Study English or French and Work in Canada

About the Languages Canada Recognized Organization

The Languages Canada Recognized Organization (RO) Consortium (LC Consortium) is a designated recognized organization of the Government of Canada’s International Experience Canada (IEC) Program. IEC gives young Canadians the opportunity to broaden their perspective of the world and Canada’s place in it through international work and travel experience.

Through IEC, Canada has negotiated temporary immigration pathways with more than 35 countries and territories allowing Canadian youth (between ages 18 and 35) to work while they travel in a partner country or territory. The same opportunity is provided to young citizens from partner countries and territories (and sometimes countries without a partnership) to come to Canada.

This initiative originated over 60 years ago as a cultural exchange program between youth. With IEC’s current mandate, the Government of Canada remains committed to fostering cultural, economic, and social exchanges between youth through work and travel opportunities.

The Government of Canada works with key stakeholders in Canada and abroad, like the LC Consortium , to raise awareness of the Program, to promote the benefits of international experience, and to equip Canadian and foreign national youth with information and services to help them achieve international work and travel experiences through IEC.

The LC Consortium comprises eight accredited language schools with locations in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. LC Consortium members provide international youth from eligible countries the opportunity to improve their English and/or French in a high-quality, immersive classroom setting, and to receive job skills and job placement support to work in Canada.

All LC Consortium members are accredited under one internationally recognized and comprehensive scheme. The LC Accreditation Scheme operates at arm’s length, is transparent and confidential, and maintains the integrity and rigour of Languages Canada’s standards and process.

Queries related to language and work opportunities in Canada can be directed to individual Consortium members (see above).

General questions related to Languages Canada can be directed to: IEC-EIC@languagescanada.ca.

Eligibility Criteria

Participants must meet all general eligibility criteria to obtain a work permit. For more detailed information on this criteria, consult the IEC website.

General Eligibility Criteria:

• Participant is between 18 and 35 years old.
• Participant's country or territory of citizenship has a Youth Mobility Agreement (YMA) with Canada which includes a Working Holiday visa option (check here).
• Participant may not bring any dependent family members to Canada with them.
• Participant can provide proof of a minimum of $2,500 CAD to cover their expenses in Canada.
• Participant has proof of health insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada.
• Participant must not be inadmissible to Canada.
• Participant has a round-trip ticket or proof of sufficient funds to cover their departure from Canada at the end of their authorized stay.
• Participant has paid Program and Registration Fees to the LC Consortium member.

Language Study:

All packages offered by LC Consortium members include a minimum of 12 weeks of English and/or French language study, in addition to employment preparation and placement support. International youth are only eligible for nomination through the LC Consortium if they are committed to 12 weeks of language study in Canada. If a Participant does not wish to study English and/or French in Canada, they are not eligible for the LC RO Consortium.

Follow these steps to apply

1. Ensure Participant meets the IEC Eligibility Criteria.
2. Visit the websites of each Consortium member to learn more about the Programs and packages they offer.
3. Select the Consortium member that best suits the Participant.
4. Follow the application process laid out by the LC Consortium member.
5. Contact the Consortium member directly for more information on the application process.
6. Once the application process has been completed, including payment of Fees, the Consortium member will issue the Participant’s Confirmation Letter.
7. Use the Confirmation Letter to start the Participant’s work permit application on the IEC website, as per the IEC application process.
8. After the Participant has successfully completed the work permit application, including payment of Fees to IEC, they will receive a Port of Entry letter which they will bring with them to Canada.

Definitions

LC Consortium
The Languages Canada Recognized Organization Consortium is a group of eight accredited language schools offering a range of English and French language study Programs to eligible IEC youth.

Program
Any and all courses of study offered by LC Consortium members, including English or French language study opportunities, employment support, and placement services offered as part of a package for eligible IEC youth.

Applicant
Any youth interested in, or in the process of, applying to a Program offered by any LC Consortium member.

