit

International Co-op

For students enrolled in a post-secondary program back home that requires a work placement in Canada. You arrive to complete a co-op or internship that's already part of your degree.

  • Required by your home institution's curriculum
  • Specific employer, specific term
  • Returns to your home program once complete

Eligibility

Do you qualify?

Eligibility starts with your passport — only citizens of partner countries can apply. From there, it's about age, funds, and the right stream. Exact criteria are set by IRCC and each bilateral agreement and can change, so treat this as a starting point rather than a final checklist.

  • Citizenship of an IEC partner country (passport-based — permanent residents do not qualify)
  • Age within your country's eligible bracket at the time of application
  • Proof of funds to support your arrival, plus a return ticket or the means to buy one
  • Health insurance for the entire duration of your stay
  • No criminal inadmissibility — and a medical exam if your work involves children, healthcare, or agriculture
  • For Young Professionals and Co-op: a signed Canadian offer letter or co-op agreement meeting stream criteria
IEC is pool-based — you create a profile, then wait to be invited. Quotas are competitive in some countries. Talk to us early to time your profile against the season.

The Process

How it works

From profile creation to landing in Canada, here's the path. The IEC route is faster than most work-permit pathways, but only if every step is timed right.

  1. 1

    Create an IEC profile

    You build a profile in the IRCC pool, tagged for your country, age, and chosen stream. Each country's pool opens on its own schedule, with a set quota.

  2. 2

    Receive an invitation to apply

    Invitations are issued in rounds throughout the season. We watch the draws and prepare your file in advance, so you can submit within the tight window once invited.

  3. 3

    Submit the work permit application

    Filed online with your passport, photos, police certificate, proof of funds, insurance, and (for Young Professionals or Co-op) the qualifying offer letter or co-op agreement.

  4. 4

    Biometrics and medical (if required)

    Provided at your local Visa Application Centre. Medicals are required only for some occupations and certain countries.

  5. 5

    Receive the Port of Entry letter

    Approval comes as a Port of Entry letter. Your physical work permit is issued by a CBSA officer when you arrive.

  6. 6

    Plan the next chapter

    IEC is a one-time-per-stream entitlement for most countries. We help you pivot — into a further work permit, an LMIA-supported role, or directly into Express Entry — before the IEC permit runs out.

Ready to travel and work in Canada?

Start with a free 15-minute consultation. We'll confirm your country quota, pick the right stream, and time your profile with the season.

Book a Free Consultation

Disclaimer

The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal or immigration advice. International Experience Canada partner countries, age brackets, quotas, permit lengths, proof-of-funds amounts, stream criteria, processing times, and government fees change from time to time and without notice. Details described here may be out of date by the time you read them. Always confirm current requirements on the official Government of Canada website (canada.ca), and book a consultation for advice specific to your situation. Nothing here guarantees an invitation, approval, entry, or any particular outcome.