Come to Canada through the International Experience Canada Program

This article will cover: What is the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, The three types of IEC visas, Visas available by country.

This article will cover:

• What is the International Experience Canada (IEC) program
• The three types of IEC visas
• Visas available by country as of August 2013

Work, travel and explore Canada under the “International Experience Canada” program.

Maybe it’s time to pack up and begin to explore the world and all it has to offer. “International Experience Canada” (IEC)   gives you the opportunity to work, travel and gain experience in Canada.

The Canadian department of trade and foreign affairs has an agreement with 30 countries which encourages and enables cultural exchange between these countries. Adults aged 18-35 can travel to a country of their choice for 12-24 months for work, internships and apprenticeships.

Also this is an excellent opportunity for Canadians to travel and visit various countries and gain experience.

Here are countries that participate:

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

Canada issues a specific visa quota to each country every year. The number of visas issued varies from country to country. For example in 2013 Canada made available 14,000 visas for France, whereas Costa Rica was only given a70 visa quota. There are three categories under the IEC:

Working Holiday Visa

This is the most popular and used category. Applicants aged 18-35 are granted a 12-24 month open work permit in the destination country. The conditions of the visa are different for each country. Some nationals will have a 24 month option whereas some countries cap their visas at 12 months. And depending on which country you are from the allotment of visas can go really fast. The visa quotas are issued in January and in some cases are all filled within days!

Young Professionals

The Young Professionals category is designed for post-graduates and apprentices who wish to further their careers by gaining work experience under a pre-arranged contract of employment in Canada.

International Co-op

The International Co-op (Internship) category is designed for students and apprentices who are registered students at a post-secondary institution in Canada and who intend to complete a work placement or internship in Canada.

Some categories are not available to select countries. For more information, visit our working holiday webpage, contact us or visit international.gc.ca.

Visas Available by Country as of August 27^th, 2013

Please note that the number of available visas is constantly changing. For up-to-date numbers, please visit international.gc.ca.

Statistics updated on 13-08-2013 from www.international.gc.ca. Please contact www.international.gc.ca for the latest visa information.