The 2023 IEC season is open and accepting applications.
Here’s the full list of participating countries in the International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit program. To begin with, some helpful notes:
- 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.
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.
New for IEC: Moving2Canada GO
The best, quickest, and most affordable way to prepare for the new IEC season is to create your Moving2Canada GO account. This way, you’ll receive a personalised progress checklist, relevant resources, and regular reminders of your most important tasks.
International Experience Canada participating countries
Country | International Experience Canada Category | Age eligibility | Type of work permit | Maximum validity | Participation frequency in International Experience Canada | Medical Exam needed? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andorra | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
Australia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Two 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) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
International Co-op | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (unless it is the applicant's second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months) | No | ||
Austria | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Applicants are allowed 3 participations in total. No repeat categories are allowed. | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op | 18-35 | Employer-specific Internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism | 6 months | Must 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 | |
Belgium | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
Chile | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations – Repeat category is permitted | No |
Young Professionals (Supplementary graduate training) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Young worker exchange program) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Costa Rica | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Croatia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is permitted. | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Czech Republic | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible) | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
Estonia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
France | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Maximum 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 Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
Young Professionals - VIE | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Enrolment in a training centre in France is acceptable. | No | |
Germany | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two times. Repeat category is not permitted. | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Greece | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Hong Kong | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | Yes |
Ireland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | To avail of two International Experience Canada participations, one must be under the International Co-op (Internship) category. | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Italy | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 6 months | In future seasons, Italians will be eligible for all three IEC programs and for work permits of 12 months' duration | No |
Japan | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
Latvia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | Yes |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
Lithuania | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | Yes |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
Luxembourg | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Awaiting details. | No |
Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Mexico | The 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 | ||||
Netherlands | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
New Zealand | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 23 months | One participation (if you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply) | No |
Norway | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Poland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Portugal | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | One participation | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
San Marino | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations | No |
Slovakia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Slovenia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
South Korea | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | Yes |
Spain | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Sweden | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
Switzerland | Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 18 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) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | No | |||
Taiwan | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | Yes |
Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
Ukraine | The 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 Kingdom | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 24 months | One participation | No |