To be eligible for the category, you must:
Note: The cost of living varies depending on where you decide to settle in Canada. Prepare financially by finding out how much it costs to live in the city and province or territory where you plan to stay.
International Experience Canada: Who can apply
Biometrics and the application process
We refer to your fingerprints and photo as biometrics. We collect biometrics for most applications. Find out what happens from when you submit your application to when you get to Canada and where biometrics fits in the process.
1. Apply for your visitor visa, study permit or work permit
If you want to visit, study or work in Canada, make sure you’re eligible to apply. Use our application guides to help fill out your application properly, then submit your application.
Avoid processing delays by sending us a complete application.
2. Get your fingerprints and photo taken
If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you probably need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics).You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years to make repeat trips to Canada easier.
- Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give biometrics.
- You have 30 days to do this from the date on the letter.
- Find out where to give your biometrics.
3. We process your application
After we get your biometrics, we start processing your application. See how long it takes to process your application.
If we need more information from you, we’ll contact you.
4. We make a decision on your application
When we finish reviewing your application, we let you know if you’re approved to come to Canada. If you are, we issue your documents.
If your application is refused, we send you a letter that tells you why.
5. You travel to Canada (if you’re approved)
Make sure you travel with the documents we gave you. This includes travel documents like a visitor visa, study or work permits or an eTA (electronically linked to your passport).
Airline staff and border service officers at ports of entry will ask to see your travel documents. If you don’t have them, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada.
Make sure children under 18 travel with the right documents.
6. We check your identity when you arrive in Canada
When you arrive, we check your identity to make sure that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada. We may use your biometrics to do this.
If we can’t verify your identity, you may be detained by a border services officer. These officers help protect the health and safety of Canadians.
If the officer determines that you’re not admissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter Canada. If you came by air, you’ll have to take a return flight to where you came from.
7. You’re allowed to enter Canada
If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer stamps your passport and lets you know how long you can stay in Canada. You’re normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months.
Children under 18 must meet the same entry requirements as adults. The border services officer may ask minor children to show other documents depending on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone.
IEC participants: Requirements for travel to Canada
Only IEC participants with a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction and a valid job offer are eligible to travel to Canada right now. You must also be able to start your job as soon as you complete your quarantine. Check the start date on your job offer before you travel.
To learn more about restrictions for travel to Canada and additional testing and quarantine requirements use the Flying to Canada requirements checklist.
Eligibility
To participate
- 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.
Some countries only allow you to participate once. Others allow you to participate twice, but in different pools. Because each country is different, it’s important that you check to see if you’re eligible to apply.
Even if you’re issued an invitation to apply (ITA), you can’t participate more times than your country allows. Make sure you read and understand all the requirements before you submit an application.
Even if you hold a refugee travel document issued by a country that has a youth mobility agreement with Canada, you’re not eligible to participate.
Dependants
Your dependants aren’t eligible to accompany you to Canada under the IEC program. However, they may apply to visit, study or work in Canada. Your application will be examined separately from theirs.
Find out more about how dependants can come to Canada.
Travel and work experiences
Depending on which country you’re from, you can choose from up to 1, 2 or 3 pools of travel and work experiences.
Working Holiday
Due to current travel restrictions, Working Holiday candidates will have to provide proof of a valid job offer to receive an invitation to apply for the 2021 season.
Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada.
Normally, this category is for you if
- you don’t have a job offer (due to current travel restrictions, a valid job offer is required)
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.
An open work permit lets you work at most jobs in Canada. However, there are some jobs where you’ll have to get a medical exam first.
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.
Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory you plan to work including meeting minimum wage requirements.
The job you are offered in Canada must be classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered as contributing to your “professional development.” A NOC C job might be accepted if you can submit a post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree, with your work permit application. Your diploma, certificate or degree must be translated to English or French.
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.
Wages must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.
Employment and labour law standards apply to all foreign nationals in Canada. It is up to the IEC candidates and their Canadian employer to inquire, for their particular case, with the relevant provincial or territorial departments regarding labour standards.
Where are you from?
Due to current travel restrictions, Working Holiday candidates will have to provide proof of a valid job offer to receive an invitation to apply for the 2021 season.
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