What is International Experience Canada?

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a series of work permits that provide young people from around the world with the opportunity to travel and work in Canada. It includes the popular Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op work permits.

Who is eligible for the IEC program?

Aspiring immigrants to Canada are eligible to participate in the IEC program if: They are citizens of a country that has a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. You can find the full list of eligible countries here. They have a valid passport from their home country. The passport must remain valid throughout their stay in Canada. They are between the ages of 18 and 35 for most of the participating countries. The age limit may differ for some partner countries, like Mexico (29) or Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (30) They can demonstrate that they have enough funds to cover their expenses in Canada (at least CAD 2,500). They must also prove that they have the financial resources to buy a departure ticket at the end of their stay in Canada (or have proof that they have already purchased a departure ticket.) They have valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in Canada. They show a clean criminal record by providing police certificates from the countries they have lived in.

How do I work in Canada in 2024 on the International Experience Canada work permit?

International Experience Canada (IEC) opened for 2024 on December 11th, 2023. International youth between the ages of 18-35 (depending on your country as some set the age requirement between 18 and 29 or 30. More information below) can now submit their profiles to the IEC pool of candidates for a chance to work in Canada. There are three IEC programs: Working Holiday: participants get an open work permit to work anywhere in Canada, no job offer required. International Co-op (Internship): student participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows them to gain targeted experience in their field of study. This program requires a valid job offer. Young Professionals: participants get an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience in their field of study or career path. A valid job offer is required.

I'm almost 35. Can I still activate my IEC work permit?

Yes, the age limit for most eligible countries is 35, including the year in which you turn 35. However, the age limit is different for some countries, such as Mexico (29) and Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (30).

When does each IEC season begin and end?

IEC seasons typically open in late December or January and remain open until October or November. To find out the latest information about which countries’ pools are open and how many spots remain, please check our Working Holiday Newshub.

When can I apply for an IEC Canada work permit?

In order to apply, pools for must be open (Working Holiday Visa in Canada, IEC Young Professionals and International Co-Op) and your must be eligible for a participating program. To find out the latest information about which countries’ pools are open and how many spots remain, please check our Working Holiday News Hub.

When is the best time to apply for an IEC Canada work permit?

You will need to receive your Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction in order to enter Canada and receive your work permit. Usually, this document is valid for 12 months. Bear in mind that it can take some months to receive an invitation to apply, complete your application, and have this application assessed. So when is the best time to apply for an IEC permit? Let’s take the example of Karen, who wants to arrive in Canada in early 2025. Here are some of her options: 1. She could apply for a 2024 IEC Canada permit in early January, and if she’s lucky enough to receive an invite, she may have her POE letter within a month or two. This letter would be valid for 12 months, allowing her to arrive in Canada at any time within that 12-month period. 2. Apply for a 2024 permit as of December 11th, now that the pools are open. If she receives an invite in the months that follow, her application may be processed, and her POE letter sent. As the letter is still valid for 12 months, she can then arrive in early 2025. As there is no definite time frame for if, and when, you will receive your POE letter, it’s not possible to offer complete guidance. The best advice is to plan early, and remember that the POE letter is valid for 12 months, so you will have plenty of time to use it, if and when you receive it. It is also advantageous to submit your profile to the pool earlier on in the season. the more draws your profile is exposed to, the more likely you are you get an invitation to apply for a work permit.

How many work permits are released in each draw? How frequently do they take place?

Both are million-dollar questions! IRCC say this ‘varies’ from draw to draw, and won’t commit to an exact figure, or an exact timeframe. The 2021 IEC season invited more than 130,000 candidates. You can find the latest invitation figures in our Working Holiday News Hub. For 2024, it is likely that between 95,000 and 100,000 work permits will be issued. Because not all those that are invited will apply or receive a work permit, we saw around 125,000 invitations issued.

If I am in more than one pool, under which category may I expect to be invited?

IEC candidates may have only one IEC profile at any time. However, it is possible to be eligible for more than one IEC pool. When you complete your profile, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) informs you which pools are available to you. For most candidates, only one pool is available – typically, the Working Holiday pool for your country of citizenship. However, you may also be eligible for the Young Professionals and / or International Co-op pool for your country as well. If so, you can submit your profile to any of these available pools. For example, you might be eligible to submit your profile to the Working Holiday and Young Professionals pools.

How much time will I have to apply?

Under the old first-come, first-serve system, allocations sold out in a matter of days – sometimes, even hours. This system was in use until 2015. The system used currently by IEC Canada allows for people to become a candidate at any stage before work permits in their pool run out. However, it is recommended to become a candidate as soon as you can, so that you can be exposed to as many rounds of invitations as possible. In countries like the UK, where demand far exceeds supply, it is crucial to create a profile early in the IEC season. IRCC has committed to giving at least five days of notice before each country’s and category’s final rounds of invitations, which will mark the closure of that pool for the season. If you receive an invitation to submit a work permit application, you will have 10 days to accept the invite and a further 20 days to submit your work permit application.

What can I do to ensure my place?

You can research the requirements and ensure that you have the appropriate documents and information ready at hand and apply as soon as the program opens. External agencies cannot guarantee you a place and will charge you to fill out the forms.

Is there any way to boost my chances of receiving an ITA?

