What An IEC Visa Actually Is.
Working holiday visas for Canada come under the International Experience Canada programme, IEC for short. They are released through a lottery.
You register with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, enter the pool, and then wait for an invitation. There is no skill in the draw itself, but there is one thing you control: the earlier you enter, the more draws your name sits in.
Each nationality gets a set number of places each year, and applicants normally outstrip the visas available. That is the honest position.
You need to be able to say yes to all of these
Do Not Pay Anyone To Do This For You.
Plenty of companies offer this service for a substantial fee. It is entirely unnecessary. You can complete the whole process free, online, through the Canadian government's own site, with this guide beside you.
Step one
Create Your IRCC Account.
Go to the official IRCC page and click Register for an Account. Choose the option to register with GCKey.
Sign up with GCKey
You will land on a Welcome to GCKey page. Click the Sign Up tab, then enter your details and set your security questions.
Use your passport details
Fill in your details exactly as they appear in the passport you are applying with. Not a shortened first name, not a nickname.
Screenshot your security answers
Make a note of every answer, ideally as a saved screenshot. You will need them later in the application and again when agreeing to terms. Save all important information, answers and passwords now - this is where people lose weeks.
Step two
Assess Your Eligibility.
Log in with GCKey and username. From the home page click Start an application, then Apply to come to Canada.
You will reach a personal checklist with two ways forward. If you have completed a Come to Canada questionnaire before and saved the code, enter it now. If not, select International Experience Canada (IEC) from the "I do not have a Personal Reference code" box.
Every Question, And What To Answer.
Go through the questionnaire carefully. Every question is listed here with our advice where it matters.
If you are from the UK, note that the country selection jumps between GBR and England / Scotland / Wales / Northern Ireland depending on the question. That is the site, not you.
What would you like to do in Canada?
IEC Travel and Work.
How long are you planning to stay?
Temporarily - more than 6 months.
Select the code that matches your passport
Your country code.
Current country or territory of residence?
Where you normally reside, not where you happen to be if you are travelling.
Family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 or over?
Answer according to your circumstances.
Was your passport issued by [country]?
Options appear based on your earlier answers. Select yes if a correct option is present.
Do you have a letter proving one of these organisations will help you plan your trip or find work?
Select No.
Will you do a work placement or internship as part of your studies?
Select No. A WSC internship is not part of a college or university course, so it cannot be classed as a study programme.
Do you have a signed letter of offer, contract or internship agreement from a Canadian employer?
Select No. This will not affect you entering the pool.
Are you registered at a college or university in your country of citizenship?
Answer according to your circumstances.
Based on your answers you will see your results and the pools you are eligible for. Click Continue.
Final steps
Entering The Pool.
For most people the only option available is the Working Holiday category. For an internship that is the pool you want, irrespective of any other option being available.
It is the most flexible and open visa. You do not need a job offer to receive it, and you can move freely between jobs once you are in Canada.
You now fill out four sections of detailed questions before selecting your pool. They are based on your personal information, so answer them as accurately and truthfully as possible.
Then read the disclosure statement and complete the electronic signature: select I agree, fill in your name, answer the security question, and click Sign. You should see a confirmation message.
is all you get to accept an Invitation to Apply.
Miss it and you go back in the pool. Submitting a profile is not the same as applying for a work permit - you need an ITA before the real application starts.
You should get an email saying you have a new message in your portal. Check the portal weekly anyway, because those emails end up in spam. Invitations go out weekly at first, then intermittently as spots run short.
The Site Is Glitchy. Plan For It.
The IRCC site will throw you out and send you to the wrong page. It is not you and it is not your browser. Keep trying until you get where you want to go.
Go when Canada is asleep
The system is at its worst when busy. UK and European mornings are a good time to log in.
Chrome or Firefox
Safari has the most problems with the Canadian government site. Switch browser before you assume something is broken.
Use a proper computer
Everything works better on a laptop or desktop. Phones and tablets often fail partway through.
Next
Tell us you're in the pool Fill in the Visa Update Status Form so Emma knows where you have got to. →Haven’t chosen your internship yet? Compare our ski instructor internships in Canada and snowboard instructor internships in Canada.
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