International Experience Canada Program

The International Experience Program Canada enables foreign national students to travel, work and study in Canada. The program also enables students in Canada and the Canadian youth to travel, work, and study abroad. The IEC program allows foreign national youth with the chance to travel and work in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements for International Experience Canada

To participate in the IEC program:

Your country of citizenship must be in partnership with Canada that enable you to apply for an IEC Work Permit to Canada, OR;

You may be able to use the assistance of a Recognised Organisation

A Recognised Organisation helps potential students seeking an IEC with their finances to be put into their duration of stay in Canada. Recognised Organisations offer this service for a fee. You are only required to use a Recognised Organisation if you are a national of a country that is not a member of the IEC agreement with Canada.

Currently Canada has an IEC program with 32 countries; individuals who are nationals of these countries do not need to seek the assistance of a Recognise Organisation. You can check online at cic.gc.ca to confer whether or not you as a foreign national are eligible to apple for the International Experience program without having to contact a Recognised Organisation.

Depending on what your foreign nationality is, you can chose which of the following 3 travel experience you would like to explore on the basis of coming to Canada;

Working Holiday- - work during your stay
Young Professions – gain Canadian work experiences during your stay
International co-op internship

How can I become an International Experience Canada Candidate

Firstly, you will use the online tool, Come to Canada, from the CIC website to determine if you are eligible to come to Canada by answering a series of questions. Then you will have to create a free online IEC profile. The information you put into your profile will be used to determine what of the above mentioned three categories you are eligible for. There is one pool of eligible candidates for each category. You may apply for more than one pool. Candidates who are going to apply to a pool must have an invitation to apply before they proceed to applying online for a work permit. Generally you will be kept in the pool for one year since the day you enter.

When a Study Permit will be Required

Persons who are not Canadian citizens and do not hold permanent residence in Canada are required to obtain a valid and suitable Study Permit if they plan on studying in Canada in an academic, professional, or vocational training that is more than six months and is held at designated learning institute.

The following are not considered to be study courses that come under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and thus do not require a study permit:

Studying in kindergarten or pre-school
Courses that are about general interest or self-improvements
Distance learning course
Sitting in an academic courses but without obtaining a credit for it

The following Groups are exempt from obtaining a Study Permit:

Minor children who are living in Canada

A minor is any person who according the laws of the province or territory falls below the age of majority. In Canada the age of majority varies between 18 and 19.

Minor children who are already in Canada are exempt from acquiring a study permit at a kindergarten, or a preschool, or a primary or secondary school, if at least one parent is authorised to stay or work in Canada. Minor children are also required to have custodians in Canada if they are under the age of 17

Family members and members of the private staff of accredited foreign representatives
Members of the armed forces of a country designated or the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act
Short term courses which are six months are less
Family members of a person who holds a study or work permit
Registered Indians

Sample Scenarios that could affect you

If you are a student who wishes to study at a Designated Learning Institute for less than six months

You will not be required to obtain a study a permit as the course is considered short term because it is six month’s or less.

A student wishes to study a course of any length at an institute that is not a Designated Learning Institute

You are not eligible for a study permit. Study permits are only limited to Designated Learning Institutions. A list of Designated Learning Institutions can be found online at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, cic.gc.ca

A student wishes to study in Canada in Grade 12 of high-school exchange program for only one semester

The student will not be required to obtain a study because the semester defined is less than six months, although the total academic year for grade 12 is 10 months long

A student plans on attending university for a four month long university course and wishes to work on campus

Yes, the student will required to obtain a study permit. Also the university the student intends on going to has to be a Designated Learning Institution.

Eligibility for a Study Permit:

You must have a an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution in Canada
You must be able to prove an immigration officer and other relevant authorities that you have sufficient funds to finance your:

Tuition fees
Living expenses for yourself and if any other relatives are coming with you
All the transportation cost that will affect you

You must be a law abiding citizen with no criminal records in your history. You may also have to provide a police certificate.
You must have good health and willing to complete a medical examination if you are required to do so
You must have enough documents and other information to successfully convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when your authorised period of stay is over and you will not violate any term of your stay in Canada

Contact Akrami & Associates

For a successful application and expedited delivery, contact us at Akrami and Associates to day and book a consultation with one of our immigration lawyers.

With Akrami and Associates, there is always a way!!