Canada’s International Experience Canada (IEC) program allows eligible young people from 36 countries and territories to work and travel in Canada. The government-backed scheme is designed to help participants gain international work experience, support their travel through legal employment and experience Canadian life and culture. (canada.ca)
Age limits vary by country
Applicants are generally required to be between 18 and 35 years old, although some participating countries and territories have lower upper-age limits of 29 or 30. Eligibility is not determined by age alone: each partner location has its own rules on available categories, participation limits, financial resources, insurance, length of stay and other requirements. (canada.ca)
The 36 listed partners are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Canada’s official list currently includes no African country or territory. (canada.ca)
Three routes to work in Canada
IEC has three participation categories. Working Holiday provides an open work permit, allowing participants to work for different employers. Young Professionals is intended for career-related employment and generally requires a job offer. International Co-op (Internship) is designed for students who need work experience connected to their studies. Not every category is available to citizens of every partner location. (ircc.canada.ca)
Eligible applicants must first check the requirements for their country or territory, create an IEC profile and wait for an invitation to apply. After receiving an invitation, they submit the work-permit application and supporting documents through the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada process. The 2026 IEC season is open, but invitation rounds, available places and country-specific conditions can change. (canada.ca)
The program can provide up to two years of work-and-travel experience, depending on the applicant’s nationality, category and individual eligibility. Applicants should rely on the official country-by-country criteria rather than assume that the general 18-to-35 rule applies in every case. (canada.ca)
