The 2024 season of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program was opened by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Monday so that nearly 90,000 young people from IEC partner countries and territories can come to Canada and participate.
“Canada benefits when young people around the world participate in International Experience Canada,” said Miller.
“This program will help Canadian employers in their search for talented employees but will also serve to stimulate the tourism sector across the country.
“We also hope that young Canadians will take advantage of the reciprocal aspect of this program to gain work and travel experience from around the world that will serve them throughout their lives.”
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Applicants to the IEC can now submit a profile since the process re-opened on Dec. 11.
There are three categories under the IEC:
- Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
- International Co-op (Internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within their field of study or career path.
Under the IEC, Canadian and international youth aged 18 – 35 get to work and travel in each other’s countries.
Canada has established youth mobility partnerships with over 35 countries and territories and in 2023, signed new deals with Finland, Iceland and Ukraine and improved existing ones with South Korea and the United Kingdom.
That gave Canadian youth more options than ever to gain international experience by visiting those partner countries.
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also expanded its use of automation to identify routine applications for streamlined processing, to support the growth of IEC and facilitate work and travel for international youth in Canada.
Youth will be able to participate in the Canada–Ukraine youth mobility agreement once travel to Ukraine becomes safe and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on that country comes to an end.
Under the IEC, applicants have the option of coming to work and travel in Canada with the help of a Recognized Organization (RO) to help them plan their trip.
These organizations, which usually charge a fee for their services, can help applicants:
- get information about Canadian culture, languages, laws, taxes, and job opportunities;
- find transportation, and;
- provide general support and advice.
Using an RO can help some of those who may want to apply from non-IEC countries come to Canada through the program. Every applicant to the IEC who is using an RO needs to provide a confirmation letter indicating that the organization is helping him or her and upload it to his or her profile.
Seven Recognized Organizations Can Help Iec Applicants Get Work Permits
Here is a list of these recognized organizations, their target markets, the work permit they help provide and the countries in which they operate.
AIESEC Canada
AIESEC Canada is a non-profit organization that helps develop leadership in youth.
Types of work permits:
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 30
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, Brazil, India
Go International
GO International is a Canadian organization that offers work and travel opportunities.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
IAESTE offers opportunities in technical career-related jobs.
Types of work permits:
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries and other IAESTE country partners
A-Way to Work/International Rural Exchange Canada Inc.
Through A-Way to Work, the non-profit International Rural Exchange Canada offers paid opportunities to young people in:
- agriculture
- hospitality
- culinary arts
- tourism
- horticulture
- landscaping
- other sectors
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target Market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
Memorial University offers internships for students and recent graduates.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
Stepwest
Stepwest offers work experiences ranging from paid ski resort jobs to industry-specific student internships.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
SWAP Working Holidays
SWAP Working Holidays helps with working holidays and young professional work and travel opportunities.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States