If you’re between 18 and 35 years old (18 to 30 for some countries) and hold citizenship in one of Canada’s IEC partner countries, International Experience Canada (IEC) is likely your easiest path to working a seasonal job in Canada’s hospitality, tourism, or outdoor recreation industries. This article covers how the program works and how to get started.
Overview of the IEC Program
IEC is a reciprocal youth mobility program between Canada and 36 partner countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and most of the European Union. Unlike the US J-1 or H-2B programs, IEC applicants generally do not need to work through a sponsorship organization or have a job offer lined up before applying — most candidates apply directly through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
IEC has three categories:
Working Holiday – An open work permit that lets you work for almost any employer, in almost any job, and in more than one province if you’d like. No job offer is required to apply, and you can change employers freely once you’re in Canada. This is the category most seasonal hospitality and tourism workers use, and it’s the closest equivalent to the US J-1 Summer Work Travel program.
Young Professionals – An employer-specific work permit for applicants who already have a job offer related to their career field.
International Co-op (Internship) – An employer-specific work permit for post-secondary students completing an internship or work placement required by their program of study.
Not every partner country offers all three categories, and age limits, permit length (typically 12 to 24 months), and the number of times you can participate over your lifetime all vary by country agreement. Check your country’s specific IEC eligibility on the official IRCC website before you start.
How to Get Started
Applicants create a profile through their IRCC secure account and enter the pool for their country and category. IRCC periodically issues “invitations to apply” from each pool — country quotas are limited, so applying as early in the season as possible improves your odds. Once invited, you’ll submit your full work permit application, pay the required fees, and provide biometrics.
Recognized Organizations (Optional)
You are not required to use a Recognized Organization (RO) to apply for IEC — but some applicants choose to for extra support with things like job placement, banking, and housing, or because their country’s pool has filled for the season. A few ROs to know about:
A-Way to Work / International Rural Exchange Canada – specializes in hospitality, culinary, and tourism placements
Stepwest – specializes in ski resort and outdoor industry placements
See the full, current list of Recognized Organizations on the IRCC website.
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