IEC is currently closed and the opening date for the 2021 IEC season has not been announced. For the latest news about IEC and the continued impacts of COVID-19, please refer to our Working Holiday Newshub.
One of the International Experience Canada (IEC) categories of work permits is known as ‘International Co-Op’. It allows young people from certain countries (listed below) to live and work in Canada. The maximum validity of the permit is 12 months, with some exceptions for participants from Australia, Portugal and Switzerland.
It is designed for students who wish to obtain work experience in Canada related to their field of study.
IEC International Co-Op candidates will need to have a valid job offer in Canada prior to their arrival, and participants will need to work for the same employer, in the same location, during their stay in Canada.
The IEC International Co-Op work permit offers a number of advantages compared to the IEC Working Holiday Visa in Canada.
- Demand for these permits in many countries does not usually exceed supply, meaning eligible candidates enjoy a high chance of obtaining one.
- In some countries, a second participation in IEC is allowed, so long as it’s in the Young Professionals or International Co-Op category. This means former IEC Working Holiday participants can avail of additional time in Canada.
Who can apply?
Citizens of the countries below can create a profile to be considered for an IEC International Co-Op work permit. Age eligibility and maximum validity varies from country to country.
Country | Age eligibility | Maximum validity |
---|---|---|
Australia | 18-30 | 24 months (unless it is the applicant's second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months) |
Austria | 18–35 | 6 months |
Chile | 18-35 | 12 months |
Costa Rica | 18–35 | 12 months |
Croatia | 18-35 | 12 months |
Czech Republic | 18-35 | 12 months |
Estonia | 18-35 | 12 months |
France | 18-35 | 12 months |
Germany | 18-35 | 12 months |
Greece | 18-35 | 12 months |
Ireland | 18-35 | 12 months |
Latvia | 18-35 | 12 months |
Lithuania | 18-35 | 12 months |
Luxembourg | 18-30 | 12 months |
Norway | 18-35 | 12 months |
Poland | 18-35 | 12 months |
Portugal | 18-35 | 24 months |
Slovakia | 18-35 | 12 months |
Slovenia | 18-35 | 12 months |
Spain | 18-35 | 12 months |
Sweden | 18-30 | 12 months |
Switzerland | 18-35 | 18 months (Total of up to two IEC participations) |
Taiwan | 18-35 | 12 months |
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