Young foreigners can work in Canada under the IEC program

Some countries such as Chile and Costa Rica can take advantage of the IEC program to live and work in the country for a period of up to two years, including applying for permanent residency. 

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Today we will talk about this cultural exchange and work experience program, the guide to successfully apply and the new work permit policy for some beneficiaries. 

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Read with me to the end and take advantage of the opportunities to come to Canada this 2025. Let's get started!

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What is International Experience Canada?

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International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that provides international youth with the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35 are also eligible to participate in IEC. 

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If you are a citizen of a partner country, you may be able to apply for one or more of these 3 categories:

1. Working vacations
2. Young professionals
3. International Cooperative (internship)

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Who is eligible for the International Experience Canada?

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This program is aimed at international youth who meet the following eligibility criteria:

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• They are between 18 and 35 years old (in some countries, the limit is 30 years).
• Are citizens of a country that has a youth mobility agreement with Canada or is supported by a recognized organization (RO). recognized organization (RO). For example, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, among other European countries.
• They have not participated in the program more times than allowed by their country of origin.
• Meet the specific requirements of the category to which they wish to apply (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op).

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The new 2025 work permit policy 

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This new policy is for IEC beneficiaries already in Canada, who can now renew their work permits without having to leave the country, as long as they meet specific criteria such as:

• The beneficiary was within Canada with a valid IEC work permit at the time of application for other participation.
• You currently have a valid Letter of Introduction (LOI) from the IEC port of entry (POE) (you must apply for your new work permit before your existing LOI expires).
• You have valid and current status in Canada when you apply for the mailing of the IEC work permit.

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Attention because this new policy will be in effect until December 1, 2025! Visit the official site to Extend your participation or change your work permit.

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Step-by-step guide to applying to the IEC

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Once the eligibility requirements have been verified, the international youth must follow these steps:

1. Create a profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) portal.
2. Answer key questions that will define whether you are eligible for a group in one or more of the following IEC categories:

• International cooperative (internship)
• Working vacations
• Young professionals

3. Automatically enter the candidate pool and wait for the selection process.
4. If selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
5. Once the ITA is received, you can take a maximum of 10 days to consider whether to accept it or not.
6. If you decide to accept the ITA, process your work permit application within 20 days and provide the necessary documents, as well as information about your background and the type of work you intend to do in Canada.

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Recommendations for applying for permanent residency

Before you experience working in Canada, it is important to anticipate what may happen during your stay. You may like Canadian life and want to stay with permanent residency. 

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In this case, the key is to occupy professional jobs, for example, as managers, lawyers, computer technicians, in short, working in the specific area of your academic profession, if you already have one. 

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This type of work is within the TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) 0, 1, 2, and 3 qualification, so the work experience gained during your stay may qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through the Express Entry system, which selects the best profiles to work in Canada while offering them the opportunity to transition to permanent resident status. 

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Do you have doubts about which IEC category to choose? Don't worry, our team of regulated consultants can assist you in this process. If you would like a consultation on how to successfully apply for IEC, click here.

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I hope you can make the most of this program and live the experience of living and working in a first world country like Canada!

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Success with your trip! See you in the next blog!

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With love,

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Immiland Canada