On November 5, 2018, Canada announced updates to the Youth Mobility Arrangement between Canada and Australia that allow young professionals to gain international work experience. Now, Australians aged 18 to 35 can apply to work and travel in Canada, and Canadians aged 18 to 35 can work and travel to Australia through the IEC program, previously the program was for young Australians up to age 30. Canada has agreements with over 30 countries for youth to work and travel abroad.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is bilateral agreements that give young Canadians the opportunity to work and study abroad to gain new skills, learn new languages, experience different cultures and explore new places. As part of the reciprocal program, young people from countries that enter an IEC agreement with Canada can apply to work in Canada.
Watch: 3 young Canadians talking about how IEC enabled their enriching experiences working and traveling abroad.
There are 3 ways to participate in the IEC program:
- Working Holiday (travel and work): Participants are eligible to apply for an open work permit to allow them to work for any employer or location in Canada to subsidize their stay as they travel and discover the country.
- Young Professionals (career development): Participants are eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain professional work experience in Canada.
- International Co-op (internships for students only): Participants are eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain experience in their field of study.
To qualify to work in Australia or any of the other IEC partnership countries through the Working Holiday Visa, Canadians must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be 18-35 years old (inclusive), and
- have a valid Canadian passport
International Experience Canada is an online application process.