Selection is done randomly, and not on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. All eligible candidates stand an equal chance of being selected in any given draw. Furthermore, previous participation in IEC programs is not a consideration of the random invitations. It is recommended that you apply early, so as to become exposed to a greater number of draws, as this may improve your likelihood of receiving an ITA. The Working Holiday program is by far the most competitive of the 3 program. If your country offers a Young Professionals program, consider utilizing this program with securing an offer of employment. You are much more likely to be accepted under the Young Professionals program compared to the Working Holiday program.

How long will it take to process my IEC Canada work permit application?

Once you enter the pool of candidates, you could be in the pool for several weeks or months before you receive an ITA. There is no guarantee that you will receive one. After your ITA is received, and you’ve completed your work permit application and paid relevant fees, IRCC has committed to a service standard of six weeks to process applications. IRCC announced in December 2023 that they implemented automation into their process to help speed up the processing of International Experience Canada work permits. Delays can occur if your application is incomplete, or you don’t provided additional documentation that is requested.

Do I need to have work lined up before I get an IEC permit?

For IEC Young Professionals and International Co-Op work permits, these will be employer-specific, and tied to the job you have lined up. If you’re applying for a Working Holiday Visa in Canada, these work permits are ‘open’, meaning you can find work with any eligible employer, and can arrange this employment after you arrive if you wish.

Are there any programs for people who are older than 35 years?

Participation in IEC programs is for those aged between 18 and 35 for applicants from most of the eligible countries. Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom set the age requirement to be between 18 and 30. As for candidates from Mexico, it is between 18 and 29. If you are older than the cut-off for your country, you will not be able to apply to the IEC program.

Can I apply even if I'm not from one of the listed participating IEC countries?

This may be possible through an IEC Recognized Organization. Common countries include the USA, Brazil and India.

What are your Real Odds of Getting an IEC Visa?

Your odds of receiving an invitation to apply for a work permit through the International Experience Canada (IEC) change from week to week, depending on how many people from your country are in the pool for the stream you applied for, Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-Op, and how close it is to the annual quota.

Knowing your weekly odds of approval can help you plan your working holiday in Canada or know if you need to adjust your plans or try for a different pathway.

How are Odds Calculated?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ranks countries as having the following odds of receiving an invitation to apply in the next round:

Excellent = 80% – 99% chance
Very good = 60% – 79% chance
Fair = 40% – 59% chance
Very low = 20% – 39% chance
Low = 1% – 19% chance.

If you live in a country and are applying for an IEC pathway with Excellent odds of approval, you are likely to receive an invitation to apply for that pathway in the next round. Conversely, those in the very low and low range may not receive an invitation to apply for that pathway in the next round – or any future round (since rounds are random and more people are likely to join the pool each week).

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Working Holiday Visa?

If you’re hoping to secure an IEC Work Permit, 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 the weekly IEC updates here!
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.
If you’re applying through the Young Professionals program, looking for jobs outside of major cities 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.

FAQ About IEC Working Holiday Visa Chances

Is the IEC Working Holiday visa random?

IEC invitations are issued through periodic invitation rounds managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Candidates are selected from the IEC pool, and while the process is not strictly first-come-first-served, it is largely based on random selection within each country pool.

Your chances depend on factors such as country quotas, the number of applicants, and remaining invitations during the IEC season.

Do all countries have the same chances of receiving a Working Holiday Visa?

No. The chances of receiving an IEC invitation vary by country because each country has a different Youth Mobility Agreement quota and pool size.

Countries with larger quotas or fewer applicants typically have higher chances of receiving an invitation, while countries with many applicants competing for fewer spots may have lower chances.

What are the chances of getting a Canadian Working Holiday invite with a UK passport?

Applicants with a United Kingdom passport generally have relatively good chances of receiving an IEC Working Holiday invitation because the UK has one of the largest quotas in the IEC program.

However, the exact probability changes each season depending on the number of UK applicants in the pool and the number of invitations issued by IRCC.

What are the current chances of receiving an invite for the IEC Young Professionals visa?

The chances of receiving an IEC Young Professionals invitation depend on the quota allocated to your country and the number of applicants in that category’s pool.

Because the Young Professionals category is employer-specific, the pool of applicants is often smaller than the Working Holiday pool, which can sometimes result in higher chances of receiving an invitation.

Further Resources for IEC Candidates

Please explore our many resources to help you plan your application. Research is crucial as you plan for success on your Working Holiday Canada permit.

Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for IEC — compare prices for IEC health insurance options with a free quote comparison from BestQuote
Learn more about the latest IEC draws and pool updates.
Increase your chances by applying for the best IEC program for you. Check our article: Which IEC Category is Right for me?

Gorup of young professionals in an office

Get expert support for your IEC journey!

Join 210,000+ people we've already guided to success.

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email Address(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Topic Interest: Express Entry (Entry)

Express Entry (Entry)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Topic Interest: Express Entry (In the pool)

Express Entry (In the pool)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Topic Interest: Express Entry (ITA received)

Express Entry (ITA received)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Topic: IEC

Privacy You can opt out at any time

Citation "Chances of Getting a Canadian Working Holiday Visa – Calculator." Moving2Canada. Last modified March 11, 2026. https://moving2canada.com/immigration/iec/iec-canada-visa/. Copy for Citation

Chances of Getting a Canadian Working Holiday Visa – Calculator

Do you need IEC health insurance?

Get covered for life in Canada