Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 pool of the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme.
The IEC announced last year that it will be expanding its programme intake, giving nearly 90,000 applicants from partner nations the chance to work and visit in Canada in 2023. This year’s opening of the application pool follows that announcement.
The programme serves as Canada’s means of exposing and providing work experience to young people from its 36 partner nations. Those who are accepted can work legally in Canada and move about the nation without restriction. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) envisions the program’s extension as contributing to the continued filling of labor shortages in industries that were negatively impacted by the epidemic, most notably the tourism industry.
How does the IEC programme operate?
Applicants for an IEC work permit must be citizens of partner countries with bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada and must be between the ages of 18 and 35 (all inclusive) or 18 and 29 (depending on the applicant’s nationality). Candidates may apply under one of three main streams:
- The Working Holiday stream, which can offer an Open Work Permit (OWP) for up to two years and allows holders to work for any business in Canada and in most industries.
- The Young Professionals stream, which offers a work permit unique to an employer for people with a job offer and plans to work for that employer alone in Canada.
- The International Co-op Internship stream, which enables nationals of partner nations enrolled in a post-secondary programme in their home country to intern for a particular Canadian company.
In order to participate in the programme, prospective candidates must first respond to a “expression of interest/invitation to apply” form by submitting their candidature information to the IEC pool. They will be given the opportunity to submit an application for a work permit in Canada if selected.
In the event that the application is accepted, the applicant will be given their work permit according to their particular stream and be permitted to enter and work in Canada for the duration of their permitted stay.
Criteria for eligibility
In order to apply under the IEC, candidates must:
- Be a citizen or passport holder of one of the 36 nations with whom Canada has youth mobility agreements.
- Possess a passport that is still valid throughout their visit to Canada.
- Depending on the applicant’s nationality, be within the qualifying age range (18-29, 18-30, or 18-35, inclusive) at the time of their application.
- Whenever you land in Canada, have the equivalent of $2,500 CAD.
- Possess the ability to purchase health insurance for the duration of their stay.
- Be eligible to enter Canada.
- Obtaining a round-trip ticket before leaving or having the money to do so after their permitted stay in Canada ends.
- Dependents may not accompany you.
- Pay the applicable fees.
With over 800,000 economic immigrants anticipated to enter the nation over the next three years, Canada is hoping to welcome more immigrants than ever thanks to the expansion of the IEC program’s capacity. Future immigration to Canada may become a possibility for young people who complete the IEC and get the necessary amount of work experience there.
