In our podcast called “Canadians Work and Travel abroad” GO International founder and president Tamsin Plaxton spoke with the Assistant Director of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Sean Lynch. They discuss how the International Experience Canada (IEC) program allows Canadian youth to explore over 30 countries, work and contribute to these economies.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a youth mobility program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
It offers Canadian and foreign national youth the opportunity to work and travel in another country for a defined period (usually up to 1 or 2 years). The program began in the 1950s with a few agreements, mainly with European countries, and has since grown to include 37 country partners (in 2023). It is open youth, aged 18 to 35, allows for stays of up to two years, and offers three categories of work permits: working holiday, young professionals, and international co-op.
The program is reciprocal, allowing foreign nationals to gain international experience in Canada and Canadians to gain experience abroad. Some of the benefits of the program include gaining international work experience, learning new cultures, building lasting memories, and gaining a better perspective of oneself. The benefits for Canada include equipping youth with the experience they need to participate in the economy and grow as citizens.
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program allows foreign national youth to explore Canada, work and contribute to the economy while also promoting bilateral relations. The program is popular as it is flexible and offers a wide range of job opportunities such as hospitality, hotels, resorts, restaurants, science and tech, business and marketing, health and childcare, agriculture, and even the arts and culture field. Some of the country agreements allow for participants to stay for up to two years, making it a valuable opportunity for both employers and participants.
You can find more information about the IEC by clicking here.
Listen to the full podcast episode below or watch it on our YouTube channel:
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