Why International Experience Canada (IEC)?

• Allows you to live and work in Canada for 2 years
• Accepting 90,000+ applications for 2023
• Get your visa within 6 weeks
• Can apply for Canada PR, based on the eligibility

Avail the Opportunity to Travel and Work in Canada

The International Experience Canada, commonly referred to as the IEC, provides youth with an opportunity of travelling to and working in Canada.

Those eligible for the IEC are placed into the IEC pool of candidates.

Eligibility

There are 2 ways of applying for the IEC of Canada, depending on the country that you are a national of.

• (1) Countries with an IEC agreement with Canada

To be able to apply under the IEC, your country (that you hold the citizenship of) must have an agreement with the Canadian government, allowing you to apply for an IEC work permit.

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

•  (2) IEC through a Recognized Organization (RO)

If your country is not on the list of countries eligible for the IEC, you can use a recognized organization instead.

Those from an IEC country or territory don’t have to use an RO.

An individual that is not from an IEC country/territory can only come to Canada through the IEC if they use a Recognized Organization for the same.

Youth service organizations offering work and travel support to the youth, ROs can be either for profit, non-profit, or educational.

Most of the ROs for the IEC charge a fee for their services.

IEC Pools

There are 3 different pools of travel and work experiences available under the IEC.

An individual might be eligible for more than 1 pools.

Working Holiday: Open work permit for Canada. Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.

Young Professionals: Employer-specific work permit. Gain Canadian professional work experience for being able to better compete in a global economy. Self-employed work not considered.

International Co-op (Internship): Employer-specific work permit. Gain valuable overseas work experience related to your field of study.

An invitation to apply [ITA] must be received by the candidate before they can submit their application to the IEC.

Step by Step Process to Apply for Iec Canada

• STEP 1: Meeting the IEC Eligibility Criteria

Complete the “Come to Canada” questionnaire, and get your personal reference code.

Create an account with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC].

• STEP 2: Profile submission and Canada work permit application

Submit your profile. Choose the IEC pool that you intend to be in.

Those receiving an ITA via their IRCC account will have 10 days for beginning their application.

Once a Canada work permit application has been started, 20 days will be available for completing and submitting it.

[For Young Professional and Co-op categories only] During that 20-day period, their employer will have to pay the employer compliance fee through the Employer Portal.

[For Young Professional and Co-op categories only] Once the fee is paid, their employer would send you an offer of employment number. This will be required for applying for a work permit for Canada.

Uploading all supporting documents.

Paying fees online through IRCC account.

• STEP 3: Biometrics

If required, a biometric instruction letter (BIL) will be sent to the individual – via their IRCC account – after they submit their application.

30 days are given, upon receipt of the BIL, for the submission of biometrics at a Canada Visa Application Centre (VAC).

• STEP 4: IEC Work Permit Assessment

Assessment may take up to 56 days. Additional documents might be asked for.

IRCC to send a Port of Entry Letter to the applicant’s account.

This letter as well as the job offer confirmation letter must be brought by the individual with them to Canada.

• STEP 5: Travel to Canada

After receiving the approval you can fly to Canada.

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

• Y-Axis coaching serviceswill ace your scores of standardised tests based on which your visa applicants will be assessed
• Evaluating your eligibility to work in Canada, through Canada Immigration Points Calculator.
• Job search assistanceto find a jobs in Canada
• Complete assistance and guidance while filling the visa application form
• Free counseling from our Canada immigration experts on how to initiate the process, which jobs you are looking for etc.
• Free webinarson Canada work, immigration, etc., by our immigration professionals, which helps you to achieve your professional goals easily.
• Step by step guidance to work in Canada through Y-Path.
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates & follow-up with the Consulate