Working Holiday
- Open work permit.
- No pre-arranged job offer in most cases.
- Work for most employers.
- Designed for flexible work and travel.
International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada: IEC Work Permits
Travel. Work. Explore Canada.
IEC helps eligible youth from partner countries gain temporary Canadian work experience through Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op.
On This Page
- International Experience Canada overview
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op Internship
- Pools, invitations and deadlines
- Preparing to arrive in Canada
- Eligibility and application requirements
- IEC document checklist
- How the process works
- How Simmi Immigration can help
- Frequently asked questions
Overview
International Experience Canada overview
International Experience Canada gives eligible youth from partner countries and territories the opportunity to work and travel in Canada, in some cases for up to two years.
Citizenship, age, residence, category availability, participation history and maximum duration depend on the applicable youth mobility agreement. A recognized organization may support some applicants.
Working Holiday
Working Holiday is for eligible participants who want flexibility to work for more than one employer or in more than one location. It leads to an open work permit and generally does not require a job offer before applying.
An open permit does not arrange employment or accommodation. Applicants should plan funds, insurance, housing and job searching before travel.
Young Professionals
Young Professionals requires a paid Canadian job offer that contributes to professional development. The permit is employer-specific, and the applicant normally works for the same employer in the same location.
The job is generally in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. A TEER 4 job may qualify when it is in the applicant’s field of study and supported by a post-secondary credential.
International Co-op Internship
International Co-op is for eligible students registered at a post-secondary institution outside Canada who need a Canadian placement to complete their studies.
The placement must be directly related to the field of study and produces an employer-specific work permit. Provincial or territorial labour law determines whether the internship must be paid.
Pools, invitations and deadlines
Applicants create a profile for the eligible country-and-category pool. Entering a pool is not a work permit application and does not guarantee an invitation.
After an invitation, there are strict deadlines to accept and complete the work permit application. For Young Professionals and Co-op, the employer completes the Employer Portal submission and fee before the worker files.
Preparing to arrive in Canada
Approval normally results in a port-of-entry letter of introduction rather than the physical permit. The border officer makes the final permit decision and checks travel documents, insurance, funds and other requirements.
The issued permit may be shorter than the program maximum if the passport, insurance or other evidence expires earlier.
Key information
Eligibility and application requirements
Eligibility, supporting evidence and practical considerations for this application.
Young Professionals
- Paid professional-development job.
- Employer-specific permit.
- Eligible TEER occupation or qualifying TEER 4 role.
- Employer Portal submission required.
International Co-op
- Registered post-secondary student abroad.
- Placement required to complete studies.
- Direct connection to the field of study.
- Employer-specific permit.
Eligibility varies by citizenship
- Age range.
- Available categories.
- Residence rules.
- Participation limits and permit duration.
Checklist
IEC document checklist
Follow the personalized checklist in the IRCC account.
- Passport with sufficient validity.
- Digital photograph.
- CV or résumé.
- Family information form.
- Police certificates, where required.
- Medical examination evidence, where required.
- Job offer and offer number for employer-specific categories.
- Education or enrolment evidence for the relevant category.
- Recognized organization confirmation, where applicable.
- Proof of insurance and funds for arrival.
Step by step
How the process works
- 1
Check country eligibility
Review age, category and participation rules.
- 2
Create an IEC profile
Enter one or more eligible pools.
- 3
Wait for an invitation
Monitor the account and pool invitation information.
- 4
Complete employer steps
For Young Professionals or Co-op, submit the offer.
- 5
File the work permit
Meet the invitation and application deadlines.
- 6
Prepare for arrival
Bring the required insurance, funds and approval documents.
Why us
What you get working with Simmi Immigration
A
Country-rule review
Confirm age, categories, duration and repeat participation.
B
Category matching
Choose flexibility, professional development or internship.
C
Deadline control
Track invitation and filing windows carefully.
D
Arrival readiness
Avoid shortened permits caused by expiring documents.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Working Holiday generally does not. Young Professionals and International Co-op require an eligible offer.
No. Invitations depend on category, country, quota and pool conditions.
An IEC profile does not authorize work. You need separate valid work authorization.
Possibly. Participation limits depend on citizenship, category and any recognized-organization arrangement.
Not necessarily. Agreement rules, passport validity, insurance and the documents presented affect the issued period.
The permit is employer-specific. A change requires IRCC authorization under the applicable IEC rules.
IEC participants should arrive with insurance covering the full intended stay, including health care, hospitalization and repatriation. Insufficient coverage can shorten the permit.
No. Permanent residence requires a separate qualifying application.
Next step
Ready to work and explore Canada?
Book a consultation to review your IEC eligibility and next steps.
This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Program rules change and individual circumstances matter. Confirm current IRCC requirements before applying.
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