If you are between the ages of 18 to 35 years old (or 30 years old in some countries), you can now work and travel in Canada through International Experience Canada (IEC). The IEC gives international youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. Canadians aged 18 to 35 years old can also participate in IEC to work and travel in partner countries.

The IEC is a government program which is designed to help you as follows:

• Gain valuable international work experience
• Improve your language skills in English and French
• Work in Canada and fund the trip of a lifetime

Who can apply?

To find out if you are eligible for an IEC outside of Canada Work Permit, please check the following link to see if your country has an arrangement with Canada: Work and Travel Services in Canada 

If you are a citizen of a partner country, you may be eligible to apply under one or more of the following 3 categories (each with different requirements) depending on your country of citizenship:

1. Working Holiday:

This category is for you, if

• • you don’t have a job offer;
  • you want to work for more than one employer in Canada;
  • you want to work in more than one location;
  • you’d like to earn some money so that you can travel.

The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit. This lets you work for almost any employer in Canada (some exceptions apply). You will need to get a medical exam first for some jobs.

2. Young Professionals

This category is for you, if

• • you have a job offer in Canada that counts toward your professional development;
  • you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada.

Under this category, work must be

• • paid
  • not self-employed

The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.

Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory where you plan to work, including minimum wage requirements.

The job you’re offered must count toward your “professional development.” To count, the job must be classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupation Code (NOC).

A TEER 4 job may qualify if it is in your field of study. When you apply, you’ll need to submit your post-secondary (translated into French or English, if required)

• • diploma
  • certificate or
  • degree

3. International Co-op (Internship)

This category is for you, if

• • you are a student registered at a post-secondary institution;
  • you have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada;
  • you need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies;
  • you will work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada.

The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit. The internship you are offered in Canada must be directly linked to your field of studies.

Wages and labour standards must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.

Disclaimer:

The information provided above is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem.

Please note that the IEC Work Permit application processing times are dependent on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) workload on the date of submission of the application and dependent on which partner country you are applying from.

We understand that navigating the Canadian Immigration system can be difficult and somewhat confusing process. Jasmine Somal, our associate lawyer, is happy to assist you with every step of the process. To schedule an initial consultation with Jasmine, please contact her at [email protected].