International Experience Class (IEC)

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a set of programs enabling young people from participating countries, to travel to Canada, to live and work temporarily.

IEC is applicable to citizens of only those countries which have Bilateral agreements and arrangements with Canada: Canadian Interests - Reciprocal employment (International Mobility Program). List of countries can be found here.

Foreign nationals who are successful through one of the IEC programs will be authorized to apply for a Canadian work permit without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

IEC authorizes temporary stay in Canada, with the approval of work permits for a maximum of one year.

IEC work permits are approved through a random draw system. Not all foreign nationals who submit expressions of interest will be selected for the program. The probability of success depends upon the quota for each program and country.

The IEC operates three separate programs. While IEC has general requirements, interested applicants should verify the requirements for the individual programs.

Each program has unique requirements and can result in a different form of work authorization:

  • Working Holiday (travel and work): Participants are eligible to apply for an open work permit to allow them to work for any employer or location in Canada to subsidize their stay as they travel and discover the country
  • Young Professionals (career development): Participants are eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain professional work experience in Canada
  • International Co-op Internship (internships for students only): Participants are eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain experience in their field of study