February 24 2015 – The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is officially open for 2015. IEC is the result of reciprocal agreements with 32 countries that provide an opportunity for young foreign nationals to work and travel in Canada. As part of these agreements, Canadian youth are provided an opportunity to work and travel abroad.
Information for Program Participants
There are three IEC categories:
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-Op Internships
Applicants for all three IEC programs are required to pay a $150 program participation fee. Working Holiday applicants must pay an additional fee of $100 to obtain an open work permit. Open work permits allow a foreign national to work for any employer in Canada.
Each country and category is subject to certain financial requirements, age requirements as well as quotas. For country-specific program information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada IEC website. Please be advised that while IEC officially opens on February 24, 2015, some country and category quotas may not yet be open for 2015. Please check back regularly.
Information for Employers
The IEC program can provide a valuable experience for both young foreign nationals as well as employers. Employers are permitted to actively recruit candidates for all three IEC programs without a requirement to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Employers should be advised that because foreign nationals in the Young Professional and International Co-Op Internship categories receive employer-specific work permits, they are subject to the new $230 employer compliance fee. This fee must be remitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada before young foreign nationals can apply for their work permit.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
