International Experience Canada: About the process
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Processing time starts once we receive your complete application. It does not include the time you need to give your biometrics.
International Experience Canada (IEC) gives international youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can also participate in IEC.
There are 3 different kinds of work and travel experiences available:
Working Holiday
This category is for you if
- you don’t have a job offer
- you want to work for more than one employer in Canada
- you want to work in more than one location
- you’d like to earn some money so that you can travel
The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit. This lets you work for almost any employer in Canada (some exceptions apply).
You’ll need to get a medical exam first for some jobs.
Young Professionals
This category is for you if
- you have a job offer in Canada that counts toward your professional development
- you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
Under this category, work must be
- paid
- not self-employed
The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.
Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory where you plan to work, including minimum wage requirements.
The job you’re offered must count toward your “professional development.” To count, the job must be classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC.
A TEER 4 job may qualify if it’s in your field of study. When you apply, you’ll need to submit your post-secondary
- diploma
- certificate or
- degree
It must be translated into English or French.
International Co-op (Internship)
This category is for you if
- you’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution
- you have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada
- you need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies
- you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit. The internship you’re offered in Canada must be directly linked to your field of studies.
Wages and labour standards must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.
If you’re a citizen of a partner country, you may be able to apply to one or more of these 3 categories.
You can apply to IEC yourself or you can use a recognized organization (RO) for support before and during your experience. ROs are Canadian-based organizations that help foreign nationals and Canadian youth work and travel internationally through IEC. In limited circumstances, certain ROs can help small numbers of youth from non-partner countries participate in IEC.
Recognized organizations are different from representatives, who can help with your immigration or citizenship application.
Learn more about working and travelling in Canada using an RO.
Your rights as a foreign worker
IEC participants are protected by Canadian labour laws.
Your employer
- must pay you the minimum wage for your work
- must ensure your workplace is safe
- can’t take your passport or work permit away from you
If your employer isn’t respecting these rights, report them to us.
IEC participants can’t work for non-compliant employers who are currently banned.
Application process at a glance
Watch our video for a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process.
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