International Experience Canada (IEC)
Work and travel in Canada, ages 18 to 35.Open and employer-specific youth work permits.
International Experience Canada lets eligible youth from partner countries live, work and travel in Canada for up to two years. Licensed RCIC consultants help you choose the right category, build a clean profile, and apply correctly within IEC's tight deadlines.
- Working Holiday, Young Professionals & International Co-op
- Profiles, pools and Invitations to Apply handled correctly
- A plan to connect IEC to your longer-term goals in Canada
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Three IEC categories
Working Holiday
Open work permit, no job offer needed
Young Professionals
Employer-specific, career-building job offer
International Co-op
Internship tied to studies abroad
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The three IEC categories
Pick the work permit that fits your plan
IEC runs through three categories. You may be eligible for one or more, depending on your country of citizenship and your situation. Here is what each one offers.
Working Holiday
For travellers without a job offer who want flexibility. You apply for an open work permit, letting you work for most employers, in more than one job and location, and fund your travels across Canada.
Young Professionals
For those with a Canadian job offer that supports their career. You get an employer-specific work permit. The paid job must be classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 (TEER 4 may qualify if it is in your field of study).
International Co-op (Internship)
For students enrolled at a post-secondary institution outside Canada who need a work placement or internship to complete their studies. You get an employer-specific work permit tied to that internship.
Eligibility essentials
What you generally need to qualify
Each country sets its own rules, so always confirm your specific eligibility. In most cases, IEC participants need to meet these core requirements.
- Aged 18 to 35 (18 to 30 in some countries)
- Citizen of a country with a youth mobility agreement
- Valid passport for the length of your stay
- Health insurance for your entire stay in Canada
- Enough funds to support your arrival
- No refugee travel document
How IEC works
From profile to Port of Entry letter
IEC is a pool-and-invitation system, not a first-come application. The deadlines are short once you are invited, so preparation matters.
- 1
Check eligibility & create your profile
Confirm your country has a youth mobility agreement, complete the eligibility questionnaire, and build your IEC profile in your IRCC secure account.
- 2
Enter the pool(s)
Submit your profile to one or more of the categories you qualify for. There is one pool per country, per category, and you can sit in several at once.
- 3
Receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Candidates are invited from the pools in regular rounds. If you are invited, you have 10 days to accept before the invitation expires.
- 4
Apply within 20 days
Once you accept, you have 20 days to submit your work permit application, upload supporting documents, and pay the applicable fees.
- 5
Biometrics & supporting documents
If required, give your biometrics within 30 days and provide police certificates or a medical exam where applicable.
- 6
Assessment & Port of Entry letter
Processing can take up to 56 days. On approval, IRCC issues a Port of Entry letter of introduction to bring with you to Canada.
What it costs
IEC fees for the 2026 season
The exact fees depend on your category and whether biometrics are required. These are the current IRCC amounts.
All participants
IEC participation fee — CAD $184.75
Paid online through your IRCC account once you are invited to apply, for the 2026 season.
If required
Biometrics — CAD $85
Submitted at a Visa Application Centre within 30 days of receiving your biometric instruction letter.
Working Holiday
Open work permit holder fee — CAD $100
An additional fee that applies when you apply for the Working Holiday open work permit.
Young Professionals & Co-op
Employer compliance fee — CAD $230
Paid by your Canadian employer through the Employer Portal before you submit your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEC questions, answered
Common questions about International Experience Canada categories, eligibility, deadlines and fees.
- Who is eligible for International Experience Canada?
- You generally need to be 18 to 35 years old (18 to 30 in some countries) and a citizen of a country that has a youth mobility agreement with Canada. You also need a valid passport for the length of your stay, health insurance for your entire stay, and enough funds to support your arrival. Each country sets its own rules, so the available categories and age limits vary.
- What is the difference between the three IEC categories?
- Working Holiday gives you an open work permit and does not require a job offer, so you can work for most employers anywhere in Canada. Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship) both give you an employer-specific work permit and require a job offer. Young Professionals is for career-building paid work classified under NOC TEER 0 to 3, while International Co-op is for a work placement or internship that is part of your studies abroad.
- Do I need a job offer to apply?
- Not for Working Holiday, that category is built for people who want to find work after they arrive. You do need a Canadian job offer for both Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship), because those are employer-specific work permits tied to a single employer and location.
- How long can I stay, and can I move toward permanent residence?
- IEC lets eligible youth work and travel in Canada for up to two years, depending on your country's agreement. Many participants later transition to other work permits, an LMIA-supported position, or permanent residence through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. We help you plan your IEC time so it builds toward a longer-term goal in Canada if that is what you want.
- How can Verge Immigration help with my IEC application?
- We are licensed RCIC consultants. We confirm which categories you qualify for, prepare your profile and documents correctly, keep you on track within the tight 10-day and 20-day deadlines, and map how IEC can connect to your longer-term plans in Canada. If you are not eligible for IEC, we assess the work-permit and study alternatives that may fit your situation.
Explore more
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Learn moreLet's talk about your case
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