In short: the International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday gives eligible young people an open work permit, which means you can work for almost any employer, in almost any job, anywhere in Canada, without first lining up a job offer. It is the most popular and most flexible of the three IEC categories. There is a catch, though: you cannot simply apply. You first create a profile, enter a randomized pool for your country, and wait to be drawn for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Not everyone in the pool is invited, because each country has a limited annual quota set by a bilateral youth-mobility agreement with Canada. This guide explains who qualifies in 2026, the age limits, exactly how the pool and invitation rounds work, the current government fees, how long the permit lasts, and what you can do once it expires. It is educational information, not legal advice: an IRCC or CBSA officer makes the final decision, and you should verify current quotas, dates, and fees on canada.ca before you apply.
The Three IEC Categories
IEC is a reciprocal program: Canada signs bilateral youth-mobility agreements with specific countries and territories so that young people can work and travel in each other's country. Under these agreements there are three distinct work-authorization categories, and which ones are open to you depends on your country of citizenship. Many people use "working holiday visa" loosely, but it is worth knowing the difference, because only one of the three gives you a fully open work permit:
Working Holiday
The most flexible category. Grants an open work permit, work for any employer, in any occupation, anywhere in Canada. No job offer required to apply.
Age: the eligible range depends on your country's youth-mobility agreement (commonly 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 for some countries). Duration also varies by country. Check your country's agreement on canada.ca. This is what most people mean when they say "working holiday visa."
Young Professionals
For young professionals who have a job offer from a Canadian employer. The work permit is employer-specific, you can only work for the employer named on the permit.
Age: 18–35. Requires: job offer, must be working in an occupation related to your field of study. Duration: up to 24 months.
International Co-op (Internship)
For students enrolled in a post-secondary program outside Canada who need to complete a work placement or internship in Canada as a requirement of their program.
Age: 18–35. Requires: letter from institution confirming co-op/internship is mandatory for program completion. Duration: up to 12 months.
Eligible Countries & Age Limits
IEC is generally available to citizens of countries that have a bilateral youth-mobility agreement with Canada. If your country does not have an agreement, or its quota is full, you may still be able to participate through a Recognized Organization (a third party authorized by IRCC), though that route usually has its own fees and conditions. Eligibility, the exact age range, and the annual quota all vary by country and change every year. The examples below are illustrative groupings only, not an official or complete list, and a country can move between groups, so always confirm your own country's current rule on IRCC's official IEC country page before relying on it:
| Country Group | Examples | Age Limit (Working Holiday) |
|---|---|---|
| 18–30 countries | Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | 18–30 |
| 18–35 countries | Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Ukraine, Argentina, Ecuador, Morocco, Tunisia | 18–35 |
Note : This is not an exhaustive list, and the groupings above are illustrative only. Which age limit applies to a given country, and the countries in each group, can change with annual updates and bilateral-agreement amendments, so do not rely on these examples for your own case. Country eligibility, age limits, and annual quotas change each year. Use our Visa Checker to confirm your country's eligibility and current quota status, or check IRCC's official IEC country page.
You must be within your country's age range to submit a profile, and your profile stays eligible for an invitation only while you remain within that range, so aging past the maximum while in the pool generally removes you from consideration. The key relief: if you receive an invitation to apply before you age out, turning older than the maximum afterward generally does not affect your work permit. What this means for you: if your upper age limit is 30, you generally need to be invited before your 31st birthday, not merely have submitted a profile. Confirm the exact age rule for your country on canada.ca, because it differs between countries.
How the Pool & Invitation System Works
A common misunderstanding: IEC is not first-come, first-served, and joining the pool early does not by itself improve your odds within a given round (it only ensures you are in the pool before quotas fill). Selection is randomized. Here is how the process generally works from start to finish:
- 1
Create a profile
Submit your profile on the IRCC IEC portal. Your profile enters the pool for your country and category (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or Co-op). No fee at this stage.
- 2
Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
IRCC randomly selects candidates from the pool in rounds (draws). Not everyone in the pool gets invited, spots are limited by annual quotas per country. There is no guaranteed timeline for receiving an invitation.
- 3
Receive your ITA
If selected, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) via your IRCC account. You then generally have a limited window to decide whether to accept and a further window to submit your full work permit application. These deadlines are set by the program and have varied, so confirm the current ones on canada.ca.
- 4
Submit work permit application
Once you accept the ITA, submit your full work permit application online within the deadline. Pay the government fees (the IEC participation fee plus, for Working Holiday, the open work permit holder fee), and give biometrics if required. Verify current fee amounts on canada.ca before paying.
- 5
Receive Letter of Introduction (LOI)
After approval, you receive a Letter of Introduction. This is not the work permit itself, it authorizes you to travel to Canada and get the permit issued at the port of entry.
- 6
Enter Canada and get your permit
Present your LOI to CBSA at a Canadian port of entry. The officer issues your open work permit. You can begin working for any employer immediately.
Quotas fill fast. Some countries (especially UK and France) have quotas that are exhausted quickly each year. Once the quota is filled, the pool closes and no more ITAs are issued until the next year's opening. Submit your profile as early as possible at the start of each year.
