Work permits for young adults from Ireland to temporarily work in Canada are open effective November 3, 2017. Ireland is one of 33 countries that has a reciprocal agreement to allow young people to live and work in Canada under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. Irish candidates were given over permits 10,000 in 2017, and in 2018 are allotted 10,700: 7,700 for working holidays.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program that allows young adults an opportunity to temporarily work in Canada, typically 12-24 months. 33 countries have an agreement with Canada for IEC work permits for people 18 - 35 years old.
Ireland is one of the 33 countries that have a reciprocal agreement with Canada to allow young adults to live and work under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program:
- Irish candidates were given over permits 10,000 in 2017, and in 2018 are allotted 10,700: 7,700 for working-holidays
- 2,500 for “young professionals” who must have a job offer related to their qualifications before applying
- 500 in the “international co-op” category for full-time students to take part in internships and work placement programmes
Working holiday and young professional visas are eligible for two years and an international co-op visa is valid for 12 months, but participants can apply for an additional two years on a second IEC visa, and can then stay in Canada for a total of three years.
International Experience Canada
The IEC program has three categories:
•Working Holiday to Fund Your Vacation in Canada
An open work permit that is valid for one to two years and allows participants to work anywhere in Canada for almost any Canadian employer. Qualifications vary by country, workers from some countries may stay in Canada for more or less than one year.
•Young Professionals to Get Canada Work Experience
Applicants are required to have paid employment and a signed job offer letter or contract of employment with a Canadian employer in your profession. The job must be classified as a National Occupation Code (NOC) Skill Type Level 0, A, or B.
•International Co-Op (Internship) to Get Professional Work Experience
Applicants who are enrolled at a post-secondary institution in their country of citizenship can intern for a Canadian company. Participants must arrange co-op placements with Canadian employers before applying and must be registered students throughout their internship.
ICE applicants vary by country and nationality but in general are required to:
• have a valid passport for their entire stay in Canada
• be between the ages of 18 and 30 or 35 at the time of application, depending on the applicant's home country
• have $2,500 CAN to help cover initial expenses
• have health insurance for the duration of their stay
• meet criteria for admission to Canada
• have a round-trip ticket for the end of their authorized stay in Canada
• pay all appropriate application fees
More information is available on the IEC Help Centre.
