The start of accepting the Canadian IEC work visa from February 2023

How does the IEC program work?

Nationals of partner countries with bilateral youth exchange agreements with Canada who are between the ages of 18 and 35 (depending on the applicant’s nationality) may be eligible for an IEC work visa. Applicants can apply in one of these three main categories:

The Working Holiday stream:

The program can grant an Open Work Permit (OWP) for up to two years, allowing holders to work in most industries and for any business in Canada.

The Young Professionals stream:

This immigration program offers employer-specific work visas to those who have a job offer and want to work for a company in Canada.

The International Co-op Internship stream of Canada

This Canadian immigration program allows individuals from member countries to intern at a specific Canadian company while enrolled in a post-secondary skills training program in their home country.

Read more: Zero to hundred Canadian work visas

The program operates on an “expression of interest/invitation to apply” approach, where interested applicants can submit candidate specifications to the IEC pool. If selected, these individuals will be invited to apply for a Canadian work visa.

If the application is granted, the applicant will be issued a work visa under his chosen stream and can enter and work in Canada during his authorized stay.

Read more: Express Entry Canada, the fastest way to immigrate to this country

Canadian IEC Qualified Persons

Candidates who wish to apply for IEC must:

1. Be a citizen or passport holder of one of the 36 partner countries with which Canada has a youth exchange agreement.
2. Have a passport that is valid for the duration of their stay in Canada.
3. At the time of application, the candidate must be between the ages of 18-29, 18-30, or 18-35 (depending on nationality inclusive).
4. When they arrive in Canada, they must have the equivalent of 2,500 Canadian dollars.
5. They must be able to get health insurance for the duration of their stay.
6. be eligible to enter Canada;
7. Have a return ticket or the financial ability to obtain a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada (before departure).
8. Dependent people (like family or spouse) may not accompany you.
9. Pay the relevant fees.

Read more: Expert immigration to Canada

The increase in IEC program capacity comes as Canada hopes to welcome more economic immigrants than ever before, with more than 800,000 economic migrants arriving in the country over the next three years. Young people who gain work experience in Canada through IEC may be eligible to immigrate to Canada in the future.

Useful links:

Immigration lawyer to Canada