IEC Work Permit Canada(International Experience Canada Program)

Nowadays, many people decide to visit Canada and stay there for a while to work. This option is quite realistic since there are programs that allow foreigners to work and travel at the same time in Canada. It is an interesting opportunity as you can get to know a beautiful new country and still earn some money. The program is called International Experience Canada. According to it, a person can work and travel in Canada for up to one year. Within the framework of the International Experience (IEC Work Permit Canada) program, for young people from 18 to 35 years old, 3 directions have been developed in which, if they meet the requirements, they can visit Canada with the right to work for 1 year: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op. The requirements for each of the areas differ in terms of age criterion, duration of the work period and the possibility of its extension. This program is available only to citizens of those countries with which Canada has a bilateral agreement on youth exchange, in particular Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Holland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Spain, Ukraine, 35 in total. This article intends to explain all the things a newcomer needs to know about International Experience Canada(IEC Work Permit Canada). 

Working Holiday Visa Program was created and managed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and provides an opportunity for young people from a range of countries to gain professional work experience in Canada. More than 40 000 people take part in the program annually. Working Holiday Visa is hugely popular with young people around the world. The attractiveness of this program is primarily due to several advantages. First of all, this is a good opportunity not only for students but also for those who have recently graduated from a university and wish to do an internship in Canadian companies. The type of work permit you get when you apply for a Working Holiday is an open work permit. This implies a participant doesn't require a copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment - a document that authorizes an employer to recruit foreign workers. This opportunity is provided by Canada, as a rule, once. 

Another International Experience Canada, which provides IEC Work Permit in Canada is the Young Professionals for those who have a job offer that promotes their professional development, or who plan to work for the same employer in the same place throughout their stay in Canada. The job offer must be paid and candidates cannot be self-employed. Successful candidates receive a special work permit from an employer, meaning they can only work for a specific employer for the entire time and place specified on the permit. The internship must be directly related to the applicant's field of study. Salaries must be in accordance with the labour laws of the province or territory where the internship will take place. Labour codes will determine whether an internship is to be paid for or not. A job offer must also be classified as a national occupational classification code of skill level 0, A, or B to be considered conducive to “professional development.” In some cases, NOC C jobs may be eligible if applicants include a higher education diploma, certificate or degree with their work permit application. These documents must be submitted in English or French. 

Students seeking work experience in Canada can apply through the International Co-op category if they registered with a higher education institution or have a job offer or employment or internship in Canada. This option also applies if they need a place of work in order to complete their studies or if they would like to work for the same employer in the same place during their stay. Canada offers a work permit for a specific employer through this category, so successful applicants must stay with the same employer for the time specified on the work permit. The internship must be directly related to the applicant's field of study. Salaries must be paid in accordance with the labour laws of the province or territory where the internship will take place. Labour codes will determine whether an internship is to be paid for or not. Employment standards and labour laws apply to all foreign nationals in Canada. International Experience Canada candidates and their employers are required to request information on labour standards in their specific province or territory. The participants of a Young Professional or International Co-op can apply for an extension of their stay in Canada if their job has been extended. However, you must continue to work for the same employer at the same address and perform the same job duties. Also, your initial job offer must be for a shorter period of time than you are eligible for, and your new job offer does not exceed the maximum period of time you are eligible for.

Participation in the International Experience Canada program is suitable for a human being, if he or she does not have a potential employer and a job offer, also if an applicant wants to have several jobs or would like to change locations of work during staying in Canada. To be eligible, an applicant must belong to the age category from 18 to 35 years old, must be a citizen of a country that is on the list of 35 countries and must have financial confirmation of funds availability for the return ticket and medical insurance as well as a valid passport for the whole duration of living in Canada. Moreover, knowledge of the language (English or French) and the absence of a criminal record are important factors. The International Experience Canada program is an acceptable way to continue to qualify for permanent residency in Canada. In most cases, an IEC work permit in Canada is issued for 12 months, which makes it possible to gain the necessary experience required to be considered for permanent residence under the category of Canadian Experience Class. If a work permit is issued for less than 12 months, then the time spent in Canada can be used to find a potential employer who will be interested not only to offer you a longer employment contract but also to support your application for permanent residence in the future through the Express system Entry. To apply for the Canadian Experience Class category, you must confirm 1 year of continuous full-time work experience in a Canadian company, and the work must be in a qualified specialist. The categories which Canadian Experience Class does not consider are those with experience in low-skilled jobs such as service personnel, drivers, equipment operators, etc. Canadian companies are enthusiastically considering the possibility of placing young specialists under the International Experience Canada program, since further, with mutual interest, the candidates who have gained experience can stay in the company using other immigration programs, both provincial and federal. 

To take part in the International Experience Canada and get IEC work permit in Canada, an individual needs to create their profile on the IEC, but must receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) before he or she can submit the application. If you receive an invitation to apply through MyCIC, you will have 10 days during which you can start the application process or decline the invitation you received. If you accept the offer, click the Launch Application button in your MyCIC account to start the application process for a work permit; Once you click the Launch App button in My CIC, you have 20 days to complete paperwork, pay fees and apply for a work permit, no matter what day after deciding that you accept the offer, you will begin the process of filling them out - on the first day or the 10th;

Young Professional and International Co-op Categories: Your employer must pay a fee of $ 230 through the Employer Portal before the 20-day deadline. Ask your employer to send you a job offer number that he or she will receive after paying the fees due. You will need this number to apply for a work permit; Upload to the portal all supporting documents, including a medical policy and medical certificates, if applicable (if you do not have supporting documents, you can upload proof that you applied for a medical examination and that a request for a police certificate was sent ). Pay the CAD 150 fee by credit card through the online payment system at MyCIC.

For the Working Holidays Category, you must pay CAD 100 for an open work permit at the same time. The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Department of the Government of Canada (IRCC) is now beginning to evaluate applications for temporary work. Additional documentation may be requested by IRCC. A Letter of Introduction (LOI) will be issued to your MyCIC account if your application is approved. The official title of the document is the Point of Entry (POE) Letter of Presentation. This letter must be presented on arrival at the point of entry into Canada (for example, at the airport), after which a work permit can be obtained.

If you are a citizen of a country that does not have an agreement or arrangement with Canada regarding International Experience Canada, you must use the services of one of the Recognized Organizations (RO). ROs are youth service agencies that help young people find jobs and travel. They might be charitable, commercial, or educational. These organizations may charge a certain fee for their services. 

In case, you need assistance and you are eligible for IEC Work permit in Canada, please contact us directly or fill in application below.