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36+
Partner countries
1-2 yrs
Work permit duration
$161
Registration fee
CEC
PR pathway
VMC confirms your eligibility and guides the full process.
Book your Expert Consultation →IEC is a bilateral youth mobility program that allows citizens of 36+ partner countries - aged roughly 18-35 - to work legally in Canada for up to 1 or 2 years.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is one of the most popular pathways for young foreign nationals to gain Canadian work experience. Through bilateral agreements between Canada and participating countries, eligible youth can come to Canada to work, explore, and build skills - without needing a traditional LMIA or employer-sponsored work permit.
The program has three distinct categories that serve different purposes: Working Holiday (maximum flexibility, any employer, any occupation), Young Professionals (targeted at career development with a specific employer), and International Co-op (for students completing mandatory educational placements).
Beyond the immediate work opportunity, IEC is widely used as a strategic first step toward Canadian permanent residence. After accumulating 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience on an IEC work permit, many participants qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry - a direct pathway to PR.
Each IEC category has different requirements and offers different rights. Choosing the right one is critical.
Canada has IEC bilateral agreements with 36+ countries. Age limits and available categories vary by country. Quotas are set annually and can change.
| Country | Age Limit | Competition | Categories Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 18-35 | High | WHYPCo-op |
| United Kingdom | 18-35 | Competitive | WHYPCo-op |
| France | 18-35 | Competitive | WHYPCo-op |
| Germany | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYPCo-op |
| Japan | 18-30 | Moderate | WHYP |
| South Korea | 18-30 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Ireland | 18-35 | High | WHYPCo-op |
| Netherlands | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| New Zealand | 18-35 | High | WHYPCo-op |
| Denmark | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Belgium | 18-30 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Czech Republic | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Italy | 18-35 | Competitive | WHYP |
| Spain | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Portugal | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Chile | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYPCo-op |
| Mexico | 18-35 | Competitive | WHYPCo-op |
| Latvia | 18-35 | Lower | WHYP |
| Lithuania | 18-35 | Lower | WHYP |
| Sweden | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Norway | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Poland | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Austria | 18-35 | Moderate | WHYP |
| Croatia | 18-35 | Lower | WHYP |
WH = Working Holiday, YP = Young Professionals, Co-op = International Co-op. Age limits and quotas are approximate and change annually. Always verify with IRCC or contact VMC for the current year's figures.
Unlike a simple application, IEC uses a pool system where candidates create profiles and wait for IRCC to issue Invitations to Apply.
Register with IRCC and create your IEC candidate profile. Your profile enters the pool for your country and category.
IRCC periodically conducts draws from the pool. When available spaces open for your country, qualified candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
ITAs have a very tight window - typically 10 days to accept. Monitor your IRCC account closely during the draw season.
After accepting, you have approximately 20 days to submit the complete application including all documents, fees, and biometrics booking.
Each country has an annual quota - the maximum number of IEC work permits issued per category per year. When the quota is full, draws stop for the season. Popular countries like France and the UK may fill their quotas within weeks of the season opening. Apply as early as possible.
From eligibility check to receiving your work permit at the border - here is the complete IEC journey.
Check that your country has an IEC agreement, you are within the age limit, and you meet the category-specific requirements (e.g. job offer for YP, enrollment for Co-op).
Log into the IRCC secure account and create an IEC candidate profile. Choose the correct category (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op).
Pay the registration fee of CAD $161.62 (includes the $7 eTA fee if applicable). This fee is separate from the work permit processing fee.
Your profile is placed in the pool. IRCC conducts draws and sends ITAs (Invitations to Apply) when your country has availability. You may wait days or months.
When you receive an ITA, you typically have 10 days to accept it. Do not miss this window - if you decline or miss it, you re-enter the pool.
After accepting, you have a set window (typically 20 days) to submit the full application - biometrics, medical exam if required, documents, and work permit fee.
Book and complete biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). A medical exam may be required depending on your country and duration of stay.
Once approved, IRCC issues a Port of Entry letter. This is not your work permit - you will receive your actual work permit stamp when you arrive at a Canadian border or airport.
CAD $161.62
Includes $7 eTA where applicable
CAD $155
Paid after ITA accepted
CAD $85
At Visa Application Centre
IEC is not just a work permit - it is a strategic first step toward Canadian permanent residence for thousands of young professionals.
Arrive in Canada on your IEC work permit. Begin working in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 for the best CEC pathway results). Build Canadian work experience.
After 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) Canadian work experience in a skilled NOC, you qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
Create your Express Entry profile. Your Canadian work experience gives you a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) boost. Higher CRS = better chance of ITA in Express Entry draws.
When IRCC conducts a CEC draw, eligible candidates receive an ITA for permanent residence. You typically have 90 days to submit a complete PR application.
After submitting your PR application and completing background/medical checks, you receive PR status. You can stay in Canada permanently.
In addition to the federal CEC pathway, IEC graduates can also apply through provincial nominee programs. Several provinces have streams specifically designed for workers with Canadian experience - including Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. VMC advises on both federal and provincial pathways simultaneously.
Explore PNP options →VMC's licensed RCICs confirm your country eligibility, optimize your pool profile, and map your IEC-to-PR strategy from day one.
Small errors in the IEC process can cost you an entire season or result in a refusal. VMC prevents these common pitfalls.
If your country doesn't have an IEC agreement with Canada, you are not out of options. VMC can assess which alternative work permit pathway is best for you:
A Canadian employer obtains a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and offers you a job. VMC assists employers with the LMIA process.
US and Mexican professionals in specific occupations qualify for TN work permits without LMIA under the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement.
Intra-company transfers, professionals under international treaties (CETA, CPTPP), and other categories may be LMIA-exempt.
If you have a university degree and work experience in a skilled NOC, you may qualify for Express Entry directly without needing Canadian work experience first.
Still have questions? Our licensed RCICs answer within 24 hours.
Book your Expert ConsultationGTA or anywhere in Canada: temporary status, PR strategy, employer files, or refusal review. We outline the plan before forms multiply.