If you look forward to acquiring a work permit through International Experience Canada as a young professional or student, this blog is for you. IEC involves a few programs encouraging young professionals from participating countries to work and reside in Canada temporarily. Foreign nationals who become eligible for any of the IEC programs will receive the authority to apply for a work permit in Canada without fulfilling an LMIA requirement. IEC enables candidates to stay in the country temporarily with work permit approvals for at least a year.
The approval of work permits takes place through a random draw system. Not all foreign nationals who submit EOIs will qualify for this program. Moreover, the applicant’s success with IEC will rely on each program’s quota and Canada. The IEC runs three distinct programs, and it comprises general eligibility requirements. Additionally, aspiring candidates must fulfill the eligibility requirements for different programs. Each IEC program requires candidates to complete separate requirements, resulting in a different work authorization form.
Notably, IEC covers the following three programs:
- Working Holiday;
- Young professionals;
- International Co-op Internship
Acquiring a work permit through International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada enables citizens from specific countries to travel and work in the country for a period of two years. The Canadian government practices reciprocal agreements with more than 30 countries. These types of IEC agreements are called Youth Mobility Agreements. This method is a convenient and affordable way for young foreign nationals to submit a work permit application. As a result, they can travel and work abroad very well.
IEC programs
Let us understand the IEC programs in detail by learning about the kind of work and travel experiences they offer individually.
Working Holiday Visa
The Working Holiday Visa is a category most appropriate for young people who don’t possess a Canadian job offer. Additionally, it is for those who seek to work under multiple employers in Canada. Successful applicants of the Working Holiday program receive Open Work Permits that don’t connect them to a specific employer only. Instead, it provides them the freedom to choose different employers of their choice and the location. This program is a great alternative for foreign nationals of selected countries who seek the following:
- Those without an employment offer from a Canadian employer.
- Individuals who look forward to working under multiple employers.
- Those who wish to reside in more than one place in Canada.
- People who seek to make money while traveling.
Young Professionals
The Young Professionals Program enables foreign nationals to acquire professional Canadian work experience under a Canadian employer. The program demands the candidate to have an employment offer from a Canadian employer so that they can be eligible for it. Successful and eligible applicants under this program will attain an employer-specific work permit, allowing them to work for one employer only. The location also will be the same in the country.
This program tends to be a great alternative for those from selected countries who seek the following:
- Those acquiring an employment offer from a Canadian employer, thereby leading to their professional development.
- Individuals to work for a fixed employer within a fixed location in Canada.
- People who understand that this will be paid work unrelated to self-employment.
They must be in a job position under NOC Skill Level O, A, or B to contribute to their professional development. The selected countries have different quotas available for this program each year.
International Co-op
The International Co-op Program enables international students to execute an internship or Canadian work placement as a post-secondary education requirement. This program demands applicants to possess an employment offer, work placement, or some kind of internship in Canada. Any of these must be necessary for their study program completion. Successful applicants attain an employer-specific work permit, enabling them to work for the same employer and a fixed location in Canada.
Foreign nationals from selected countries can choose this program if they seek the following:
- International students with registration in a post-secondary institution.
- Those who can demonstrate a work placement, internship, or employment offer in Canada.
- You can proceed with paid or unpaid internships based on the province’s regulations.
- Your work must be under a fixed employer at a specific location in Canada.
- The work placement or internship must lead you to complete your study program.
International Experience Canada – The essential steps to apply
Foreign nationals seeking to apply for an IEC program must adhere to the following essential steps:
IEC profile creation
Once candidates become sure of their country’s participation in the International Experience Canada Program and choose their program, they must establish an account on the official website of IEC. If they fulfill the eligibility requirements, their profile will be added to the IEC pool.
Obtain an ITA
International Experience Canada consistently conducts draws for the candidates. Eligible IEC candidates will often receive an invitation to apply. In addition, different quotas will exist and will differ based on different countries and programs. Therefore, candidates must verify Canada’s quotas to understand better their possibility of getting an ITA.
Invitation to Apply Acceptance
Candidates who obtain an ITA will have ten days to accept the invitation. Once they accept it, they will get 20 more days to apply for a work permit. If an applicant seeks not to accept an ITA, they will be sent back to the pool and acknowledged in the subsequent draws.
Work permit application submission
After acquiring an invitation to apply, a foreign national will have 20 days to submit a digital work permit application through the IRCC web portal. Additionally, applicants must review document requirements beforehand in order to complete the application successfully.
Receiving the work permit
Once a successful applicant receives a work permit confirmation, they will also receive the details related to the work authorization period of validity.
Acquiring a work permit through International Experience Canada – What is the eligibility criteria
If a candidate would like to qualify for the IEC program, they will need to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Their age must be between 18 and 35 years.
- Your citizenship country must hold an IEC agreement with Canada while collaborating with more than thirty countries. These include Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Taiwan, Australia, France, Korea, Japan, etc. However, there might be exception cases in which candidates from other countries will qualify for a work permit under the IEC.
- They must demonstrate valid and relevant travel documents, especially a valid passport. Your stay duration in Canada will be equivalent to your passport’s validity.
- Candidates must fulfill the funding proof requirement and have a minimum of $CAD 2,500 for their expenditure in Canada. You must be able to show a round-trip ticket or have the essential money to get a return ticket to your home country once your stay is over.
- Ensure you have Canadian admissibility in terms of criminal verification and medical examination to be able to work in specific industries.
If you seek information on how to begin your IEC work permit application process, you can talk to our MakeHomeCanada experts at 1-800-979-0509, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