Participant
Any youth that has purchased a Program from an LC Consortium member and received a Confirmation Letter.

Agreement
A contract between the Participant and an LC Consortium member.

Fees
All Program Fees offered by LC Consortium members are listed in Canadian Dollars. All Programs include the following Fees:

• A one-time Registration Fee;
• A Program Fee.

Confirmation Letter
A letter provided by LC Consortium members to Participants upon payment of Fees, which Participants then use to apply for their work permit, confirming they are using the services of a Recognized Organization.

Description of Services

The LC Consortium offers access to the IEC Working Holiday (work and travel) permit.

Each Consortium member offers unique packages that include:

• A minimum of 12 weeks of intensive English and/or French language study;
• A range of employment preparation and placement supports that will help prepare international youth for success in a Canadian workplace. These services range from CV writing and interview coaching to job fairs and pre-screened work placements. Each Consortium member offers a range of employment support and/or placement packages. Youth are advised to consult Consortium member webpages to learn more about the unique packages they offer.
• Optional add-on services such as providing accommodation (e.g., homestay placement), social and cultural excursions, transportation, and tours to Canadian post-secondary institutions. Please consult the Consortium member webpages to learn more about add-on services.

Terms and Conditions

An Agreement between an LC Consortium member and Participant begins when an LC Consortium member has received a completed and signed online application form, has received payment of all necessary registration and Program Fees, and the Participant has been issued a Confirmation Letter by the LC Consortium member. LC Consortium members reserve the right to refuse any Applicant who does not meet the Program eligibility requirements.

The Agreement will end upon fulfillment of the terms of services outlined in the specific Agreement, as per the Program purchased by the Participant, or as otherwise terminated in accordance with the provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

By purchasing any package offered by an LC Consortium member, participating youth affirm they meet the IEC Eligibility Criteria, and accept the following Program Terms and Conditions, and the Use of Personal Information and Cancellation and Refund policies.

• The Participant is responsible for completing all steps in their International Experience Canada work permit application process, including providing all required documentation. The Participant must meet all eligibility criteria and visa conditions.
• Obtaining a valid Canada work permit is the responsibility of the Participant. The LC Consortium is not responsible for delays in visa processing, nor for a Participant’s failure to submit a complete and correct IEC application.
• The Participant is responsible for all travel expenses to get to their destination in Canada, unless otherwise specified in the Program purchased. All travels before, during, and after the Program are at the Participant’s own risk and expense. The LC Consortium is not liable or responsible for the Participant’s health and safety, and loss or damage to property. The Participant must ensure that they are fit and qualified to travel.
• Gross misconduct, dangerous or offensive behaviour, involvement in illegal activity, violation of LC Consortium member school rules while enrolled, or failure to perform duties as requested may result in the Participant’s expulsion from the Program.
• The LC Consortium is not responsible for or deemed to be in default by reason of delays in or failure of performance of this Agreement due to causes beyond its reasonable control, and not being limited to civil war, war between nations, insurrections, strikes, riots, fires, floods, explosions, earthquakes, serious accidents; any act of government, governmental priorities, allocations, regulations, or orders affecting materials or facilities; acts of God or the public enemy, failure of transportation, epidemics, quarantine restrictions; or labour trouble-causing cessation, slowdown or interruption of work, and failure of suppliers and subcontractors to furnish labour or materials within their contractual delivery times.
• The Participant must follow IEC guidelines for the work permit activation process. The LC Consortium is not responsible for work permit activation issues nor for any mistakes made on the work permit once issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at the Port of Entry. It is the responsibility of the Participant to provide all correct documentation and verify the information on the work permit is correct.
  • Work Permit Validity Period: For RO participations from YMA countries and territories, the work permit validity period for ROs is the same as the negotiated YMA limits.
• Repeat Participation under RO Status: IEC Participants who use an RO for support before and during their stay in Canada are eligible for two more lifetime participations in the IEC. The second lifetime participation granted via ROs can be in the same category or a different category. RO participations are in addition to the YMA country-specific participation. Note that the two lifetime RO opportunities are inclusive of previous participations with all ROs. For more information about repeat participation, see the IEC website.
• The Participant must affirm that all information in their application form is true and correct and that any false information may result in the cancellation of their Program with no refund.

