A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows you to continue working while waiting for the outcome of your permanent residence application.
International Experience Canada (IEC) lets youth (18-35) from partner countries travel and work in Canada for up to 2 years. There are 3 categories:
Working Holiday: Work and travel freely in Canada.
Young Professionals: Gain professional work experience related to your field.
International Co-op (Internship): For students, work in your field of study.
You can apply on your own or with the help of a Recognized Organization (RO).
Who can Apply:
To participate in IEC, your country must have a Youth Mobility Agreement (YMA) with Canada. Some Recognized Organizations (ROs) may help youth from non-partner countries join the program, but this is limited.
Eligibility varies by country: some allow only one participation, while others permit two in different categories. It's important to check your country's specific rules. Check below
If you're invited to apply, you can't exceed your country’s participation limit. Your application will be assessed, including any previous IEC participation.
Note: If you hold a refugee travel document, you’re not eligible to participate, even if your country has an agreement with Canada.
How the process works: To become a candidate for International Experience Canada (IEC), follow these steps:
Create Your IEC Profile:
Submit Your Profile:
If Invited to Apply (ITA): If approved, you’ll receive a port of entry letter (letter of introduction), but entry and work permit approval are determined by a border services officer.
Important note: Make sure to complete your profile within 60 days or you’ll have to start over!
Once you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a work permit, you have 10 days to decide whether to accept it. The deadline will be included in the invitation.
If you accept, you have 20 days to submit your work permit application online. Failing to respond by the deadline will cause the invitation to expire. When applying for the work permit, you’ll need to provide:
Proof of the information in your IEC profile.
Additional details about your background and the type of work you plan to do in Canada.
General Document Checklist for International Experience Class (IEC):
Once you have completed the application, the system will generate a personalized document checklist for you.
Here’s a short document checklist for your IEC work permit application:
Police Certificate (if required)
Medical Exam (if required)
CV/Resume
Passport (clear copy)
Digital Photo (passport-sized)
Family Information (if applicable)
eTA or Visitor Visa (if required)
Proof of Residency (address documents)
Category-Specific Documents:
International Co-op (Internship) agreement
Young Professionals job offer
RO confirmation (if using a Recognized Organization)
