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Heard about the Working holiday Visa Canada offers but not sure where to begin? You're in the right place. This page walks you through how to apply for an IEC Working Holiday work permit and start your Canadian adventure.

Key Takeaways

  • The Working Holiday Visa Canada refers to the most competitive of the 3 programs under the IEC.
  • Applying to the program early will increase your chances of success.
  • Youths from over 36 participating countries can come to Canada for a working holiday.
  • There are three steps to the process to successfully arrive in Canada with a Working Holiday visa: enter the pool (if you’re eligible), wait for an invitation, and entering Canada. This post covers all three steps.
  • Your work experience on your IEC working holiday can help you gain Canadian work experience, which can be used to support an application to live permanently in Canada through the Express Entry system.
  • The health insurance requirement is more complex than many IEC working holiday candidates realize. Inadequate health insurance might result in your work permit duration being shortened or, in some cases, you may not receive your work permit at all.
  • The cost of a working holiday visa is CAD$364.75, including $179.75 for processing fees, $100 for the open work permit holder fee and $85 for biometrics fees.

Watch our detailed video guide.

 

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Everything You Need for Your Work and Holiday Adventure

What is the IEC Working Holiday Visa in Canada?

The Working Holiday is one of the most popular categories within the International Experience Canada (IEC) program — a Canadian government initiative that allows young people from over 36 partner countries to live and work in Canada temporarily. This category is particularly attractive because it provides participants with an open work permit, meaning they can work for any employer in virtually any location across Canada, offering a high level of flexibility and freedom.

These open work permits are issued under the International Mobility Program, and their duration typically ranges from 12 to 24 months, depending on the applicant’s country of citizenship. However, the final length of the stay may vary depending on factors like health insurance coverage.

It’s worth noting that Canada has reciprocal agreements with participating countries, meaning young Canadians can also take advantage of similar working holiday opportunities abroad.

Other IEC Categories

In addition to the Working Holiday stream, the IEC program includes two other categories designed to support different types of work and learning experiences:

1. Young Professionals: This category targets post-secondary graduates who wish to gain career-relevant experience in Canada. Unlike the Working Holiday category, participants in the Young Professional category must have a pre-arranged job offer in their field of study or career. Successful applicants receive an employer-specific work permit, meaning they are tied to one employer for the duration of their stay.

2. International Co-op (Internship): This stream is designed for students enrolled in a post-secondary institution in their home country who need to complete a work placement or internship as part of their academic curriculum. To qualify for the International Co-op category, applicants must have a signed job offer that aligns with their academic program. Work permits under this category are generally valid for up to 12 months, although this may vary by country.

Free work and holiday guidance with Moving2Canada

Get access to tons of free resources, including checklists with step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a working holiday visa, job matches from Canadian employers looking to hire IEC participants, guides on how to make a Canadian-style resume and killer cover letter, and much more!

Once you join, we’ll show you exactly where and how to create your IEC profile, plus a bunch of other important tasks to help you along the way. Join the Moving2Canada community here.

Working Holiday Visa Eligibility: What Are The Requirements?

To be eligible to apply for an IEC Working Holiday Visa in Canada, candidates must:

  • Be a citizen (passport holder) of one of the 36 countries that have a “bilateral youth mobility agreement” with Canada. In other words, one of the IEC Working Holiday visa Canada participating countries OR be from the United States and apply through a recognized organization.
  • For some IEC categories, such as Young Professionals, applicants may also need to demonstrate relevant professional experience related to their studies or training.
  • Have a valid passport for the duration of your stay in Canada (the work permit issued will not be longer than the validity of the passport).
  • Be between the ages of 18 and 30 or 35 (inclusive) when your profile is selected from the pool. The working holiday visa age limit depends on the applicant’s country of citizenship, as outlined in our International Experience Canada country list.
  • Have the equivalent of at least CAD$2,500 on landing to help cover initial expenses.
  • Take out health insurance for the full duration of their Working Holiday Visa in Canada (participants will have to present evidence of this insurance at the point of entry in Canada). View providers on our health insurance for Canada page or get a free comparative quote for IEC health insurance.
  • Be admissible to Canada.
  • Have, before departure, a round-trip ticket or the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket for the end of their authorized stay in Canada.
  • Not be accompanied by dependants.
  • Pay the appropriate fees of CAD$179.75, as outlined in the ‘Apply for a work permit’ section below.
  • Citizens of certain countries are also required to be residents in their country of citizenship at the time they apply for their Working Holiday Visa in Canada.
  • Citizens of certain countries are also required to be residents in their country of citizenship at the time they apply for the program.

To get a full list of all the documents you will need and more details, check out this guide about the documents for your IEC work permit application.

