IEC Working Holiday Canada: International Experience Canada for Ages 18 to 35

International Experience Canada is a youth mobility program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Canada has agreements with 35 countries and territories, including Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Each agreement sets the age limit, how long you can stay, which categories you can use, and how many places your country gets each season (the quota).

IEC work permits don't need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and the Working Holiday category doesn't even need a job offer. This makes IEC one of the easiest ways for young people to live and work in Canada for a while.

If your country has no agreement with Canada, you may still be able to take part through one of the 7 recognized organizations that IRCC works with. These organizations usually charge fees and have their own rules.

Not every country has all three categories. Some agreements only include Working Holiday. You can enter more than one pool if you are eligible, but you can accept only one invitation per season.

The exact rules depend on your country, but in general you must:

• Be a citizen of a partner country, or apply through a recognized organization
• Be within the age limit for your country (18 to 35, or 18 to 30 for some countries). Check the exact rule for your country, because turning too old during the process can end your eligibility
• Have a valid passport for your whole stay. Your work permit cannot last longer than your passport
• Have at least CAD $2,500 to cover your first expenses in Canada
• Buy health insurance that covers your entire stay. If your insurance is shorter, your permit may be shortened to match
• Have a return ticket, or enough money to buy one
• Not bring dependants with you under your IEC permit
• Be admissible to Canada, with police certificates and a medical exam if IRCC asks for them

Young Professionals and Co-op applicants also need a valid job offer or placement that meets the category rules.

IEC does not use a points system. It works like this:

1. You create an IEC profile and enter the pool for your country and category.
2. IRCC holds rounds of invitations, usually every week or two, and picks candidates at random from each pool.
3. When you get an invitation to apply, you have 10 days to accept or decline it.
4. After you accept, you have 20 days to submit your work permit application and pay the fees.

Your chances depend on the size of your country's quota and how many people are in the pool. Popular countries often issue more invitations than their quota because not everyone who is invited completes an application.

Status in September 2026: the 2026 season opened on December 19, 2025 and rounds have continued through the year. As of mid-September 2026, several large Working Holiday pools, such as France, Australia, and Ireland, had only a small number of spots left. Check the IEC rounds page before you enter a pool.

Fees as of September 2026, from the IRCC fee list:

Employers of Young Professionals and Co-op participants must also pay a CAD $230 employer compliance fee and submit your job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal. Don't forget the costs of health insurance, travel, and your first months of rent.

If IRCC approves your application, you get a port of entry letter of introduction. It is not your work permit. You get the actual permit from a border officer when you first arrive in Canada. You must travel before the date shown on your letter.

At the border, bring your passport, the letter, proof of CAD $2,500 in funds, and proof of health insurance for your whole stay. Officers often check insurance dates closely.

If you are already in Canada when your IEC permit is approved, check IRCC's current rules on how to activate it. Flagpoling, which meant leaving briefly for the US and coming back to get a permit at the border, ended for work and study permits on December 23, 2024, with limited exceptions.

IEC is temporary, but many participants use it as a first step. If you work full time in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job for at least a year, that experience may qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class. Check your score with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) calculator and read about provincial nominee programs. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the job levels used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Some countries allow you to take part in IEC more than once, sometimes in a different category. Others allow only one participation. If you want to stay longer after your IEC permit, you will need another status, such as an LMIA work permit. Apply before your status expires so you keep maintained status.