What is the Working Holiday Canada?
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in Canada, the International Experience Canada (IEC) program is your ticket! Open to young people from 36 countries, the program lets you live, work, and explore Canada for up to 2 years, while earning money to fund your adventure.
One of the most popular options in this program is the Working Holiday, designed for people aged 18 to 30 or 35 (depending on citizenship). It is perfect if you want to travel across Canada, experience its cities, landscapes, and culture, and still cover your living expenses through flexible work opportunities. From cozy cafés and restaurants to adventure tourism jobs or seasonal work in national parks, there are countless ways to earn while you explore.
In the Work & Travel community, people often refer to it as the “IEC Visa.” However, that’s not technically correct. The Canadian government never uses the term IEC Visa, because IEC is the overall program, which includes three different categories.
The IEC program consists of three categories:
Working Holiday:
Participants in this program receive an “open work permit”.
In this category:
- you don’t need an employer
- you can choose in which places in Canada you want to work
- can work for more than one employer in Canada
Young Professionals
Participants in this program receive a “closed work permit” or officially called “employer-specific work permit”. The name of the employer and location is printed on the work permit.
In this category:
- you need an employer
- you can only work for one employer
- the job offered must be a skilled job in TEER category 0, 1, 2, 3
- an unskilled job in TEER 4 is allowed if you have studied in the field and can provide a degree in that job.
- the job must contribute to your professional development
International Co-op (Internship)
Participants in this program receive a “closed work permit” or officially called an “employer-specific work permit”. The name of the employer and location is printed on the work permit.
In this category:
- you need an employer
- you can only work for one employer
- you must be enrolled as a student in a post-secondary educational institution (in your home country) for the duration of the internship in Canada
- the internship must be part of the academic curriculum, and directly linked to your field of studies
Which countries are participating in the International Experience Program?
In the illustration below you can find the 36 participating countries and the age limit for each.
The age requirement and length of work permit are set in each country's agreement and not all countries offer all three programs. Check out your country here to find out what categories are available to you.
This info blog will focus on the most popular category:
The Working Holiday category.
Whether it’s skiing in Whistler, kayaking on turquoise lakes, or road-tripping across provinces, a Working Holiday combines travel and adventure like no other program.
One of the biggest advantages of the Working Holiday is this freedom: you’re not limited to one employer or one place. You can explore Canada, discover new opportunities, and create a truly unique adventure that fits your interests and goals.
With the Working Holiday you have the freedom to decide for yourself.
- You can choose which locations in Canada you want to work in. This gives you the flexibility to work in either a big city or a smaller, quieter area, depending on your preferences.
- Work just a few weeks to fund your travels, or take on a job for the full duration of your work permit. The choice is completely yours, with no limits or restrictions on how long you can work for.
- You can also work for more than one employer. This means that you are not tied to one job and have the opportunity to gain different experiences and have multiple sources of income, which can be especially helpful in tourist regions.
For many, the Working Holiday is not only a great way to experience Canada temporarily, but also an important first step for those looking to immigrate long-term.
During your stay in Canada, you can gain valuable Canadian work experience, an important advantage if you want to apply for permanent residency (PR) later. And if you find an employer who supports you, you already have a huge advantage on the way to PR, half a foot in the door, so to speak!
Is it worth hiring an agency for your Working Holiday?
Everyone has to decide for themselves.
One of the main reasons for this is that you get security. Especially for worried parents, it is often a reassuring feeling to know that their son or daughter is not completely on their own in a faraway country like Canada. An agency can help minimize potential uncertainties and provide support for any questions that may arise during the preparation process or abroad.
>> Here are my personal thoughts about using the help of an agency <<<