How to Apply To The IEC Working Holiday Program

Step One: Become A Candidate in the IEC Canada Pools

  • Complete the Come to Canada questionnaire. This is used as an initial assessment of your eligibility for an IEC work permit. If you meet the criteria, you’ll receive a personal reference code.
  • Enter this code to create your account.
  • Build your IEC visa profile.
  • Submit your profile and choose the IEC pool(s) you want to be in. Some candidates will only be eligible for one pool, while some may be eligible for more.
  • At this stage, it’s a case of waiting to be selected, as you’ll need to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) in order to continue the process. Where numbers in the pool greatly exceed the number of permits available, this will reduce your chances of receiving an ITA. Get the latest update on your chances at our Working Holiday Canada news hub.
  • If you receive an ITA, you will have 10 days start your application for a Working Holiday Visa in Canada, or to decline the invitation. If you do not accept or decline the invitation within the 10 days, your working holiday IEC profile will be removed from the pool.

Rachel from the Moving2Canada team guides you step-by-step through creating your IEC profile in this video.

Step Two: Apply for an IEC work permit:

  • Once you press the ‘Start Application’ button to formally accept the ITA, you’ll have 20 days to submit your work permit application and pay any relevant fees.
  • In the IEC Young Professional and International Co-op categories, your employer also needs to pay the CAD$230 employer compliance fee through the employer portal before the 20 days expire. They’ll need to send you the Offer of Employment number they receive so you can enter this in your application.
  • Gather and upload all the documents (e.g. police or medical certificates) requested by IRCC. If you don’t have these immediately, you can upload proof that you’ve applied for a police certificate or medical exam.
  • Pay relevant fees.
  • Submit your application.
  • IRCC will assess your application and may request additional documents.

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Step Three: Enter Canada 

If your application is a success, congratulations! But you’re not quite there yet. 

Next, a letter of introduction (LOI) will be sent to your account. At this point, you can book your travel to Canada (or organize to leave Canada and re-enter). 

To successfully enter Canada on your IEC work permit, you will need to bring all of the documents required for your arrival in Canada

  • Your valid passport.
  • Your Letter of Introduction.
  • Proof of travel insurance (health insurance) for the entire duration of your planned stay. If you are not able to get one policy to cover the entire period, you can purchase two (or more)  separate policies, but you will need to prove that you’re insured for your entire stay. 
  • Proof of at least $2,500 CAD in your account within the last 7 days. 
  • Proof of onward travel or additional funds to leave Canada. 
  • Printed copies of your police certificate. 
  • Details of your country’s IEC treaty. 
  • Proof of medical, if needed. 

For more detailed information, check our article on the necessary documents and requirements for a Successful Working Holiday arrival in Canada.

After providing all the documents to an immigration office at a Port of Entry (POE), such as an airport or border crossing. This is where you will receive your work permit. 

 

Mandatory Insurance for Working Holiday participants

We do really want to stress the importance of adequate health insurance coverage at this point. If you are not adequately insured, you may not receive your IEC work permit at all. If you don’t have health insurance for the entire period, your IEC work permit duration may be shortened. In other words, if you only have insurance for 6 months but you want to stay for 2 years (and that’s what your country’s IEC agreement allows), you will only be able to stay on an IEC work permit for 6 months. 

Health insurance is mandatory for Working Holiday participants. Not sure where to start?

 

Want the Full Picture? Check Out the Detailed Infographic

We broke down the IEC Working Holiday application into three main steps to help you get started with confidence. But if you want to see the entire process at a glance—from eligibility to receiving your Port of Entry letter—be sure to check out the detailed infographic below. It’s your visual guide to every step of the journey!

steps to obtain a working holiday visa in canada

 

What documents do you need for a Working Holiday visa in Canada?

Do you need proof of funds to apply for a Working Holiday visa for Canada?

What is the age limit for the working holiday visa in Canada?

What are the chances of getting a “Working Holiday Visa”?

Your chances of getting a Working Holiday visa depend on your country of citizenship, as each country has a limited number of spots available under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. The selection process works like a lottery—once you submit your profile, you’re placed into a pool, and draws happen at random. The more people in the pool for your country, the lower your chances of being picked. Some countries have larger quotas, meaning more opportunities to be selected, while others have fewer spots, making it trickier to get an invitation. Since selection isn’t guaranteed, it’s a good idea to apply early and keep an eye on the draw rounds to see how many spots are left.

To help with your planning, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides updates on your chances of being selected with each draw. IRCC ranks countries based on the probability of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next round:

✅ Excellent = 80% – 99% chance of being selected 
👍 Very good = 60% – 79% chance of being selected 
🤞 Fair = 40% – 59% chance of being selected 
⚠️ Very low = 20% – 39% chance of being selected 
🔴 Low = 1% – 19% chance of being selected

Keeping an eye on these rankings can give you a better idea of where you stand and help you plan your next steps!

What can you do to increase your chances of being successful?

If you’re hoping to secure a Working Holiday visa, there are a few ways to improve your chances and maximize your opportunities:

✅ Enter the pool as early as possible – Even if you’re not planning to move right away, submitting your profile as soon as you’re eligible gives you more chances to be selected in multiple rounds of invitations. The longer you’re in the pool, the better your odds.

