International Experience Canada Opens Applications For 2020 Season – Audio

Colin R. Singer
January 3, 2020

2019-12-10 – The International Experience Canada program has opened its application process for the 2020 season.

Candidates aged 18 to 35 from one of 34 participating countries can apply in one of three categories:

Working Holiday
International Co-Op (Internship)
Young Professionals

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The IEC program is arranged using pools, with each participating country having an allocation of places under each of the three categories.

Some countries allow applications from the same candidate in different pools, others do not.

Applications are open as of December 9, 2019. Candidates who receive and accept an invitation to apply have 20 days to submit a full work permit application.

The type of work permit application depends on the category. More information on each category and the participating countries are given below.

1. Working Holiday

The Working Holiday category is for candidates looking to fund a vacation with temporary work in Canada.

Candidate Profile

You don’t have a job offer.
You want to work for more than one employer.
You want to work in more than one location.
You would like to earn some money so you can travel.

Working Holiday candidates receive an open work permit.

2. International Co-Op (Internship)

The International Co-Op categories are aimed at candidates looking for overseas work experience int heir field of study.

Candidate Profile

You are a student registered at a post-secondary institution.
You have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada.
You need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies.
You will work for the same employer in the same location during your stay.

International Co-Op category candidates receive an employer-specific work permit. Internships must be directly linked to field of study.

Wages must follow the labour laws in a specific province or territory. The law determines if an internship needs to be paid.

3. Young Professionals

The Young Professionals category is for those looking to gain Canadian professional work experience.

Candidate Profile

You have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development.
You will work for the same employer in the same location.

Under this category, work must be paid and not self-employed.

Young Professionals category candidates receive an employer-specific work permit.

Job Requirements

The employer must meet labour laws in the province or territory, including minimum wage.
The job offer must be classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B.
NOC C jobs might be accepted if you can submit a post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree, with your work permit application. Your diploma, certificate or degree must be translated to English or French.

Countries Part of International Experience Canada Program

Australia	Hong Kong	Portugal
Austria	Ireland	San Marino
Belgium	Italy	Slovakia
Chile	Japan	Slovenia
Costa Rica	South Korea	Spain
Croatia	Latvia	Sweden
Czech Republic	Lithuania	Switzerland
Denmark	Mexico	Taiwan
Estonia	Netherlands	Ukraine
France	New Zealand	United Kingdom
Germany	Norway
Greece	Poland

Canada’s immigration department publishes a list of recognized organizations that provide services under the International Experience Canada Program.

The approved organizations provide services for a fee to both Canadians going abroad and foreign nationals coming to Canada.

Services might include help finding a job, somewhere to live, or with travel arrangements.

The organizations are either Canadian with offices overseas, of international with offices in Canada.

Approved Organizations Under International Experience Canada

Employer-specific work permit only

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
Association for the International Exchange of Students in Economics and Commerce (AIESEC)
Academic Internship Council (AIC)
Mennonite Central Committee of Canada / International Volunteer Exchange Program (MCC/IVEP)
Canadian Host Family Association (CHFA) with Communicating for Agriculture Education Programs (CAEP)
International Rural Exchange (IRE)
University of Alberta
University of New Brunswick

Open work permit only