Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially opened the 2024 International Experience Canada (IEC) pool, offering young people from over 30 partner countries the chance to live and work in Canada. This year, the program will welcome up to 90,000 participants looking to gain valuable Canadian work experience through one of the government’s most youth-friendly immigration initiatives.
The IEC program targets youth aged 18 to 35 (age limits vary by nationality), who are citizens of countries that have a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. Eligible individuals can now submit a profile to enter the IEC pool. Once accepted into the pool, candidates may be invited to apply for a work permit, bringing them one step closer to working and residing in Canada temporarily.
The IEC operates under a structured application process similar to Canada’s Express Entry system. Applicants begin by submitting a profile to IRCC and, if selected, are invited to apply for a work permit. Successful candidates can apply under one of three distinct streams: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or the International Co-op Internship stream.
The Working Holiday stream issues an Open Work Permit valid for up to two years, allowing participants to take on most types of employment across Canada. The Young Professionals stream provides an employer-specific work permit for those who have secured a job offer. Meanwhile, the International Co-op Internship stream is designed for students enrolled in a post-secondary institution in their home country and who have arranged internships with Canadian companies.
To qualify for the IEC program, applicants must meet several requirements, including: holding a valid passport from a participating country, falling within the eligible age bracket, possessing at least CAD $2,500 in funds upon arrival, having health insurance for the duration of their stay, being admissible to Canada, and having either a round-trip ticket or enough funds to purchase a return ticket. Dependents are not permitted to accompany IEC participants.
The IEC serves a dual purpose: while it provides foreign youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada, it also supports local industries experiencing labor shortages. Sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and construction benefit from this international workforce. Additionally, IEC participants often go on to become eligible for permanent residence after acquiring Canadian work experience, contributing longer-term to Canada’s economy.
The 2024 intake remains consistent with last year’s expanded quota and reflects Canada’s ongoing commitment to international mobility and workforce diversification. Notably, Finland is expected to join the list of IEC partner countries later this year, pending the ratification of its youth mobility agreement with Canada.
Maple News will continue to provide updates on youth mobility agreements and work visa opportunities as Canada strengthens its global immigration and labor strategies.