IEC participations now only count if you arrive in Canada

IEC candidates only get a certain number of participations, depending on their country. Now, a participation only counts if you arrive in Canada and receive your work permit.

In the past, getting a port of entry (POE) letter of introduction counted as a participation. However, Canada changed the definition of a participation to help people who could not come to Canada before their POE letter expired.

If you applied before January 9, 2023 and have not used all your participations (i.e. activated your IEC work permit in Canada) you can create a new profile if you are still eligible.

Basically, if you had your POE letter and you were unable to come to Canada during the pandemic (or earlier) you may be able to apply for IEC again. In order to apply again, you must still meet the eligibility requirements of your country, and have not already used your participation by coming to Canada and receiving your work permit.

Citizens of countries are able to participate more than once, but not all. Refer to the table below to see the rules for your country.

How to work in Canada in 2023

International Experience Canada (IEC) opened for the year on January 9. International youth between the ages of 18-35 (depending on your country) can now submit their profiles to the IEC pool of candidates for a chance to work in Canada.

There are three IEC programs:

1. Working Holiday: participants get an open work permit to work anywhere in Canada, no job offer required.
2. International Co-op (Internship): student participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows them to gain targeted experience in their field of study. This program requires a valid job offer.
3. Young Professionals: participants get an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience in their field of study or career path. A valid job offer is required.

There are 36 participating IEC countries.

If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for the 2023 IEC season, check out Moving2Canada’s comprehensive IEC guide.

Want to be the first to find out about the latest Canadian immigration news? Create a free Moving2Canada account and sign up for our newsletter!