International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada program is an excellent opportunity for international youth to gain some valuable work experience without the pain of applying for LMIA or looking for an employer from abroad.
For some, the International Experience Canada (IEC) program is a way to work and travel in another country. For others – it is a way to get Canadian experience, improve language skills, and gain extra points for their future permanent residence application.
In technical terms, IEC, also knows as working holiday Canada, has 3 streams under it. Working holiday allows eligible youth to work for any Canadian employer for a length of time determined by their country of origin. Young Professionals is an options for those who want to work for a specific employer and their visa will be valid for that workplace only. Finally, International Co-op (Internship) is a program for international students whose studies include a practical component, and who wish to complete that practicum in Canada. In some cases, you can choose the program based on your goals, but depending on your passport, you may only be eligible for certain programs. Either way, think well before filing your application and be clear about your goals – in most cases you can only participate in IEC Canada once. Even if you’re able to reapply under a different stream, you will have to rely on too many factors, such as your employer’s willingness to give you a job offer, and IRCC granting your application.
There are 2 ways to quality to participate in IEC Canada. If you are from a country that has a special IEC agreement with Canada, you can just apply. You can find out if your country is included on the government website. This tool will also give you an idea of what IEC programs you can apply for and how many times. If your country is not on the list of International Experience Canada countries and does not have an IEC agreement with Canada, you might be able to participate with support of a Recognized Organization – check out the list of organization and the eligibility requirements on the government website.
International Experience Canada age limit is different depending on your country of origin and the program you’re applying for. International Experience Canada applicants cannot add dependents to their application, but if your child or significant other want to come to Canada with you, they might be able to do so at a later stage. If you want your partner to work or study in Canada once they join you, you might have to ensure your job qualification matches NOC level 0, A or B, which means you need college or university training to perform it. You can search occupations to get a better idea of what jobs you can accept.
Once you establish if you’re eligible, submit a profile to the candidate pool, from which the IEC candidates are selected for the International Experience Canada work permit. You can apply under more than one category if you want, just select the relevant categories when you submit your online profile. You will need your passport and answer some questions about yourself. Make sure you renew your passport if it’s about to expire – otherwise your International Experience Canada visa might be issued for less time that what you’re eligible for. Once your profile is ready, you will be invited, and then you can decide to accept or reject the invitation. If you accept, you must submit a work permit application within a few weeks. If your plans change, you can let the invitation expire and reapply at a later date, but you will have to start the process from scratch. If you decline the invitation, you will stay in the pool, and be considered for future draws.
For your work permit application, follow the prompts of the online system. You might have to submit additional supporting documents in English or French, so consult the list of supporting documents to have them ready ahead of the time.
The processing times are usually around 9 weeks, and the application fees start at $153 for all IEC candidates. However, remember that if you have to complete biometrics, a medical exam, or translate any documents, the costs will be higher. You will also have to pay an additional fee for a Working Holiday Work permit. The system will let you know what steps need to be completed, so make sure you have notifications set up or you check your account on a regular basis.
If your application is approved, you will receive a Port of Entry letter allowing you to come to Canada and start working. The letter usually has an expiration date, so be mindful of that. Finally, if always helps to do some research and check out the FAQ section to see the answers to some questions that come up for you. Although the IEC process has many stages, it is fairly straightforward. However, if your goal is to immigrate to Canada permanently and you’re hoping to use IEC work experience for a future application for permanent residence – contact our team of Registered Canadian Immigration consultants to find out what is the best course of action for your application, what jobs you should get, and whether you should aim to work in a specific region. Our multilingual team is just an email away, and we will be more than happy to take the stress out of your application.
Regards,
International Experience Club
