As the 2024 season of International Experience Canada (IEC) comes to an end, participants are reminded that the program will finish on October 21, 2024. For those who have been thinking about applying, this is your last chance to seize this exceptional chance.
IEC 2024 Season Closing: What Does This Mean?
The IEC program operates on a seasonal basis, and for 2024, the season officially ends on October 21 after 9 a.m. EST. This means that the final rounds of invitations for this year’s program are expected to be issued shortly before the closing date. Applicants who have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) must submit their complete application before this deadline to be considered for the 2024 season.
Once the program closes, no further ITAs will be issued until the opening of the 2025 IEC season, typically at the start of the year. For those who miss this year’s deadline, the next opportunity to apply will be when the 2025 pool opens.
This is your final opportunity to earn an invitation for the 2024 season if you’re still in the pool and waiting for one.
Overview of IEC
The IEC program allows young people from over 30 countries to live and work in Canada through three key streams:
- Working Holiday: This stream offers participants an open work permit, allowing them to work for multiple employers anywhere in Canada.
- Young Professionals: Participants in this stream receive employer-specific work permits, designed for those seeking professional development in a specific job or sector.
- International Co-op (Internship): Aimed at students, this stream offers work permits tied to internships or co-op placements relevant to their field of study.
Each category offers different types of work permits and eligibility requirements.The processing time for approved applicants is five weeks, ensuring that even late-season participants have an opportunity to travel and work in Canada.
Each category and each nation have a single pool of qualified applicants.
Certain countries let applicants take part in the program more than once, in different categories, depending on their citizenship. Candidates are not permitted to participate more than their country permits, and this varies by nation.
The IEC program is popular among young adventurers and professionals seeking international experience and cultural exchange in Canada, with thousands of applicants every year.
For Current IEC Participants
If you’re already in Canada on an IEC work permit, it’s important to ensure that your work permit is valid and aligned with your intended stay in Canada.If you receive an invitation before the season closes, you can still complete your work permit application after the rounds of invitations conclude.
Some participants may be eligible to extend their work permits or transition to other immigration programs, such as the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), or other streams depending on their qualifications.
For those planning to stay longer, it is also a good idea to explore potential pathways to permanent residence while still in Canada, as some programs favour applicants with Canadian work experience.
What are the next steps after receiving an ITA
An applicant has 20 days to submit their work permit application after receiving and accepting an invitation to apply (ITA). The deadline will be verified on the candidate’s online account by the IRCC.
An IEC participant may be required to present proof of finances, proof of health insurance, and a ticket for their departure from Canada (or evidence that they have sufficient funds to buy one) in addition to their passport and Port of Entry Letter.
Candidates must present bank statements that were obtained no more than a week prior to their departure for Canada, according to the IRCC.
The candidate’s bank statement must demonstrate that they have $2,500, or enough money to cover their expenses for the first three months of their stay in Canada.
What’s Next for IEC 2025?
While the 2024 season comes to an end, the focus will soon shift to the upcoming 2025 IEC season. The pools are expected to open early in the new year, giving prospective participants another chance to experience life in Canada.
In 2025, the government of Canada intends to implement immigration-level targets for temporary residents. Although IEC participants are temporary residents of Canada and will be taken into account when planning for levels, this does not imply that there will be fewer IEC work permits available in 2025.
Every year, diplomatic talks are used to decide the IEC participant levels. As a result, we will have to wait to see how these talks proceed and obtain additional information from the IRCC. Making assumptions about whether IEC permits will be restricted in the upcoming year is not useful.
Participants and candidates should move swiftly as the 2024 season of International Experience Canada draws to a close in order to make the October 21 deadline. For anyone making plans for the 2025 season, keep checking back for information on the pool openings in the early months of the following year.