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Here's the full list of participating countries in the International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit program. To begin with, some helpful notes:

  • The 2024 IEC season opened on December 11, 2023, and rounds of invitations are currently taking place each week. Check if you’re eligible by taking our free Canadian Immigration Quiz.
  • There are between one and three categories available for each country (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-Op), with the exception of France, where a fourth is also available.
  • Open work permits allow the permit-holder to be employed with an eligible employer of their choosing. Employer-specific work permits are tied to the particular employer mentioned during the application process.
  • Medical exams are required if you have lived or travelled in certain countries for six months, in the year before you come to Canada.
  • If you have spent six months or more in a country not featured in this list, you may require a medical exam. See full list of countries here.
  • Regardless of where you’ve lived in the past, you will need IEC-eligible health insurance to participate. (Get a free quote comparison from BestQuote).

If your country of citizenship is not listed, you may be able to participate in the IEC program with the assistance of one of these IEC recognized organizations.  If you are interested in learning more about how Canada’s IEC program compare to other countries. check out our useful comparison of worldwide working holiday options.

 

International Experience Canada participating countries

CountryInternational Experience Canada CategoryAge eligibilityType of work permitMaximum validityParticipation frequency in International Experience CanadaMedical Exam needed?
AndorraWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsOne participationNo
AustraliaWorking Holiday18-35Open24 monthsTwo participations maximum in IEC. A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals; a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. These two participations can be carried out in the order of the applicant's choice.
Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you might be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice.
No
Young Professionals (Graduates)18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
International Co-op18-35Employer-specific24 months (unless it is the applicant's second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months)No
AustriaWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsApplicants are allowed 3 participations in total. No repeat categories are allowed.No
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op18-35Employer-specific Internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism6 monthsMust be a resident of Austria and must be registered as a student in forestry, agriculture or tourism or have graduated in 1 of those fields within the past 12 months.No
BelgiumWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsOne participationNo
ChileWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations – Repeat category is permittedNo
Young Professionals (Supplementary graduate training)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Young worker exchange program)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
Costa RicaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
CroatiaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is permitted.No
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
Czech RepublicWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible)Working Holiday18-35Open12 monthsOne participationNo
EstoniaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op  (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
FinlandWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsOne participationTBA
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 months
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 months
FranceWorking Holiday18-35Open24 monthsMaximum of two participations.
A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals or Young Professionals (VIE); a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. Applicant can choose the order of these two participations.
Exception: French citizens who participated prior to the 2015 quota year are eligible for one final participation in the category of their choosing. An applicant is considered to have participated prior to 2015 if their application(s) was submitted to any quota year prior to the launch of the 2015 quota year which took place on February 21, 2015. Those who have participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible.
No
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
Young Professionals - VIE18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsEnrolment in a training centre in France is acceptable.No
GermanyWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo times. Repeat category is not permitted.No
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
GreeceWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
Hong KongWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsOne participationYes
IcelandWorking Holiday18-30Open24 months12-month participation can be renewed one for a total of two participationsTBA
IrelandWorking Holiday18-35Open24 monthsTo avail of two International Experience Canada participations, one must be under the International Co-op (Internship) category.No
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
ItalyWorking Holiday18-35Open24 months (Total of two permits combined.)Two participations under any categoryNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific24 months (Total of two permits combined.)No
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific24 months (Total of two permits combined.)No
JapanWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsOne participationNo
LatviaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedYes
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
LithuaniaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedYes
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
International Co-op  (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
LuxembourgWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsAwaiting details.No
Young Professionals18-30Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op  (Internship)18-30Employer-specific12 monthsNo
MexicoThe youth mobility agreement between Canada and Mexico is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.No
NetherlandsWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-30Employer-specific12 monthsNo
New ZealandWorking Holiday18-35Open23 monthsOne participation (if you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply)No
NorwayWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
PolandWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
PortugalWorking Holiday18-35Open24 monthsOne participationNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific24 monthsNo
San MarinoWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participationsNo
SlovakiaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
SloveniaWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
South KoreaWorking Holiday18-35Open24 monthsTwo participations.Yes
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific24 monthsYes
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific24 monthsYes
SpainWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsNo
SwedenWorking Holiday18-30Open12 monthsTwo participations. Repeat category is not permittedNo
Young Professionals18-30Employer-specific12 monthsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-30Employer-specific12 monthsNo
SwitzerlandYoung Professionals18-35Employer-specific18 months (Total duration of the two permits combined cannot exceed 18 months)Two participations. Repeat category is permitted if the sum of the two participations is within the 18-month total limit.No
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specificNo
TaiwanWorking Holiday18-35Open12 monthsOne participationYes
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific12 monthsYes
UkraineThe youth mobility agreement between Canada and Ukraine is currently under review. As a result Invitations to Apply for an International Experience Canada permit are not being sent at this time.Yes
United KingdomWorking Holiday18-35Open36 monthsTwo participationsNo
Young Professionals18-35Employer-specific36 monthsTwo participationsNo
International Co-op (Internship)18-35Employer-specific36 monthsTwo participationsNo

Further help with your International Experience Canada work permit application

Please explore our many resources to help you plan your application. Research is crucial as you plan for success in Canada during your International Experience Canada permit.

IEC Health Insurance

Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for IEC — compare prices for IEC health insurance options with a free quote comparison from BestQuote.

Personalized Guidance: Your Moving2Canada Account

Now that you’ve an idea of when to begin the IEC process, make sure to sign up for a free Moving2Canada account. Your account gives you access to tons of resources, including checklists with step-by-step instructions for your IEC application, job matches from Canadian employers looking to hire IEC participants, resume and cover letter templates, and much more!

Once you sign up for free, we’ll show you exactly where and how to create your IEC profile, plus a bunch of other important tasks to help you along the way.

Sign up for a free account here.

FAQ

How do I find out if my country participates in the IEC program?

Can I participate in the IEC if my country is not listed?

What is the maximum validity of an IEC work permit?

How does Canada's IEC program compare to other countries' working holiday options?

Are there any special conditions for French participants in the IEC program?

About the author

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Rebecca Major

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Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Rebecca Major is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (R511564) with nearly 15 years of licenced Canadian Immigration experience, gained after graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in the UK. She specializes in Canadian immigration at Moving2Canada.
Read more about Rebecca Major
Citation "International Experience Canada: Participating Countries List." Moving2Canada. . Copy for Citation