IEC will allow nearly 90,000 young people to work in Canada
The 2024 season for International Experience Canada opened on December 11, which will allow nearly 90,000 young people from IEC partner countries and territories to work in Canada.
IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth aged 18–35 to work and travel in each other’s countries, with Canada has establishing youth mobility partnerships with over 35 countries and territories. In 2024, Canadian youth will also have more options than ever to gain international experience and perspectives by visiting partner countries, according to the government of Canada.
With the opening of the 2024 season, participants will once again be able to take part in the Canadian experience through work and travel. This will have a positive impact on employers who are looking to fill positions, as well as on Canada’s tourism industry.
“Canada benefits when young people around the world participate in International Experience Canada. This program will help Canadian employers in their search for talented employees but will also serve to stimulate the tourism sector across the country. We also hope that young Canadians will take advantage of the reciprocal aspect of this program to gain work and travel experience from around the world that will serve them throughout their lives,” said The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in a press release.
Categories and eligibility
IEC has 3 participation categories:
- Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
- International Co-op (Internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within their field of study or career path.
Eligibility for IEC varies from country to country, and the processing time for international youths looking to work in Canada is currently four weeks, after submission of all documents and biometrics, according to the most recent update from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
