IRCC Has Opened International Experience Canada program IEC for international youth applications

Are you a young international student or professional looking to gain international experience and immerse yourself in Canadian culture? The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is now open to welcome you to Canada!

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, has recently released this announcement in January 2023. This program will benefit international youth by obtaining excellent work experience, the Canadian economy as well by filling the shortage in the Canadian labour market.

What is International Experience Canada program IEC?

The IEC program is a cultural exchange program that allows young people from participating countries to work and live in Canada for up to two years. There are three categories within the IEC program: Working Holiday Visa, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship).

International Experience Canada IEC Categories

The Working Holiday Visa category is for those who want to travel and work in Canada for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the country of citizenship). This is a great option for those who want to fund their travels and gain work experience in Canada.

The Young Professionals category is for those who have a job offer from a Canadian employer in a skilled occupation. This category allows participants to work in Canada for up to two years.

The International Co-op (Internship) category is for those who are enrolled in a post-secondary institution and have a job offer related to their field of study. This category allows participants to complete a work placement in Canada for up to 12 or 18 months (depending on the country of citizenship).

IRCC will expand the number of accepted international youth, who will be selected from the IEC pool and will receive an Invitation to Apply ITA for getting work permit, to reach approximately 90,000 for 2023. This will help Canada fill the need in the labour market.

How to be eligible for International Experience Canada program IEC

To be eligible for the IEC program, you must be a citizen of a participating country and meet the age requirements (18-30 or 18-35, depending on the country of citizenship). You must also have a valid passport, meet the necessary language requirements, and have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

To be eligible for the IEC program, you must:

1. Be a citizen of one of the following participating countries:
   • Australia
   • Austria
   • Belgium
   • Chile
   • Costa Rica
   • Croatia
   • Czech Republic
   • Denmark
   • Estonia
   • France
   • Germany
   • Greece
   • Hong Kong
   • Ireland
   • Italy
   • Japan
   • Korea (South)
   • Latvia
   • Lithuania
   • Luxembourg
   • Mexico
   • Netherlands
   • New Zealand
   • Norway
   • Poland
   • Portugal
   • Slovakia
   • Slovenia
   • Spain
   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • Taiwan
   • Ukraine
   • United Kingdom
2. Meet the age requirements (between 18-30 or 18-35, depending on your country of citizenship).
3. Have a valid passport.
4. Meet certain language requirements.
5. Have enough funds to support yourself while residing in Canada.

The IEC program is a great opportunity for young internationals to experience life in Canada, learn about the culture, and gain valuable work experience. It’s also a chance to make new friends from all over the world and create lasting memories.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! If you’re interested in participating in the IEC program, contact us now for more information.