Fees, Permit Duration & Extension
Fees
- • IEC participation fee: about $184.75 CAD (verify current amount on canada.ca)
- • Open Work Permit Holder fee (Working Holiday only): $100 CAD
- • Biometrics: $85 CAD per person, or $170 CAD maximum for a family applying together, if required
- • Total government fees for Working Holiday: roughly $284.75 CAD, plus biometrics where applicable
Permit Duration
- • Most countries: up to 12 months
- • Some countries (for example Australia, France, the UK and others) allow up to 24 months; the exact length depends on the agreement
- • Duration is set by the bilateral agreement, so confirm your own country's maximum on IRCC
- • Beyond government fees, you generally must show proof of funds (often around $2,500 CAD) and have health insurance for your full stay; verify the current amount and rules on canada.ca
Can You Extend?
The IEC Working Holiday permit generally cannot be renewed or extended on its own, because it is tied to your one-time IEC participation. Many people use a working holiday as a stepping stone rather than an end point: the Canadian work experience you gain on it can count toward permanent residence. When your permit is nearing its end, the routes people most often consider are:
- ✓ Re-apply through IEC, some bilateral agreements allow a second IEC participation. Check if your country allows repeat participation.
- ✓ Apply for a different work permit, if you have a Canadian job offer, your employer may be able to sponsor you for an employer-specific work permit or LMIA-backed permit.
- ✓ Apply for permanent residence: Canadian work experience gained on an IEC permit can qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry) or a Provincial Nominee Program.
Check your IEC eligibility
Our Visa Checker confirms your country's IEC eligibility, current quota status, and age limit in seconds.
Check My EligibilityFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a job offer to apply for IEC Working Holiday?+
No. The Working Holiday category grants an open work permit, you can apply without a job offer and work for any employer in Canada once you arrive. The Young Professionals category does require a job offer.
How long does it take to get an ITA after joining the pool?+
There is no guaranteed timeline. It depends on your country's annual quota, how many people are in the pool, and how frequently IRCC conducts draws. Some popular country pools are drawn quickly; others can take weeks or months. Some applicants never receive an ITA if quotas are exhausted.
Can I bring my family on an IEC Working Holiday?+
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit as the spouse of an IEC permit holder, and this can depend on conditions such as how much time is left on your permit. Your dependent children may be eligible for visitor status or student permits. The exact conditions can change, so verify the current dependent-eligibility rules on canada.ca.
Does a criminal record affect my IEC application?+
Yes. All work permit applicants, including IEC, must meet standard Canadian admissibility requirements. A criminal record that may make you inadmissible under IRPA s.36 can result in your work permit application being refused. Address criminal inadmissibility (TRP or Criminal Rehabilitation) before or alongside your IEC application if applicable.
Can I study while on an IEC Working Holiday permit?+
Yes, with limitations. You can generally take short-term courses (6 months or less) without a study permit. For programs longer than 6 months, you would usually need a separate study permit. Many Working Holiday participants take language courses or short professional development programs. Verify current study-without-a-permit rules on canada.ca.
How much does the IEC Working Holiday cost in 2026?+
For the Working Holiday category the main government fees are the IEC participation fee (about $184.75 CAD) plus the open work permit holder fee ($100 CAD), for roughly $284.75 CAD in total, with biometrics ($85 CAD per person, up to $170 CAD for a family) on top if required. Separately, you generally need to show proof of funds (often around $2,500 CAD) and have health insurance for your whole stay. Fees and the proof-of-funds amount change, so confirm the current figures on canada.ca before you pay.
Is the IEC Working Holiday guaranteed if I am eligible and join the pool?+
No. Meeting the eligibility rules and entering the pool does not guarantee an invitation. IRCC draws candidates randomly from each country pool, and the number invited is capped by that country's annual quota. If the quota is exhausted before you are drawn, you may not receive an Invitation to Apply that season. There is no published guaranteed timeline, and a final decision on your work permit is still made by an officer.
I missed the age limit or my country has no agreement. Can I still come to Canada to work?+
Possibly, through other routes rather than IEC. If your country does not have a youth-mobility agreement or its quota is full, a Recognized Organization may be able to help you participate, subject to its own fees and conditions. If you are over the age limit, IEC may simply not be available, but other work pathways such as an employer-specific work permit (with a job offer), the Global Talent Stream, an intra-company transfer, Express Entry, or a Provincial Nominee Program may still apply. Eligibility for each is different; verify on canada.ca or consult a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
Can I leave and re-enter Canada during my Working Holiday?+
Generally yes, the open work permit usually lets you travel in and out of Canada while it is valid, though you should travel with your valid permit and any required entry documents (such as an eTA or visa, depending on your nationality). Each entry is still subject to an examination by a CBSA officer, who can ask about your funds and purpose. The permit does not extend its validity if you spend time outside Canada, so time abroad effectively shortens the period you can actually work here. Confirm current entry-document requirements for your nationality on canada.ca.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.