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International Experience Canada (IEC)

International Experience Canada gives eligible youth from partner countries and territories opportunities to work and travel in Canada. The 2026 IEC season is open, with Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op categories depending on citizenship and country-specific rules.

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Current status

2026 IEC season

The 2026 IEC season is open. Eligible applicants can create profiles in the pools available for their country or territory and category. Quotas, invitation rounds and chances of receiving an invitation differ by country and time.

Overview

What is International Experience Canada?

IEC is a youth mobility program based largely on reciprocal arrangements between Canada and participating countries or territories. Eligibility is country-specific, including age limits, available categories and number of participations.

Categories

Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op

Working Holiday

Provides an open work permit and generally does not require a job offer before applying.

Young Professionals

Requires an eligible Canadian job offer that contributes to professional development and leads to an employer-specific permit.

International Co-op

For eligible students who need a work placement or internship linked to their field of study.

Key requirements

Country rules, insurance and funds

Your country or territory must have a youth mobility arrangement with Canada or you must use an eligible recognized-organization route. Country-specific rules can include age, passport validity, participation limits and categories. Participants must also meet financial, health-insurance and admissibility requirements.

Application process

How the IEC process works

  1. Check country and category eligibility.
  2. Create an IEC profile and join the pool.
  3. Wait for an invitation to apply.
  4. Accept the invitation within the deadline.
  5. Submit the work permit application.
  6. For Young Professionals or Co-op, the employer completes the Employer Portal step.
Documents

Documents commonly needed for IEC

  • passport;
  • CV/résumé;
  • police certificates where required;
  • medical exam where required;
  • job offer and Employer Portal number for employer-specific categories;
  • proof of student status for Co-op where required;
  • proof of funds and health insurance.
Common issues

Common IEC application problems

  • assuming an IEC profile is already a work permit application;
  • missing an invitation or application deadline;
  • passport validity shortening the permit;
  • insufficient health-insurance coverage; and
  • country-specific participation limits overlooked.
Professional support

How Argus can help with IEC

Argus can review your country-specific eligibility and category, help identify the correct route, review the profile and invitation-stage documents and prepare or review the work permit application.

FAQs

International Experience Canada FAQs

Is the 2026 IEC season open?

Yes.

Does creating a profile mean I applied for a work permit?

No.

Do I need a job offer for Working Holiday?

No, Working Holiday generally leads to an open work permit.

Do Young Professionals applicants need an employer?

Yes.

Official information

Current government sources

Immigration rules can change. These pages were reviewed against current official sources on September 23, 2026:

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Every application depends on the individual facts and the rules in force when you apply. A consultation can help identify the requirements, documents and issues most relevant to your situation.