IRCC announced some significant changes to the International Experience Canada program today, including an increase in applicant capacity and a program open date for 2023. Canada’s government will be expanding the applicant pool for the upcoming year of its International Experience Canada (IEC) program. They announced a program opening date of January 9, 2023, at a press conference in Banff, Alberta today.

1. International Experience Canada to
increase program capacity by 20%

2. IRCC announced
some significant
changes to the
International
Experience Canada
program today,
including an
increase in applicant
capacity and a
program open date
for 2023.

3.  Canada’s government will be expanding the
applicant pool for the upcoming year of
its International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
They announced a program opening date of January
9, 2023, at a press conference in Banff, Alberta
today.
 The IEC program allows youth between the ages of
18 and 35 years living in any of Canada’s 36
partnering countries to work and travel for up to two
years in this country, and vice versa. On January 9th,
2023, its application scale will increase by 20%, or
nearly 15,000 additional spots.

4.  In the words of Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, “Our
government is helping more international youth to work
and travel in Canada, effectively helping employers, most
of those in the tourism industry, find the workers they
need. By giving youth the opportunity of international
travel and work experience, we are strengthening our
economy and helping our businesses succeed,
particularly in places like Banff that need seasonal help.”
 Ultimately, this upcoming IEC program change allows
Canada to further advance two highly sought-after goals:
helping Canadian employers get the workers they need
and helping “youth explore new cultures, languages, and
societies, all while developing life skills and improving
their job prospects for the future.

5. About the IEC program
 The IEC program contains three streams, which are
outlined below.
 Working Holiday: IEC participants in this stream
“receive an open work permit that allows them to
work anywhere in the host country” as a means of
“supporting their travels.”
 International Co-op (Internship): Participants in this
IEC stream are provided with an employer-specific
work permit. This targeted work permit enables
students to gain focused work experience in their
field of study.

6.  Young Professionals: Participants in this stream of
the IEC program also receive an employer-specific
work permit, like those in the international co-op
stream. However, beyond allowing these students to
“gain targeted, professional work experience that is
within their field of study”, the experience acquired
by these students is also aimed at aiding their ability
to pursue their desired career path.