There is a last chance for IEC Young Professionals to apply in 2025, i.e., if you’re a young professional hoping to secure an International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit in 2025, time is running out.
Eligible foreign youth (ages 18–35 or 18–30, depending on the country) must submit their profile by 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 20, 2025 to be considered.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will hold its final round of invitations for the 2025 IEC season during the week of October 20.
Because demand for IEC work permits often exceeds the number of available spots, the IEC operates as a lottery system.
Interested applicants must first submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) profile. If selected in the draw, they will then be invited to apply for a work permit.
Those who miss the October 20 deadline will need to wait until the 2026 IEC pools reopen in January to try again.
Eligible Nationalities
The table below shows which nationalities can get an IEC work permit and the maximum age for each country.
As of October 10, all participating countries have open IEC pools, except the Netherlands.
Country | Upper Age Limit |
Andorra | 30 |
Australia | 35 |
Austria | 35 |
Belgium | 30 |
Chile | 35 |
Costa Rica | 35 |
Croatia | 35 |
Czech Republic | 35 |
Denmark | 35 |
Estonia | 35 |
Finland | 35 |
France | 35 |
Germany | 35 |
Greece | 35 |
Hong Kong | 30 |
Iceland | 30 |
Ireland | 35 |
Italy | 35 |
Japan | 30 |
Korea, Rep. | 35 |
Latvia | 35 |
Lithuania | 35 |
Luxembourg | 35 |
Netherlands | 30 |
New Zealand | 35 |
Norway | 35 |
Poland | 35 |
Portugal | 35 |
San Marino | 35 |
Slovakia | 35 |
Slovenia | 35 |
Spain | 35 |
Sweden | 30 |
Switzerland | 35 |
Taiwan | 35 |
United Kingdom | 35 |
You can check your odds of receiving an ITA in the next invitation round by using the Government of Canada’s official IEC resource.
Simply choose your country of citizenship and IEC category, and you’ll see your chances of receiving an invitation rated as:
- Excellent (80% to 90%)
- Very good (60% to 79%)
- Fair (40% to 59%)
- Low (20% to 39%)
- Very low (1% to 19%)
About The International Experience Canada Program
As we know that there is a last chance for IEC Young Professionals to apply in 2025, let us discuss about the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program.
Well, the IEC program gives eligible youth from partner countries a chance to work in Canada through three categories:
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op (Internship)
These work permits are issued under reciprocal international agreements that encourage youth mobility. They allow foreign youth to live and work in Canada temporarily, while Canadian youth enjoy similar opportunities abroad.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a citizen or legal resident of a country with a youth mobility agreement with Canada.
- Be between 18 and 30 or 35 years old (depending on nationality).
- Hold private health insurance and a valid passport for the duration of their stay.
- Show proof of at least $2,500 CAD in funds to support themselves.
- Have a round-trip plane ticket or enough funds to leave Canada at the end of their stay.
There are also category-specific requirements, and a job offer is required for all categories except Working Holiday.
IEC work permits are LMIA-exempt, making the process simpler and faster.
How To Apply For An IEC Work Permit?
To apply for the IEC, candidates must create and submit a profile to IRCC.
Once submitted, profiles are entered into one or more IEC candidate pools, and IRCC will let applicants know which pool(s) they qualify for.
If selected, candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a work permit during the next invitation round.
When issued an ITA, applicants must:
- Accept the invitation within 10 days.
- Submit their application within 20 days.
Application steps include:
- Complete the online form in the IRCC Secure Account.
- Upload all required documents (a personalized checklist will be provided).
- Pay the required fees:
- All participants: $179.75 CAD
- Working Holiday participants: Additional $100 CAD OWP holder fee
- Young Professionals & Co-op participants: Employer must pay $230 employer compliance fee
- Biometrics fee (if applicable): $85 CAD
- Submit the completed application to IRCC.
Once approved, participants can begin their Canadian work experience through the IEC program, opening doors to future opportunities in Canada.
The International Experience Canada program remains one of the easiest ways for young foreign nationals to work and travel in Canada. With the final deadline approaching, eligible candidates should act quickly to avoid missing out on this year’s opportunity.
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