🇨🇦 Canada · Work Visa
IEC — International Experience Canada (Working Holiday)
Open work permit for young citizens of IEC bilateral agreement countries. Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op streams available. Excellent stepping stone to Express Entry.
- Scoring
- Criteria-based
- Timeline
- 1mo–3mo
- Est. cost
- $500
- Category
- Work Visa
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Show me my matches, free→Key requirements
- Citizenship of an IEC bilateral agreement country (34 countries)
- Age: typically 18–30 (some countries allow up to 35)
- Valid passport, health insurance, settlement funds
- Apply in the annual IEC pool; spaces are allocated by country
Who this visa fits
IEC is the lowest-friction work permit for young citizens of eligible countries. Frame it as a stepping stone: IEC Working Holiday → 1 year of Canadian skilled work → CEC Express Entry PR. For users in their late 20s or early 30s, note the age urgency: apply now before ageing out. Young Professionals stream requires a job offer but is not subject to the same annual pool scramble.
Other Canada visas
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Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker
Points-based permanent residence pathway for skilled workers worldwide. Candidates enter the Express Entry pool and receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in periodic draws based on CRS score.
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Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class
Express Entry stream reserved for people who already have at least one year of skilled work experience inside Canada. Typically sees lower CRS cutoffs in targeted category-based draws.
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Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades
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PNP — Provincial Nominee Programs
Each Canadian province and territory runs its own streams targeting workers, entrepreneurs, and international graduates that match local labour needs. A PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points, making virtually any profile competitive in Express Entry.
Business / Investor
Start-up Visa (SUV)
Permanent residence pathway for founders who secure support from a designated Canadian incubator, angel investor group, or VC fund. No investment threshold from the applicant — the value is in the business idea and endorsement.
Permanent Residency
Self-Employed Persons
Permanent residence for individuals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics who can make a significant contribution to Canadian cultural or athletic life as self-employed persons.
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