Use of Personal Information

By submitting an application, Participants provide express consent for Languages Canada and its Consortium institution to use personal information for the following purposes:

1. Personal information in Participant applications, including but not limited to date of birth, nationality, address, resume, and passport identification page, is used solely for determining Program and work permit eligibility. This information will not be shared with or sold to any third party.
2. Macro-level Participant information, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, province travelled to, duration of stay in Canada, Program type, and type of work, may be shared with the Government of Canada for research and statistical purposes in accordance with the IEC Program.
3. In order to support the Participant, personal information may be shared with LC Consortium partners in Canada in order to arrange accommodation, health insurance, or other in-country support services.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• Payment of Registration Fee and Program Fee to the LC Consortium institution is required at the time of purchasing a Program. The LC Consortium member will not issue a Confirmation Letter until all Fees have been paid.
• There are Fees required to apply to the IEC Program itself. These are in addition to LC Consortium package prices. See ‘Pay Your Fees’ on the IEC’s How To Apply webpage for more details.
• Participants understand that all packages offered by LC Consortium members include a minimum of 12 weeks of English and/or French language study in Canada, and commit to undertaking language study in accordance with the Program purchased. If a Participant fails to start, attend, or complete the English/French language study portion of the Program at no fault of the LC Consortium member, no refund of the Application Fee will be issued.
• If an Applicant wishes to change travel dates they must inform the LC Consortium member of this change by email as soon as possible. The institution will attempt to accommodate the change and will confirm the change to the Applicant in writing. Fees may be subject to change as determined by the institution.
• In the event that the LC Consortium member is forced to withdraw or cancel a Program, a similar Program will be offered to the Participant. In the event that the replacement Program is unsuitable, the LC Consortium member will refund 100% of the Fees paid by the Applicant, minus any costs incurred. The replacement Program is not required to be the same price as the original Program. If the Fees for the replacement Program are higher than the withdrawn or cancelled Program, additional costs are payable by the Participant.
• The Registration Fee is 100% non-refundable, including in cases of visa refusal.
• If the Participant wishes to cancel their Program at any point before or during their stay in Canada for reasons including serious personal illness or death of an immediate family member (known as ‘compassionate grounds’), official documentation will be required before a refund of the Program Fee is provided to the Participant.
  • Before the date the Program begins, the Participant is eligible for a 100% refund of the Program Fee on compassionate grounds.
  • After the Program begins, the Participant is eligible for a refund equal to the amount of the Program which is remaining. For instance, if the Program is 30% complete, the Participant is eligible for a refund of 70% of the Program Fee. After the language portion of the Program is complete, the Participant is not eligible for a refund.
  • Note: A letter of credit may be provided to the Participant which allows them to resume their English and/or French language Program at a future time, depending on the conditions and dates of the Participant’s work permit.
• Program Fees may be partially eligible for refunds in case of Participant cancellation. Note that in order to receive a refund due to visa refusal, a copy of the Canada immigration refusal letter must accompany all Program cancellation requests.

For eligible Canadians interested in working in one of 37 partner countries, IEC has provided an overview of the steps needed to apply.

Work and travel opportunities, eligibility, and processes for Canadian youth are dependent on the immigration and work conditions established with partner countries and territories. IEC has developed guidance and country-specific resources that describe the opportunities, limits, and procedures required for Canadian youth to apply for a work permit to one of these countries or territories.

For more information and to apply, consult IEC’s webpage for Canadians who want to work and travel abroad.

For commonly asked questions on the IEC program, please see the IEC FAQ.