Last Updated:September 16, 2025
International Experience Canada (IEC)
Under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, young people from countries that have bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements (bYMAs) with Canada may apply for LMIA-exempt work permits valid for one to two years. These permits are generally faster and simpler to obtain than work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Who is Eligible
- Be citizens of a country or residents of a territory that has an active Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada.
- Be between 18 and 30 or 35 years old, depending on their country of citizenship.
- Hold a valid passport for the full duration of the intended stay.
- Have sufficient funds (at least CAD $2,500) to support themselves during the initial three months in Canada.
- Have private health insurance covering the entire duration of stay.
- Be admissible to Canada under immigration law (i.e. no prohibitions that would make them inadmissible).
- Have means or a return ticket (or funds to purchase one) to leave Canada at the end of their IEC permit.
Participating Countries & Age Limits
| Country | Maximum Age | Number of Participation(s) * |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | 30 | 1 |
| Australia | 35 | 3 |
| Austria | 35 | 3 |
| Belgium | 30 | 1 |
| Chile | 35 | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 35 | 2 |
| Croatia | 35 | 2 |
| Czech Republic | 35 | 2 |
| Denmark | 35 | 1 |
| Estonia | 35 | 2 |
| Finland | 35 | 3 |
| France | 35 | 3 |
| Germany | 35 | 2 |
| Greece | 35 | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 30 | 1 |
| Iceland | 30 | 2 |
| Ireland | 35 | 3 |
| Italy | 35 | 2 |
| Japan | 30 | 2 |
| Korea, Republic of | 35 | 2 |
| United Kingdom | 35 | 2 |
* Each country may have specific rules, including how many times you can participate and whether participation is limited per category.
IEC Program Categories
-
Working Holiday
Open work permit (no employer-specific job offer required).
High demand; in many countries this category is administered via lottery. -
Young Professionals
Closed work permit (you must already have a job offer).
Job offer must fall under certain TEER categories (0, 1, 2, 3, or sometimes TEER-4 depending on your field of study).
Cannot be self-employed. -
International Co-op (Internship)
Also closed work permit. Must have a job offer for a work placement or internship that is directly related to your field of study.
You must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution.
Whether the internship is paid depends on local labour laws in the province or territory.
The application process for the IEC Program
01Create and submit an IEC candidate profile
Create and submit an IEC candidate profile via Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You’ll be placed into one or more candidate pools depending on your situation.
02Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in one of the IEC invitation rounds. If you receive an ITA, you’ll have 10 days to accept it.
03Submit your work permit application
Once you accept your ITA, you have 20 days to submit your work permit application. Complete the online application, submit all required documents from your personalized checklist, and pay the associated fees.
04Pay the required fees
The following fees may apply depending on your category:
- Application fee (e.g. CAD $179.75)
- Additional fees depending on category (e.g. Working Holiday requires an extra open work permit fee)
- Biometrics fee (if required)
- Employer compliance fee (for Young Professionals or Co-op/Internship categories)
05Receive your Port of Entry (POE) letter
Once approved, IRCC will issue a Port of Entry (POE) letter to your online account. This letter is required to enter Canada and begin working under the IEC program.
06Landing and activate your work permit
Once approved, IRCC will issue a Port of Entry (POE) letter to your online account. This letter is required to enter Canada and begin working under the IEC program.
Processing Time & Other Notes
IRCC aims to process IEC applications within six weeks during the 2025 season.
You need to receive a work permit at the immigration office at POE when you arrive Canada.
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