As of January 9, 2023, if your International Experience Canada (IEC) application was approved but you didn’t go to Canada it does not count as a participation, according to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s website.
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.
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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:
- Working Holiday: participants get an open work permit to work anywhere in Canada, no job offer required.
- 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.
- 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.
| 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 | ||
| Finland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | TBA |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | |||
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | |||
| 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 |
| Iceland | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 24 months | 12-month participation can be renewed one for a total of two participations | TBA |
| 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 | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | No | |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | 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 | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Two participations. | Yes |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | Yes | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | 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 |
If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for the 2023 IEC season, check out Moving2Canada’s comprehensive IEC guide.
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