Certain countries IEC pools opening for 2021 soon

Canada is opening up the International Experience Canada (IEC) pool for certain countries on March 1.

Candidates who are selected will be eligible to work in Canada.

IEC is open to young adults, typically aged 18 – 35, who are citizens of foreign countries which have reciprocal agreements with Canada. The age ranges depend on the country. Work permits under the IEC do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

There are three (3) different IEC categories: International Co-op, Working Holiday, and Young Professionals.

Due to travel restrictions, Working Holiday visa holders are now required to have a job offer in order to land in Canada. While COVID-19 is still present, everyone arriving in Canada through IEC must have a valid job offer and a Letter of Introduction. Of course, all incoming workers need to comply with the government’s COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements.

Here is a table with the information released so far of what is opening March 1.

Source: CIC News

The quotas indicate how many profiles will be selected from the IEC pool for each country.

International Co-op category is for students who need to do an internship or work placement in Canada to complete their studies. Candidates need to stay with the same employer at the same location for the duration of their stay in Canada.

Working Holiday category allows candidates to come to Canada without a job offer, usually, and can work anywhere they can find a job. Since the Coronavirus, candidates must have a job offer before coming to Canada. Candidates basically get an open work permit in this program. This allows them to have a more customizable experience because they are allowed to change employers or move locations.

Young Professionals category is designed to focus on professional skills. Candidates must have a professional job offer in Canada that falls under National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A, or B. The jobs must be paid, and candidates cannot be self-employed. The work permit for this category is employer specific meaning the holder must stay with the employer named on the permit.