Canada has announced the number of work permits available in 2025 for young people under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
This program allows youth from specific countries with agreements with Canada to apply for LMIA-exempt work permits, meaning they don’t need a Canadian employer to prove they need a foreign worker. Some work permits under this program are also open work permits, which allow applicants to work for any employer in Canada.
Who Can Apply?
To apply for an IEC work permit, you must:
✅ Be a citizen of a country that has a Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada.
✅ Be between 18 to 30 or 35 years old (depending on your country).
✅ Have at least $2,500 CAD for living expenses.
✅ Get health insurance for your stay.
✅ Be admissible to Canada (no serious criminal or medical issues).
✅ Not bring dependents (family members cannot come on this visa).
✅ Have a round-trip ticket or enough money to buy one later.
✅ Pay the required application fees.
IEC Work Permit Categories
The IEC program has three types of work permits, each with different requirements:
| Work Permit Category | Who Can Apply? | Type of Work Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday | – No job offer needed- Want to work for multiple employers- Want to travel and work at the same time | Open Work Permit (can work for any employer) |
| Young Professionals | – Have a job offer in Canada- Job must help with career growth- Work for one employer and location | Employer-Specific Work Permit (work only for the employer who offered the job) |
| International Co-op (Internship) | – Student at a post-secondary institution– Have an internship/job offer related to studies- Work for the same employer for the entire period | Employer-Specific Work Permit |
Work Permit Quotas by Country
Each country has a limit on how many work permits Canada will issue under the IEC. Here’s a breakdown of the quotas for 2025:
| Country | Working Holiday | Young Professionals | International Co-op | Max Age |
| Andorra | 25 | N/A | N/A | 30 |
| Australia | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 35 |
| Austria | 100 | 60 | 20 | 35 |
| Belgium | 750 | N/A | N/A | 30 |
| Chile | 725 | 20 | 5 | 35 |
| Costa Rica | 80 | 15 | 5 | 35 |
| Croatia | 85 | 10 | 5 | 35 |
| Denmark | 350 | N/A | N/A | 35 |
| Estonia | 110 | 10 | 5 | 35 |
| France | 6,615 | 2,080 | 3,590 | 35 |
| Germany | 3,490 | 350 | 160 | 35 |
| Greece | 180 | 10 | 10 | 35 |
| Hong Kong | 200 | N/A | N/A | 30 |
| Ireland | 3,800 | 150 | 50 | 35 |
| Italy | 1,750 | 200 | 50 | 35 |
| Japan | 6,500 | N/A | N/A | 30 |
| Korea, Rep. | 10,000 | 1,500 | 500 | 35 |
| Latvia | 40 | 8 | 2 | 35 |
| Lithuania | 175 | 20 | 5 | 35 |
| Luxembourg | 80 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Netherlands | 430 | 170 | N/A | 30 |
| New Zealand | 2,500 | N/A | N/A | 35 |
| Norway | 130 | 15 | 5 | 35 |
| Poland | 435 | 110 | 5 | 35 |
| Portugal | 750 | 40 | 10 | 35 |
| San Marino | 25 | N/A | N/A | 35 |
| Slovakia | 315 | 30 | 5 | 35 |
| Slovenia | 80 | 15 | 5 | 35 |
| Spain | 800 | 120 | 30 | 35 |
| Sweden | 350 | 40 | 10 | 30 |
| Switzerland | N/A | 200 | 50 | 35 |
| Taiwan | 940 | 50 | 10 | 35 |
| United Kingdom | 9,000 | 900 | 100 | 30 |
How to Apply
If you meet the requirements and your country has available spots, you can apply for the IEC program through the Government of Canada website. Be sure to prepare all required documents before applying!
For expert guidance on your Canadian work permit application, reach out to Ask Kubeir today!
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