International Experience Canada (IEC)

If you’re young and eager to discover the world, Canada has a great visa program allowing you to travel the country and earn some money while you’re at it. The International Experience Canada (IEC) is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which means you will be granted a work permit for the duration of your stay. This solves many young adventurers’ main problem – money. When you’re 18, you don’t have your own money, but this program offers you a legal way to earn and have fun on the side.

There are three different paths under the IEC people between the ages of 18 and 35 can use to fulfill their dream.

• Working Holiday
• International Co-Op
• Young Professionals

Working Holiday
This is the best stream if you want to travel the country without being tied to a specific place or job. If you apply for a visa under this stream you are free to go wherever you want in Canada and take whatever job you can get. You get an open work permit valid for the duration of your stay, which can be up to 2 years.

Benefits of using the Working Holiday Stream

• No need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer when you apply for a visa
• Total freedom to move from one place to another and change jobs as often as you want

International Co-Op
This is basically an internship program available under the IEC and the conditions are more strict. In order to use the International Co-Op program you must prove that a temporary work permit will allow you to gain valuable work experience in your field of study.

Here are the requirements you must meet to qualify:

• Be a student registered at a post-secondary institution outside of Canada
• Have a job offer for an internship or work placement from a Canadian employer
• Prove you need this internship or work placement in order to complete your studies
• Agree to work for the employer sponsoring your application for the whole duration of your stay in the same location

An internship can be paid or not, depending on the regulations of the various Canadian provinces. If you are to be paid, you will receive the same wages as Canadian citizens or permanent residents occupying the same position.

Young Professionals
The program is similar to the International Co-Op one, and allows you to obtain an employer-specific work permit.

In order to qualify for Young Professional you must show that the work you’ll be doing is relevant to your field of study or career path.
To obtain such a work permit you must have a job offer from a Canadian employer, a job that will further your professional development.

If you are accepted, you will be given a temporary working visa for 12 to 24 months, with the possibility to extend depending on how long your business wants you to remain and what documents they can offer to justify an extension.

List of Participating Countries in the International Experience Canada (IEC)
The IEC program is available to citizens of 34 countries that have bilateral agreements with Canada. You can check below too see if your country is on the list.

Here’s What You Can Read Now

Canada Temporary Work Permit
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
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