Early career workers from these countries can receive LMIA exempt work permits
Under the International Experience Canada (IEC), young people from countries with bilateral youth mobility agreements (BYMAs) can obtain one to two-year work permits.
IEC work permits are exempt from labor market effects (LMIAs), making them faster and easier to obtain than permits under the temporary foreign employee program (TFWP).
To be eligible for the IEC program, citizens of participating countries must be 18 years old–30 or 18–35Depending on their country of citizenship.
In some cases you can participate in the IEC program more than once.
This article will cover
- For which nationalities can be eligible IC work permits and eligible considerations;
- What the IEC program is and the available categories; And
- How you can register with the program.
Eligible nationalities
The table below outlines the maximum eligible age for youth participants per country, as well as the number of times that someone can participate in the IEC program.
| Land | Top age | Number of times you can participate* |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | 30 | 1 |
| Australia | 35 | 3 |
| Austria | 35 | 3 |
| Belgium | 30 | 1 |
| Chile | 35 | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 35 | 2 |
| Croatia | 35 | 2 |
| Czech Republic | 35 | 2 |
| Denmark | 35 | 1 |
| Estonia | 35 | 2 |
| Finland | 35 | 3 |
| France | 35 | 3 |
| Germany | 35 | 2 |
| Greece | 35 | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 30 | 1 |
| Iceland | 30 | 2 |
| Ireland | 35 | 3 |
| Italy | 35 | 2 |
| Japan | 30 | 2 |
| Korea, Rep. | 35 | 2 |
| Latvia | 35 | 2 |
| Lithuania | 35 | 2 |
| Luxembourg | 35 | 1 |
| The Netherlands | 30 | 2 |
| New -Zeeland | 35 | 1 |
| Norway | 35 | 2 |
| Poland | 35 | 2 |
| Portugal | 35 | 1 |
| San Marino | 35 | 2 |
| Slovakia | 35 | 2 |
| Slovenia | 35 | 2 |
| Spain | 35 | 2 |
| Sweden | 30 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 35 | 2 |
| Taiwan | 35 | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 35 | 2 |
Foreign Nationals must be at least 18 years old to be eligible, regardless of the country or the category.
*Each country will have unique considerations and provisions with regard to the number of times you can participate in the IEC program, including but not limited to only once per category.
You can check whether there are any restrictions for your country and the available categories by visiting IRCC’s “WHO can job” webpage.
Appropriate
To be eligible under the IEC program, you must
- Being a citizen of a country or inhabitant of a territory with a youth mobility agreement between your country and Canada;
- Be at least 18 years old, and a maximum of 30 or 35, depending on your country of citizenship;
- Have a private health insurance policy for the full duration of your stay;
- Have a passport that remains valid for the full duration of your stay;
- Have at least $ 2,500 in available funds to maintain yourself during your first three months; And
- Have a return ticket or the financial resources to buy a departure card to leave Canada at the end of your stay.
In all cases you must be permissible (that is, not Not inadmissible) To Canada to gain access and start working under the IEC program.
In limited cases, young people from non-partner countries can participate in the IEC program with the help of certain Canada established Recognized organizations (Ros).
About the international experience Canada
The International experience Canada (IEC) Program enables young aliens to obtain Work permits Among three specific streams or categories.
These permits are made available by mutual international agreements that promote youth mobility, so that participants from selected countries can temporarily live and Work in CanadaWhile the Canadian youth offers equivalent opportunities abroad.
If you are a citizen of a country with a youth mobility agreement with Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a Canadian work permit via one or more Of the following international experience Canada (IEC) Categories:
| Closed or open work permit? | Job offer required? | How competitive? | Additional requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working holiday | Open | No | Very competitive | N / a. |
| Young professionals* | Closed | Yes | Not very competitive | -Job -offer must fall under tar 0, 1, 2 or 3, or tar 4 that is related to your study area.
-Op can be self -employed. |
| International Co-Op (Stage)* | Closed | Yes | The least competitive | -Must are currently registered with a post-secundary institution.
-Job -offer can be for an internship or internship and is required to complete your studies. -Internship must be directly linked to your field. -Whether an internship must be paid depends on the labor code of a province or territory. |
*Employment obtained must comply with local labor laws, including minimum wage rules, in the province or territory From work.
The Working Holiday category, in most countries, works in a lottery system because there is more demand than supply for IEC OWPs.
So if you have a job offer, you will give a much higher chance of success among the Young Professionals category instead. LMIA exempt IEC work permit.
How to register the IEC
To be eligible for an IEC work permit, you must complete and submit a candidate -profile, which is then entered in one or more IEC candidate -Pools.
Based on the information in your profile, IRCC will tell you which pools are available to you.
Once in the candidate pool (s) you can be selected for an invitation to apply (ITA) for a work permit in the next round of IEC invitations.
To get an idea of your chances of receiving an ITA in the next round of invitations, you can check the official IRCC “rounds of invitations” webpage.
You have 10 days to accept the ITA – and if you accept it, 20 days to apply for a work permit.
To apply for an IEC work permit, you must do the following:
- Fill in the online form in your IRCC Secure account.
- Enter the necessary documentation that is detailed in your personalized document checklist generated for you by IRCC.
- Pay the necessary reimbursements:
- All participants have to pay $ 179.75.
- Participants in the work holiday must pay an extra $ 100 OWP holder.
- Young professionals and international cooperative (internship) participants must ensure that their employer pays the required $ 230 employer-leveling costs.
- Possibly you should also have a biometric Costs ($ 85).
- Submit your full request.
IRCC wants to process IEC Work Permit applications within six weeks before the 2025 season.
If your application for work permit has been approved, IRCC will send you a PoE or Entry (POE) letter to your online account.
Family members cannot be added to your application under the IEC program. If they want to join you in Canada, they must apply for their own IEC or non-OC work permit, a permitor one visitor visa.
