The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, effective December 11, 2023, the 2024 season of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program is open.
- The program will allow nearly 90,000 young people from IEC partner countries and territories to travel to Canada to participate.
- Those interested in applying can submit a profile now.
IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth aged 18–35 to work and travel in each other’s countries. Canada has established youth mobility partnerships with over 35 countries and territories, and in 2023, signed new arrangements or agreements with Finland, Iceland and Ukraine, and improved existing ones with South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Canada and Finland signed a new youth mobility agreement in March 2023. Youth from Finland are expected to be able to participate once the agreement is ratified by both countries sometime in 2024. Young people will be able to participate in the Canada–Ukraine youth mobility agreement once travel to Ukraine becomes safe.
IEC has 3 participation categories:
- Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
- International Co-op (Internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within their field of study or career path.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.