International Experience Canada: from profile to work permit, step by step

International Experience Canada (IEC) is how many young people from the UK, Ireland, Australia, France and some thirty other countries end up working in Montreal for a year or two. The program is simple on paper and unforgiving on dates: one missed 10-day or 20-day window and you start again. This guide follows the order IRCC uses, based on its IEC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Pick the category before you pick the city

• Working Holiday: an open work permit. You can change employers, which suits people who want to arrive first and find work in Montreal.
• Young Professionals: you need a signed job offer or contract in your field before you even submit your profile. The permit is tied to that employer, who pays a CAN$230 employer compliance fee and submits the offer to IRCC first.
• International Co-op (Internship): for students enrolled in a post-secondary institution outside Canada, completing a placement that is part of their program.

Your country sets the rules

Age limits, length of stay and how many times you can take part come from the agreement between Canada and your country. Two examples from IRCC's eligibility page:

• United Kingdom: ages 18 to 35 inclusive. British citizens can take part twice: a first participation of 24 months in any category, then a second of 12 months in any category.
• France: ages 18 to 35 inclusive, Working Holiday or Young Professionals up to 24 months, each category only once; after a first participation, another one is possible only through International Co-op.

Common requirements include a passport valid for your whole stay (the permit can't outlast it), at least CAN$2,500 for initial expenses, health insurance for the full stay, a return ticket or the money to buy one, and no accompanying dependants. Check your own country's entry; never rely on a friend's.

The timeline that trips people up

Step	Your window
Complete and submit your IEC profile	60 days from when you start it
Accept an invitation to apply	10 days, or it expires and you need a new profile
Submit the work permit application	Exactly 20 days from the moment you accept, in UTC
Give biometrics, if required	30 days from the instruction letter
Enter Canada with your port of entry letter	Before the letter expires (valid one year)

You can be in several pools at once (for example Working Holiday and Young Professionals), but only one profile and only one IEC work permit per season. Submitting a profile is not applying: the application starts with the invitation.

Fees for the 2026 season

Everyone pays the CAN$184.75 IEC fee. Working Holiday participants also pay the CAN$100 open work permit fee. Biometrics fees apply if you have to give them. If a police certificate or medical exam won't be ready by the 20-day deadline, IRCC accepts proof that you requested it or booked the appointment.

Approval is a letter, not a permit

An approved applicant receives a port of entry letter of introduction. The work permit itself is issued when you arrive, after a border officer reviews your documents. IRCC's advice is to wait for approval before booking flights, buying insurance, committing to an employer or giving up your housing at home. If you can't travel before the letter expires, IRCC says it doesn't count as a participation.

Montreal-specific planning

If you end up liking it here, the clock starts on day one. Quebec's permanent selection programs, the PEQ and the PSTQ, look at Quebec work experience and have French requirements; an employer can also support you through an LMIA. None of these happens automatically when your IEC permit ends. Our article on staying in Canada after IEC walks through the options.

To review your plan, you can describe your situation or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my partner on my Working Holiday permit?

No. Not being accompanied by dependants is one of the conditions. Your partner needs their own permit, through IEC if eligible or another program.

Do I need a recognized organization?

No. Recognized organizations can help plan your stay, but they're optional and they aren't immigration representatives.

Can I start work as soon as my application is approved?

No. You start once the permit is issued at the port of entry and only within its conditions.

What if I miss the 2026 deadline?

You'll need to wait for the next season to open and submit a new profile. IRCC announces season dates on its rounds of invitations page.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — International Experience Canada
• IRCC — IEC: eligibility by country and category
• IRCC — EIC : rondes d’invitations