✅ Keep an eye on your country’s selection odds – Check Immigration, IRCC updates on selection probabilities. If your country’s odds are low, you might want to explore alternative pathways.

✅ Consider applying through the Young Professionals Program – If your country has an agreement for the Young Professionals stream, this can be a less competitive route compared to the Working Holiday visa. The catch? You’ll need a job offer from a Canadian employer before applying. Start job searching early, network through LinkedIn, and explore job boards like Job Bank Canada and Moving2Canada’s own job board.

✅ Expand your job search beyond major cities – If you’re applying through the Young Professionals program, looking for jobs outside of popular hubs like Toronto and Vancouver can boost your chances. Smaller cities and rural areas often have less competition and may be more open to hiring international workers.

✅ Ensure your documents are ready – If selected, you’ll need to accept your invitation quickly and submit all required documents on time. Delays or missing paperwork can result in losing your spot.

✅ Stay flexible – If your country has a low quota or high competition, consider other immigration pathways, such as student visas, employer-sponsored work permits, or applying through a provincial program if you meet the criteria. A great example of this is alternative options for French citizens. 

How much does the Working Holiday permit cost?

It does not cost anything to enter the IEC working holiday pool.

You only pay if you are selected and go on to submit a work permit application, at which point you will need to pay the appropriate processing fees.

To get a Working Holiday Visa in Canada, it will be necessary to pay a processing fees of CAD$179.75, and an open work permit holder fee of CAD$100. In addition to this, applicants will need to pay an $85 biometrics fee unless they have given biometrics in the 10 years preceding their application. Learn more about biometrics for IEC.

How many IEC Work Permits will be issued in 2025?

Since the IEC program is quota-based, each participating country has a set number of work permits available each year.The total quota for the 2025 program 63,535.  Some countries, like Australia and Finland, have no cap on the number of permits issued, while others have fixed quotas. For example, in 2025, the United Kingdom has a quota of 9,000 permits, whereas Italy is limited to 1,750.

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FAQs

Can the work experience I gain on a Working Holiday permit be used to get Canadian permanent residency?

Yes! The Working Holiday permit is an open work permit, meaning you can work for almost any employer in Canada and gain valuable Canadian work experience—which can help support a permanent residency (PR) application. However, the type of work you do matters.

If you’re aiming for Express Entry, you’ll need skilled work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. If your work falls under a lower TEER level, you may need to explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which sometimes accept candidates with less specialized work experience.

Regardless of the path you choose, Canadian work experience boosts your chances of PR. Just keep in mind that self-employed work experience does not count toward eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. So, if PR is your goal, choosing the right job while on a Working Holiday visa is key!

Employment Tips for IEC Working Holiday Participants 

Finding a job in Canada as an IEC Working Holiday participant can be easier with the right approach. If you’re looking for opportunities in construction or engineering, consider checking out Outpost Recruitment, a specialized agency that connects job seekers with employers in these fields. To improve your chances of landing a job, it’s also important to adapt your resume (or ‘CV’) to Canadian standards, which often emphasizes concise formatting and clear, results-oriented descriptions. If you’re open to different job options, exploring alternative roles suited for Working Holiday visa holders—such as hospitality, tourism, or seasonal work—can help you secure employment quickly and gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Can my spouse join me on my Working Holiday visa?

As part of the eligibility criteria, applicants must not be accompanied by a dependant, including spouse or common law partner. however, there are ways your spouse/ common-law partner can join you in Canada.

  1. If they qualify for a Working Holiday visa, they can apply for one in their own name
  2. One you come to Canada and start working on your Working Holiday permit, your spouse or common- law partner may qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). A SOWP is an open work permit and will be issued for the same duration as your Working Holiday visa.

 

Need further help with your IEC application?

Please explore our many resources to help you plan your application. Research is crucial as you plan for success in Canada.

IEC Health Insurance

More Resources for Work and Holiday Program Participants

We are committed to supporting IEC participants throughout their work and holiday journey. By joining Our community, you’ll find comprehensive information about working holiday visas, work permits, and the IEC program itself. There are step-by-step guides to help you navigate the application process, tips for finding employment, and advice on accessing healthcare while in Canada. Also, our Job Hub is a valuable tool, connecting Canadian employers with IEC participants and opening up a wide range of job opportunities. Whether you need help understanding your work permit, searching for employment, or learning about your rights as a worker, these resources are designed to make your experience in Canada as smooth and successful as possible.

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About the author

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Rebecca Major

She/Her
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Rebecca Major is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (R511564) with nearly 15 years of licenced Canadian Immigration experience, gained after graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in the UK. She specializes in Canadian immigration at Moving2Canada.
Read more about Rebecca Major
Citation "Working Holiday Canada: Your Ultimate Guide to IEC Work Permit." Moving2Canada. . Copy for Citation