International Experience Canada: Work and Travel Guide
International Experience Canada (IEC) lets young people from partner countries work in Canada for up to 2 years. You join a pool, wait for an invitation, then apply for a work permit. We help you pick the right category, protect the deadlines and avoid a refused file.
since 1991
Which IEC category fits you?
IEC has 3 categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship). Working Holiday gives you an open work permit with no job offer. The other two give you an employer-specific permit tied to one job (IRCC).
How does the IEC process work?
IEC runs on pools. You submit a profile, IRCC sends invitations to apply (ITAs) in rounds, and you have 20 days to apply after you accept. You must use your IRCC secure account. For other permits, see our open work permits guide and the work permits hub.
Key rules at a glance
- Citizenship: only citizens of countries with an IEC arrangement with Canada can join.
- Profile: you can have 1 profile at a time and you have 60 days to finish it.
- Invitation order: International Co-op first, then Young Professionals, then Working Holiday.
- Limits: you get 1 IEC permit per season, and your country sets how many times you can take part.
Which category fits your case?
Pick the one that matches your plans. Your country decides which categories you can use.
Working Holiday fits if
- You do not have a job offer before you arrive.
- You want to work for more than one employer.
- You want to work in more than one place and earn money while you travel.
Young Professionals or Co-op fits if
- Young Professionals: you have a paid job offer at TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 that builds your career, with one employer in one place.
- International Co-op: you study at a school outside Canada and need the work placement to finish your studies.
- Both: the work is not self-employment and follows the labour laws where you work.
Not sure which permit you need? Read our open work permits guide, the work permits hub or the LMIA work permits guide.
Why IEC candidates miss out or get refused
Five problems stop most candidates. Source: IRCC.
You were never invited
A profile is not an application. You can only apply after an ITA, and spots are limited by country and category.
You missed a deadline
You have 10 days to accept an ITA and 20 days from accepting to apply. If the invitation expires, you submit a new profile and wait again.
Too many past participations
Your country sets how many times you can take part. An officer checks your past participations when you apply.
Gaps or false information
Gaps in your work or education history, missing police certificates or false answers can lead to a refusal. A false statement can also make you inadmissible later.
Job offer problems
For Young Professionals and Co-op, your employer must pay the employer compliance fee and give you an offer number that starts with A. The job must count toward your career.
Not sure which category to pick?
We read your country rules and your work history before you submit a profile.
IEC deadlines you cannot miss
Accept your ITA: 10 days
Your invitation lists the deadline. If you miss it, the ITA expires, and you must submit a new profile and wait for a new invitation.
From the moment you accept, you have exactly 20 days to submit your application, documents and fees. The deadline is in UTC time, so compare it with your local time. For Young Professionals and Co-op, your employer pays the CAD$230 compliance fee in this window.
You can change your IEC permit only in limited cases, such as a longer job offer with the same employer and job. If you want to stay longer, look at Express Entry and the Canadian Experience Class.
Documents to gather
Your IRCC account builds a personal checklist. Start with these.
How IEC works, step by step
Six stages from your profile to your arrival.
Check your eligibility
Answer the IRCC questionnaire (about 10 minutes) to see which categories your country allows.
Submit your profile
Finish it within 60 days. You can join one or more pools for your country.
Wait for an invitation
IRCC invites candidates in rounds. Your profile stays in the pool until you get an ITA or the season ends.
Accept your ITA
You have 10 days to accept. After that, you have 20 days to apply.
Apply and pay
Upload your documents, pay your fees and give biometrics if asked.
Get your letter and travel
IRCC sends a port of entry letter to your account. Bring it with you to Canada.
IEC costs
From IRCC IEC pages. Last updated: October 2026.
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International Experience Canada FAQs
What is International Experience Canada (IEC)?
IEC is an IRCC program that lets young people from partner countries work and travel in Canada. You can stay up to 2 years, depending on your country. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can also take part in IEC abroad.
How old do I have to be for IEC?
You must be 18 to 35, or 18 to 30 in some countries. Your country of citizenship sets the limit. Check the IRCC country list before you start.
What are the 3 IEC categories?
Working Holiday gives an open permit with no job offer. Young Professionals needs a job offer that builds your career. International Co-op is for students who need a work placement to finish their studies.
How much does IEC cost?
IRCC lists the IEC fee as CAD$184.75. You may also pay CAD$85 for biometrics and CAD$100 for the Working Holiday open work permit holder fee. Employers pay a CAD$230 compliance fee for Young Professionals and Co-op.
How do I get an invitation to apply?
You submit a profile to one or more pools, then wait for a round of invitations. IRCC issues ITAs in this order: International Co-op, Young Professionals, then Working Holiday. Check IRCC for round dates and spots.
How long do I have to apply after an invitation?
You have 10 days to accept the invitation. After you accept, you have exactly 20 days to submit your work permit application, documents and fees. The deadline is in UTC time.
Can I take part in IEC more than once?
It depends on your country. IRCC says you cannot take part more times than your country allows, and you can only get 1 IEC permit per season. An officer checks your past participations.
Can I use a recognized organization?
Yes, but you do not have to. You can apply yourself or use a recognized organization for support. Recognized organizations are not the same as immigration representatives.
Can I change employers on an IEC permit?
With Working Holiday you have an open permit, so you can change employers when you need to. Young Professionals and Co-op permits are tied to one employer. You cannot change to a different job or address on the same permit.
Can I extend my IEC permit?
You can only change your IEC permit in very specific situations. One example is a longer job offer with the same employer and job for Young Professionals or Co-op, if it stays within your country limit. You apply once per participation and before the permit expires.
Can IEC lead to permanent residence?
IEC does not give you PR by itself. Skilled work you do on a valid permit may help you qualify later for programs such as the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry. We check your options before your permit ends.
Can I get a refusal on an IEC application?
Yes. Refusals often come from gaps in your history, missing documents, false information or a job offer that does not count. If your file is refused, see our work permit refused guide.