International Experience Canada

International Experience Canada (IEC) provides youth with the opportunity to travel and work in Canada

There are three categories for which you may be eligible under IEC: 

  1. Young Professionals
  2. Working Holiday
  3. International Co-op (Internship)


If you’re eligible, you’ll be placed into one or more pools of International Experience Canada (IEC) candidates. Once you receive ITA, you will be able to apply for work permit application.

A Caucasian businesswoman is leading a team meeting in an office.

In order to participate in IEC:

  • your country or territory of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada that allows you to apply for an IEC work permit or
  • you may be able to use a recognized organization (RO)


You must also meet the eligibility requirements for your country or territory of citizenship and the pool you’re applying for.

Young Professionals 

Gain Canadian professional work experience to better compete in a global economy.

This category is for you if

  • you have a job offer in Canada that contributes to 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.

Working Holiday

Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.

Normally, this category is for you if

  • you don’t have a job

This category is also for you if

  • 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.

International Co-op (Internship)

Get valuable overseas work experience related to your field of study.

This category is for you if

  • you’re 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’ll 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.

Need help with your application to work in Canada?

Simply click the link below to speak to one of our highly qualified consultants for more information about the visa and work permit application process.

If you are from the following countries, you may be eligible to apply under one of the categories.

Country

International Experience Canada Category

Age eligibility

Type of work permit

Maximum validity

Participation frequency in International Experience Canada

Medical Exam needed?

Andorra

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Australia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

Two participations maximum in IEC. A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals; a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. These two participations can be carried out in the order of the applicant’s choice.
Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you might be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice.

No

Young Professionals (Graduates)

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months (unless it is the applicant’s second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months)

No

Austria

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Applicants are allowed 3 participations in total. No repeat categories are allowed.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op

18-35

Employer-specific Internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism

6 months

Must be a resident of Austria and must be registered as a student in forestry, agriculture or tourism or have graduated in 1 of those fields within the past 12 months.

No

Belgium

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Chile

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations – Repeat category is permitted

No

Young Professionals (Supplementary graduate training)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Young worker exchange program)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Costa Rica

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Croatia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is permitted.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Czech Republic

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible)

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Estonia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

France

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

Maximum of two participations.
A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals or Young Professionals (VIE); a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. Applicant can choose the order of these two participations.
Exception: French citizens who participated prior to the 2015 quota year are eligible for one final participation in the category of their choosing. An applicant is considered to have participated prior to 2015 if their application(s) was submitted to any quota year prior to the launch of the 2015 quota year which took place on February 21, 2015. Those who have participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

Young Professionals – VIE

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Enrolment in a training centre in France is acceptable.

No

Germany

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two times. Repeat category is not permitted.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Greece

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Hong Kong

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Ireland

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

To avail of two International Experience Canada participations, one must be under the International Co-op (Internship) category.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Italy

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

6 months

In future seasons, Italians will be eligible for all three IEC programs and for work permits of 12 months’ duration

No

Japan

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Latvia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Lithuania

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Luxembourg

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Awaiting details.

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Mexico

The youth mobility agreement between Canada and Mexico is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.

No

Netherlands

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

New Zealand

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

23 months

One participation (if you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply)

No

Norway

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Poland

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Portugal

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

One participation

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

San Marino

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations

No

Slovakia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Slovenia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

South Korea

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Spain

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Sweden

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Switzerland

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

18 months (Total duration of the two permits combined cannot exceed 18 months)

Two participations. Repeat category is permitted if the sum of the two participations is within the 18-month total limit.

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

No

Taiwan

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Ukraine

The youth mobility agreement between Canada and Ukraine is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.

Yes

United Kingdom

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

24 months

One participation

No

Need help with your application to work in Canada?

Simply click the link below to speak to one of our highly qualified consultants for more information about the visa and work permit application process.

Category Details

Young Professionals 

Gain Canadian professional work experience to better compete in a global economy.

This category is for you if

  • you have a job offer in Canada that contributes to 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.

Working Holiday

Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.

Normally, this category is for you if

  • you don’t have a job

This category is also for you if

  • 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.

International Co-op (Internship)

Get valuable overseas work experience related to your field of study.

This category is for you if

  • you’re 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’ll 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.

Need help with your application to work in Canada?

Simply click the link below to speak to one of our highly qualified consultants for more information about the visa and work permit application process.

Participating Countries & Requirements

If you are from the following countries, you may be eligible to apply under one of the categories.

Country

International Experience Canada Category

Age eligibility

Type of work permit

Maximum validity

Participation frequency in International Experience Canada

Medical Exam needed?

Andorra

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Australia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

Two participations maximum in IEC. A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals; a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. These two participations can be carried out in the order of the applicant’s choice.
Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you might be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice.

No

Young Professionals (Graduates)

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months (unless it is the applicant’s second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months)

No

Austria

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Applicants are allowed 3 participations in total. No repeat categories are allowed.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op

18-35

Employer-specific Internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism

6 months

Must be a resident of Austria and must be registered as a student in forestry, agriculture or tourism or have graduated in 1 of those fields within the past 12 months.

No

Belgium

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Chile

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations – Repeat category is permitted

No

Young Professionals (Supplementary graduate training)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Young worker exchange program)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Costa Rica

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Croatia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is permitted.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Czech Republic

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible)

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Estonia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

France

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

Maximum of two participations.
A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals or Young Professionals (VIE); a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. Applicant can choose the order of these two participations.
Exception: French citizens who participated prior to the 2015 quota year are eligible for one final participation in the category of their choosing. An applicant is considered to have participated prior to 2015 if their application(s) was submitted to any quota year prior to the launch of the 2015 quota year which took place on February 21, 2015. Those who have participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

Young Professionals – VIE

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Enrolment in a training centre in France is acceptable.

No

Germany

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two times. Repeat category is not permitted.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Greece

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Hong Kong

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Ireland

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

To avail of two International Experience Canada participations, one must be under the International Co-op (Internship) category.

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Italy

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

6 months

In future seasons, Italians will be eligible for all three IEC programs and for work permits of 12 months’ duration

No

Japan

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

No

Latvia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Lithuania

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Luxembourg

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Awaiting details.

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op  (Internship)

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Mexico

The youth mobility agreement between Canada and Mexico is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.

No

Netherlands

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

New Zealand

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

23 months

One participation (if you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply)

No

Norway

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Poland

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Portugal

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

24 months

One participation

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

24 months

No

San Marino

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations

No

Slovakia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Slovenia

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

South Korea

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Spain

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Sweden

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

12 months

Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted

No

Young Professionals

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-30

Employer-specific

12 months

No

Switzerland

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

18 months (Total duration of the two permits combined cannot exceed 18 months)

Two participations. Repeat category is permitted if the sum of the two participations is within the 18-month total limit.

No

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

No

Taiwan

Working Holiday

18-35

Open

12 months

One participation

Yes

Young Professionals

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

International Co-op (Internship)

18-35

Employer-specific

12 months

Yes

Ukraine

The youth mobility agreement between Canada and Ukraine is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.

Yes

United Kingdom

Working Holiday

18-30

Open

24 months

One participation

No

Need help with your application to work in Canada?

Simply click the link below to speak to one of our highly qualified consultants for more information about the visa and work permit application process.

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