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Indian youth dreaming of working and traveling in Canada have received disappointing news. The Canadian government has officially opened the pools for the 2026 season of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, but India has been completely excluded from the list of participating countries. This program offers young people an easy pathway to gain work experience and explore Canada, but Indian applicants are now denied this simplified route.
What is the IEC Program and Its Benefits? The International Experience Canada (IEC) is a special youth mobility initiative by the Canadian government. It allows citizens aged 18 to 35 (or up to 30 in some countries) from partner nations to live and work in Canada for 1 to 2 years. The program includes three main categories:
Working Holiday – Provides an open work permit, allowing participants to work for any employer without restrictions.
Young Professionals– Offers an employer-specific permit focused on career-building experience.
International Co-op (Internship) – Designed for students to complete internships related to their studies.
Participants enjoy exemption from the complex and expensive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Invitations are issued through a lottery-style system, making the application faster and more accessible. For the 2026 season, the program includes youth from 36 countries with bilateral youth mobility agreements, such as Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and others.
But India’s Name is Nowhere to Be Found! Despite the inclusion of over 30 countries, India is absent from the 2026 IEC list. This has caused widespread frustration among lakhs of young people from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and other states who were hoping to gain international work-travel experience to boost their careers.
What Options Remain for Indian Youth? Without IEC participation, Indian applicants must rely on traditional immigration pathways, which are more challenging:
LMIA-based Work Permits – Requires an employer to obtain an LMIA, a lengthy and costly process.
Study Permits leading to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)– Study in Canada first, then work temporarily after graduation.
Other Programs – Such as Express Entry for skilled workers or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
These alternatives are generally more complicated, time-consuming, and uncertain compared to the straightforward IEC route. Immigration experts believe that if India and Canada sign a youth mobility agreement in the future, it could bring major relief, especially for youth in states like Punjab.
Why Was India Excluded? The IEC program operates solely on the basis of bilateral youth mobility agreements between Canada and partner countries. India currently has no such agreement, which is why its citizens are ineligible. While Canada has seen a significant rise in Indian students and immigrants in recent years, no dedicated open work permit arrangement like IEC exists yet for Indians. The agreement remains pending.
This news has sparked intense discussions on social media, with many young Indians expressing disappointment and calling on both governments for better opportunities and alternatives.
If you're also planning to head to Canada, stick to the current rules, explore other viable paths, and regularly check the official website canada.ca for any updates. If India gets included in the future, it could open up a huge opportunity!
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World – February 18, 2026
