For many young people, International Experience Canada is the first real taste of life here: a ski season in the Rockies, a first job in Toronto, an internship that finishes a degree back home. It is also one of the few ways to come and work without a job offer. The program is built on agreements between Canada and partner countries, so what you can do depends a lot on your passport. This guide walks you through it in plain terms.
The three ways to take part
| Working Holiday | Young Professionals | International Co-op | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kind of permit | Open: work for almost any employer | Tied to one employer | Tied to one employer |
| Job offer needed? | No | Yes, paid work in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job (TEER 4 if it is in your field of study) | Yes, an internship you need to complete your studies |
| Who it suits | People who want to work and travel | Young professionals building career experience | Students enrolled at a post-secondary institution outside Canada |
| Employer fee | None | $230 employer compliance fee, paid by the employer | $230 employer compliance fee, paid by the employer |
Who can apply
- Citizens of one of the 36 countries and territories that have an IEC agreement with Canada.
- Aged 18 to 35, or 18 to 30 for some countries, such as Belgium, Japan and Hong Kong.
- With at least CAN$2,500 to cover your first costs, and health insurance for your whole stay. If your insurance is shorter, your permit is cut to match it.
- You cannot take part with a refugee travel document.
How long your permit lasts, and how many times you can take part, depends on your country’s agreement. A few examples for the Working Holiday category:
| Country | Permit length |
|---|---|
| Australia, France, Ireland | 24 months |
| New Zealand | 23 months |
| Germany, Japan | 12 months |
| United Kingdom | 24 months the first time, 12 months the second |
How a season works, step by step
- 01
Create your profile
There is one pool per country and per category, and you can enter more than one. Submit your profile within 60 days of starting it.
- 02
Wait in the pool
IRCC sends invitations in rounds through the season, to Co-op first, then Young Professionals, then Working Holiday.
- 03
Accept within 10 days
If you are invited, you have 10 days to accept. Saying no keeps you in the pool, with no penalty.
- 04
Apply within 20 days
From the moment you accept, you have 20 days to apply online for your work permit. Deadlines are in UTC, so check the time in your own zone.
- 05
Give biometrics and wait
Give your biometrics within 30 days of being asked. Processing may take up to 56 days, and approval gives you a letter you show at the border.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| IEC participation fee | CAN$184.75 |
| Open work permit holder fee (Working Holiday only) | CAN$100 |
| Biometrics | CAN$85 |
| Employer compliance fee (Young Professionals and Co-op, paid by the employer) | CAN$230 |
The participation fee, the open work permit holder fee and the compliance fee are refunded if you withdraw before your border letter is issued.
Recognized organizations
IRCC lists 7 recognized organizations that help young people take part in IEC. Most charge a fee for their services, and taking part through one can give you up to 2 more participations in your lifetime. Use only the organizations on IRCC’s own list.
Between seasons: how to get ready
- Check your country’s age limit, permit length and how many times you can take part, on IRCC’s eligibility by country page.
- Make sure your passport will stay valid for your whole stay.
- Start saving the CAN$2,500 you will need to show, and look at health insurance that covers your full stay.
- For Young Professionals or Co-op, start talking to employers or your school now, since you need the job or internship lined up.
- Keep your IRCC account and GCKey: they stay valid between seasons.
After IEC
IEC is temporary, but skilled work you do in Canada can later count toward permanent residence, for example through the Canadian Experience Class. If staying longer is your dream, keep good records of your jobs, hours and duties from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer for a Working Holiday?
No. Working Holiday gives you an open work permit, so you can arrive and look for work, and change employers as you go. Young Professionals and International Co-op do need a job or internship first.
Can I enter more than one pool?
Yes. There is one pool per country and per category, and you can be in several at once if you meet each one’s rules. You can still only get one IEC permit per season.
When does the 2027 season open?
IRCC has not published the dates yet. The best thing you can do is have your documents ready early and check IRCC’s IEC page regularly, so you can create your profile as soon as the pools open.
Is my country in IEC?
IEC has agreements with 36 countries and territories. IRCC’s eligibility by country page lists each one, with its age limit, categories and permit length.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
IRCC’s current estimate for an application submitted today. It is a guide to plan around, not a promise about your own file. Details
Key takeaways
- IEC is for citizens of 36 partner countries and territories, aged 18 to 35 (18 to 30 in some).
- You enter a pool and wait for an invitation; then you have 10 days to accept and 20 days to apply.
- The 2026 season is closed. Dates for 2027 have not been published yet.
- IRCC: International Experience Canada (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: About IEC and its categories (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: IEC eligibility by country (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Become an IEC candidate (pools and invitations) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: IEC recognized organizations (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Fee list (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 7, 2026