The Government of Canada will expand the applicant pool for the upcoming year of its International Experience Canada (IEC) program. He announced the program’s opening date today, January 9, 2024, at a press conference in Banff, Alberta.

The IEC program allows young people between the ages of 18 and 35 living in any of Canada’s 36 partner countries to travel and work in that country for up to two years, and vice versa. Its application scale will increase by 20% or about 15,000 additional spots on January 9, 2024. It will make it possible for “approximately 90,000 candidates … including francophone youth to work and travel to Canada, helping employers fill labor gaps, including seasonal work opportunities in Canada’s tourism industry.”

In the words of Immigration Minister Shaun Fraser, “Our government is helping more international young people to travel and work in Canada, effectively helping employers, most of whom are in the tourism industry, to hire those workers. to find what they need. By giving youth the opportunity for international travel and work experience, we are strengthening our economy and helping our businesses succeed, especially in places like Banff that need seasonal support.

Ultimately, this upcoming IEC program change allows Change Canada to pursue two highly desired goals: helping Canadian employers obtain the workers they need and “helping young people explore new cultures, languages ​​and societies.” to do, all the while developing life skills and improving your job prospects for the future.”

About IEC Program

The IEC program comprises three streams, which are outlined below.

Work Leave: IEC participants in this section receive “an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country” as a means to “support their travel”.

International Co-op (Internship): An employer-specific work permit is provided to participants in this IEC stream. This targeted work permit enables students to gain focused work experience in their area of ​​study.

Young Professionals: Participants in this stream of the IEC program also receive an employer-specific work permit, as in the International Cooperative stream. However, beyond allowing these students to “obtain targeted, professional work experience that is within their field of study”, the experience gained by these students is also intended to support their ability to pursue their desired career path. .

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