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The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is the new name for familiar programs known as the International Youth Program and International Exchange Program. Both of these programs allowed for the exchange of young people to come and visit Canada and work to support themselves while they visited and became familiar with the country. The Canadian government approved the creation of an international travel and exchange program in 1967 to allow for the exchange of young people between partner nations to enhance relationship building between those countries. The IEC program is more commonly known as the Working Holiday or Young Professional Work Permit program.

The IEC program is a two-step process: The first stage is the IEC assessment to see whether you meet the eligibility criteria (this is an online process). If you meet the criteria, you will be issued an IEC conditional acceptance letter. Stage two is to apply for a work permit with the conditional acceptance letter.

Canada has agreements with 32 different countries to permit young people to apply for work permits under the IEC. Every agreement is different with respect to the type of agreement and the category of eligibility such as the Working Holiday, Young Professional, or International Co-op program and each has different eligibility requirements such as age limits, duration of the permit, or whether or not it can be renewed. In addition to the country specific agreements, there are also some organizational arrangements that are recognized under the IEC that are able to provide work permits for youth such as the Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP). Check the Canada Immigration website to find out all the categories that are available under the IEC program.

To submit an IEC application, there are two steps. First, you need to meet the program requirements for the IEC as set out on CIC’s website. Second, you need to meet CIC’s requirements to apply for a work permit (www.international.gc.ca/experience/intro_incoming-intro_entrant.aspx?lang=eng&view=d).

In order to be eligible to apply, you must be a citizen of one of the countries with which Canada has a bilateral agreement. Some of these agreements require that the people be living in their country of citizenship at the time they make their application; whereas others allow applicants to submit their application to the Canadian visa office responsible for the country in which they are residing.

Check whether there is a program for your country and follow the specific instructions to apply for an IEC work permit on the regional visa website for the geographic region for which you are a national or in which you reside. Most visa offices only accept applications for a limited time each year. The timing and process for submitting applications under the IEC is different for each country. It is important to check the visa office website for your country regularly and follow the guidelines set out on the website for your particular visa office.

For many young people, the IEC category is a good way to pursue permanent residence in Canada. Most IEC programs provide for work permits that are for 12 months or more, which means you can obtain the one year of work experience required to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). For those agreements that only allow for a work permit of less than 12 months, it still provides you with a wonderful opportunity to connect with a Canadian employer who may be willing to offer you further employment in the future, ultimately leading to permanent residence.

While a work permit under the IEC may permit you to lawfully work in Canada, possession of the work permit alone will not make you eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada. If permanent residence is your ultimate goal, you will need to gain full-time work experience in Canada for a minimum of 12 months to be eligible to satisfy the CEC criteria. You must also obtain work experience in an occupation as described in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) at NOC levels O, A, or B. Semiskilled or low-skilled work experience at NOC level C or D will not qualify for permanent residence under the CEC. See the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) website for information about the National Occupational Classifications. (www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/lmi/noc//index.shtml).

Furthermore, you need to ensure that your work experience is in an occupation that will qualify for permanent residence under the CEC class. Recent changes to the program have deemed certain occupations ineligible to apply (see Chapter 10 for more information).

In December 2012, CIC introduced the bridging work permit to allow applicants for permanent residence in certain classes to be eligible for a bridging work permit. This is good news for IEC workers who have applied for permanent residence status, been found eligible to make that application, but are reaching the expiration date of their IEC work permit. This new bridging work permit will allow you to obtain a further work permit to remain in Canada while your permanent residence application is finalized. In order to qualify for a bridging work permit, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be in Canada.

• Have a valid work permit due to expire within four months from the time of application.

• Have received a positive eligibility decision on your permanent residence application.

• Make an application for an open work permit — submit form IMM 5710: Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp).