IEC Visa Canada: Get an IEC Visa for Canada | Working Holiday Visa Guide (2025)

Canada offers a working holiday visa for people to come work in Canada, called the International Experience Canada (IEC). This is the easiest visa to get, and most recommended. You won’t be tied to a job, and you’re able to stay for 2 years. It is for people aged 18-35 from select countries.

The application process takes a while, it took me over an hour just to create an account, I created this guide below so you know where to go and don’t get lost! As part of the application process, you will also need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA).

Note: They only accept applicants at certain times of the year, you have to check, but it is usually in October - December.

What is International Experience Canada (IEC) Program?

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is a fantastic government initiative that opens doors for young people from over 30 countries to live and work in Canada for up to two years. This program is all about providing international experience, work permits, and opportunities for young professionals to gain valuable skills and knowledge in Canada. The IEC program is divided into three exciting categories: Working Holiday, International Co-op, and Young Professionals. Whether you’re looking to explore Canada while working, gain work experience as part of your academic program, or develop your career, the IEC program has something for you.

Requirements

You are eligible if:

• You are 18 - 35 years of age

The IEC program is available to citizens of participating countries.

If you are from:

More on IEC Visa Requirements:

IEC Visa Requirements

To check if you can apply

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada International Experience Canada: Who can apply. Certain categories within the IEC program may require job offers classified under specific National Occupation Code (NOC) Skill Type Levels (0, A, or B).

IEC Program Categories

The IEC program offers three distinct categories to suit different needs and goals:

1. Working Holiday: This category is perfect for those who want the freedom to work in Canada for up to two years without being tied to a specific job. You can work for any Canadian employer and switch jobs as often as you like. It’s an excellent way to explore Canada while earning money to support your travels.
2. International Co-op: If you’re a student looking to gain work experience as part of your academic program, this category is for you. You’ll need to arrange co-op placements with Canadian employers before applying. This is a great opportunity to enhance your resume and gain practical experience in your field of study.
3. Young Professionals: This category is designed for those who want to gain career development experience in Canada. You’ll need a signed job offer letter from a Canadian employer and must work for the same employer throughout your stay. It’s an excellent way to build your professional network and gain valuable international work experience.

Have questions?

There is a great community of people answering all the different questions about the IEC visa here

facebookapp O Canada! IEC Working Holiday Discussion & Support | Facebook

Required Documents

To apply for the IEC program, you’ll need to gather several important documents. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A valid passport: Ensure your passport is up-to-date and valid for the duration of your stay in Canada.
• A signed job offer letter (for Young Professionals category): This is essential if you’re applying under the Young Professionals category.
• Proof of financial support: You’ll need to show you have at least $2,500 CAD to support yourself initially.
• Health insurance: You must have health insurance that covers you for the entire duration of your stay in Canada.
• A police certificate: Required for some countries to prove you have no criminal record.
• A medical exam report: Necessary for applicants from certain countries.
• A CV/Resume: A detailed resume outlining your work and educational history.
• A digital photograph: A recent photo that meets the application requirements.
• A family information form: Details about your family members.
• Post-secondary documents (for International Co-op category): Proof of your enrollment in a post-secondary institution.

Insurance Requirements

Health insurance is a crucial requirement for all IEC participants. You must have health insurance that covers you for at least $100,000 CAD and is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. This insurance should cover medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation. It’s essential to have adequate coverage to protect yourself from unexpected medical expenses while you’re in Canada.

Canada Working Holiday Visa Application Fees and Costs

Applying for the Canada Working Holiday Visa involves several fees and costs. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

• Application fee: $153 CAD
• Biometrics fee: $85 CAD
• Police certificate fee: This varies by country.
• Medical exam fee: This also varies by country.
• Health insurance fee: The cost depends on the provider and the coverage you choose.

Keep in mind that these fees are subject to change and may vary depending on your country of citizenship and other factors. It’s always a good idea to check the latest information before you apply.

Apply for International Experience Canada IEC - Setting up your account

You will need an account for IEC, and it is a pain to make, but it’s best to get it created as early as possible so you are ready when the pool opens. Setting up an account is a crucial step in applying for working holiday visas under the IEC program. I want to warn you, the UX of this is absolutely horrible, and it is very buggy. You will get frustrated, but remember those mountains, that skyline…

Before you start (There will be pain and errors)

‼️ Important: Before you start your registration, clear your cache (delete history in Chrome).

At any time during the process, if you get an error like the one below, then delete the history or try another browser. If this doesn't work, the website is often just down. You will have to try at another time.

The application process takes a while, it took me over an hour just to create an account, I created this guide below so you know where to go and don’t get lost!

Note: They only accept applicants at certain times of the year, you have to check, but it is usually in October - December.

Steps to sign up

1. Start by going to this link
2. You will have to both set up an IRCC account and answer the questionnaire. You can do one or the other first. I chose to set up the account, though others recommended the Come to Canada questionnaire first. If you want to start with the questionnaire, skip to IEC Visa Canada: Get an IEC Visa for Canada | Working Holiday Visa Guide (2025) - Eligibility Questionnaire. For this path, I will start with the IRCC secure account sign up.

3. Click “Register for an account” on the right. If you are new to Canada you won’t have the accounts yet on the left.

4. Click “Register with a GCKey username and password”

5. Click “Sign up” on the right

6. Accept terms and conditions

7. Enter username. If you get this error with Chrome, then erase your Chrome history.

8. Create your memorable recovery questions.

9. Add your account recovery email (just your email). Says it’s optional but I’d recommend doing so.

9. Confirm your email address in email, it comes from GC@auth.canada.ca

10. Click continue.

11. I chose email for two-factor authentication, seems easiest. Even though we just did this a moment ago. It is another email coming from GC@auth.canada.ca.

12. Make sure to keep your recovery codes

13. Click continue

14. Choose your language, I recommend English so you can follow this guide.

15. We are back here again? This is confusing but you are on the right path. Click “IRCC Sign-in” on the top right

16. Click “Sign in to your existing account” and “Work permit”

17. Click onto “GCKey username and password” from what we made before.

18. Everytime I try to do this I go in circles or it brings me to different pages, keep on clicking the IRCC login and GCKey login in the steps above. The UX is terrible, it is very buggy, but follow those until you land here:

19. Create even MORE security questions for some reason, they have to be full sentences.

19. They should have dropped me right into the application about an hour ago, but now it’s just showing a bad empty state. You have to scroll down and go to the IEC button.

Eligibility Questionnaire

1. Fill this out


2. These are the next bunch of pages, fill it out to your situation:

🎉 Success! You somehow made it alive through that madness. Your account was created, but unless the pool is open you can’t submit it yet. Give yourself a pat on the back and a cookie.

‼️ Note: Sometimes it will say you aren’t eligible when you are, it might just mean that the pool isn’t open yet.

Next steps

You will also need a work permit. How to get a work permit:

What are the IEC Visa Requirements:

Get a visa through a recognized organization: