INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA 

International Experience Canada (IEC) refers to an international program for the youth who are allowed to come to Canada for two years for travel and work purposes. The Canadian government intends to build economic, social, and cultural ties between Canada and its peer countries through such a program. This program allows for an open work permit for youth from over 30 countries. 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA PROGRAM- 

The basic features of International Experience Canada are stated as under. 

• The International Experience Canada program allows youth from over 30 different countries to come to Canada for work and travel purposes for 2 years. 
• It gives an open work permit to such youth to let them work in Canada under an employer of their choice. 
• This program is an attempt by the Canadian government to build better economic, social, and cultural ties between Canada and its peer countries. 
• The labour laws of Canada protect participants of the International Experience Canada. 
• These labour laws ensure that the employer pays you minimum wage and ensures safe working conditions. Moreover, he cannot keep your permit and passport on will. 

THREE KINDS OF WORK AND TRAVEL EXPERIENCES- 

For any candidate applying for the International Experience Canada, three broad kinds of work and travel experiences are available. Each of them is listed below- 

• Working holiday 
•  Young professionals 
• International co-op (internship) 

Each of these experiences is discussed in detail below- 

WORKING HOLIDAY- 

• You may apply for this category if you meet the following conditions-

1. You do not have any job offer
2. You work for only one employer in Canada
3. You wish to work in more than one location
4. You would want to earn money so that you can travel

• This category allows you an open work permit, by the terms you may choose to work under any employer. 
• However, depending on the occupation, you may have to sit for a medical examination. 

2. Young professionals- 

• You may apply for this category if you meet the following conditions-

1. You have been given a job offer from a Canadian employer that aids in your professional growth 
2. You will work in the same location, under the same employer in Canada 
3. You are a paid employee and not self-employed 

• This category entitles you to an employer-specific permit indicating the employer’s name, duration of work, and location. 
• Your employer must abide by all labour laws that apply to your place of work, including minimum wage requirements. 

3. International co-op internship- 

• You may apply under this category if you meet the following conditions- 

1. You were registered as a student in a post-secondary institution 
2. You either have a job offer or an internship opportunity in Canada 
3. You will be working for the same employee in the same location 

• The type of permit that you get under this category is an employee-specific permit. 
• Your internship in Canada must be directly linked to your field of study. 
• Both wages and labour conditions must be according to the respective labour laws of the specific province/territory that you work in. 
• The labour code of the province shall determine whether your internship classifies as a paid or an unpaid one. 

LMIA EXEMPTIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA- 

The Labour Market Impact Assessment translates into a labour market test that confirms that hiring any foreign worker does not adversely impact the overall Canadian labour market. 

Work permits issued by the International Experience Canada (IEC) are typically exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment applications. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA- 

Following are the eligibility criteria that one must meet to be able to apply for the International Experience Canada- 

• Be a passport holder or permanent resident of any country with a Bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. 
• Own a valid passport for your stay in Canada, as the validity of the issued work permit shall not last as long as that of the passport. 
• It would be best if you were 18-35 when applying for the International Experience Canada program. The upper age limit, however, varies according to different countries. 
• You must be admissible to Canada.
• Any dependents must not be accompanied by any dependents. 
• Have enough financial resources to finance a departure ticket for the end of your authorized stay in Canada. 
• You must be able to carry out your health insurance throughout your stay in Canada. 
• Have the equivalent of $2500 CAN to finance all direct expenses. 
• Pay the required amount of fees. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA? 

You may apply for a work permit under the provisions of International Experience Canada only when you have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Upon receiving the ITA, you will have only 20 days to apply for the International Experience Canada. 

Following are the steps to be followed while filling up the application form-

• Be aware of the date and time of your application. 
• Fill up the form available online, and click ‘validate’ after the end of each form.
• Arrange and upload all necessary documents on the ‘Document Checklist’ page. 
• Pay the required amount of fee. For the year 2023, the required fee is CAN$ 161. The fees, however, are different for every category-

1. Working holiday participants must pay an open work permit holder fee of CAN$100.
2. For young professionals and International co-op internships, the employers must pay a compliance fee of CAN$230 and submit the offer of employment to IRCC.

• Submit the duly filled application. 
• Provide biometrics if prompted. 

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLYING FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA- 

Following are all the important documents that you would need while filling up the application form for International Experience Canada- 

• Police certificates 
• CV/Resume
• Medical exams 
• Passport
• Digital photographs 
• Family information 
• Electronic Travel Authorization/ Visitor Visa Application 
• Proof of residency 
• International Co-op (Internship)- (proof of school registration, internship agreement, and letter from an educational institution)
• Young professionals – these applicants must submit proof of their education for jobs in the TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) category 4, according to the National Occupation Classification (NOC). 

If your job offer falls in the TEER category 4, you must carry the-

1. Diploma
2. Certificate 
3. Degree

You must upload them on the ‘Optional Documents’ at your account’s bottom of the ‘Document Checklist’ page. 

• Applicants using recognized institutions (recognized institution acceptance letter). 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BEFORE YOU ENTER CANADA- 

Documents required by the applicants applying for the International Experience Canada fall under the following two heads-

• Proof of financial support (bank account statement)
• Health Insurance (insurance must cover medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation)

WHY ALWAYS CONSIDER BASICS OF IMMIGRATION?

1. Expert Visa counselors provide Step-by-step guidance through a secure, online process.  
2. Apt evaluation of credentials and faster visa processing. 
3. Identifying all potential hazards and roadblocks in securing a visa. 
4. Assistance with documentation, immigration rules, citizenship, and border control procedures.
5. Multiple case assessment for better conflict resolution.
6. Designated process managers to provide personalized guidance.

Just like the basics of anything act as “building blocks” forming a strong foundation for constructing complex structures. The Basics of Immigration serve as the foundational elements of moving abroad, for any aspiring immigrant.