Do you need IEC health insurance? Our partner, BestQuote, compares the leading insurance providers to find the best rates. Get a free quote!
Learn everything you need to know about Canadian immigration
If you need help with your immigration, one of our recommended immigration consultant partners can help.
Calculate your estimated CRS score and find out if you're in the competitive range for Express Entry.
Take the quiz
Your guide to becoming a student in Canada
Take our quiz and find out what are the top programs for you.
Learn more
Watch on YouTube
This guide will help you choose the best bank in Canada for your needs.
Get your guide
latest articles
Read more
By Rebecca Major
Updated 1 hour ago
Advertisement
IEC Recognized Organizations can help eligible international youth participate in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. Whether you are a first-time participant or looking to repeat your participation, find out here if an RO is the best option for you.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows young people from countries with a Youth Mobility Agreement (YMA) with Canada to live and work in Canada temporarily.
Through these bilateral agreements, eligible applicants can apply for a Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op work permit.
To learn more about eligibility, quotas, and how the application process works, read our full guide to the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
A Recognized Organization (RO) is a government-approved organization authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to support young people applying through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. Each RO works with specific countries and IEC categories, such as Working Holiday or Young Professionals.
ROs can guide with the application process, required documentation, and, in some cases, job placement assistance in Canada. Some ROs can also issue a Letter of Support, which may allow eligible candidates to apply for an IEC work permit even if their country’s regular IEC quota is full.
ROs charge service fees in addition to standard IEC government fees. Because they are not required for most applicants, it’s important to determine whether using a Recognized Organization is necessary or beneficial for your specific situation.
Recognized Organizations (ROs) operate within the framework of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program but follow a slightly different process than the standard IEC application pathway.
Most applicants apply directly through IRCC by entering an IEC pool for their country and category (such as Working Holiday). Candidates are then invited to apply based on country-specific quota allocations and periodic invitation rounds.
In this pathway, selection depends on available spots under the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and the applicant’s country.
When applying through a Recognized Organization, the process can differ. Some ROs have access to dedicated quota allocations separate from the regular country pools. Instead of relying solely on random invitations, eligible participants may receive a RO confirmation letter (Letter of Support).
This confirmation letter is included in the IEC work permit application submitted to IRCC and confirms that the applicant is participating through a government-approved organization.
Both pathways ultimately lead to an IEC work permit issued by IRCC, but the process, availability of spots, and associated costs can differ.
Additionally, the participation of applicants from an IEC participating country with an employer-specific recognized organization is not included in that country’s quota. So, if a country has a quota of 1,000 spots for its citizens to participate in the IEC program, any citizens of that country who come to Canada using a recognized organization are not counted against that quota. This means that if your country has exceeded (or may soon exceed) its quota for work permits under any of the three IEC categories you may be eligible for, then a recognized organization may still be able to assist you.
IEC recognized organizations:
In exchange, IEC-recognized organizations receive a small number of IEC annual inbound quota spaces to nominate their clients for participation in the program, subject to admissibility requirements.
Note that people wishing to apply through a recognized organization must still meet all IEC eligibility requirements, which include a minimum and maximum age requirement. Moreover, in the list of recognized organizations below you may notice that some IEC recognized organizations may have a specific mandate to assist workers in specific industries or internship programs. If you wish to take part in a Working Holiday (and therefore enjoy an open work permit), take note below of which IEC recognized organizations help with this type of work permit and do not specify particular industries or internships, as these organizations are more likely to be able to assist you in your objective.
Some youth mobility agreements include a discontinuance requirement, though most do not (you can check the requirement for your country here). People from countries that have this requirement need to wait a defined period from the expiration of their previous IEC work permit before being eligible to apply again.
Unlike some applicants who apply exclusively through an IEC program (without the assistance of a recognized organization), those who wish to apply for a repeat participation through a recognized organization are not subject to to the discontinuance requirement (even if the details for their country in the page linked in the paragraph above say that such a requirement exists). In essence, this means that there is no waiting period required from the expiration of your previous IEC work permit before being eligible to apply for a repeat participation with a recognized organization.
Step 1: Identify a recognized organization that could potentially help you, based on the details per organization in the tables below. Currently, only Go and Stepwest are offer repeat participation for those from IEC-eligible countries who previously obtain an IEC work permit.
Step 2: Reach out directly to the given recognized organization for details on eligibility and process. A link to each organization’s website is placed above each table below.
Step 3: This may depend on the situation. Variables may include: your country of citizenship, the IEC category you intend to apply under, and the recognized organization assisting you. If you have any difficulty navigating the process, Moving2Canada offers:
If your country is not one of the IEC participating countries, then a recognized organization may be able to help you participate in the program, as they can utilize their own private quota of work permits. Some IEC recognized organizations receive applications from citizens of specific countries, including the United States, Brazil, India, China, Iceland, Singapore, and Pakistan. Updated information is below.
The IEC recognized organizations that offer their services to participants under specific IEC categories are listed below. All of them offer services to and from countries and territories that have a youth mobility agreement (YMA) with Canada. Conditions listed below are for IEC participation in Canada. In some cases, IEC recognized organizations have been granted nomination quotas for work permit categories that are not part of the negotiated youth mobility agreements. In these cases, the maximum validity period for a participation is 24 months.
GO International Work & Travel Providers is a Canadian organization that offers work and travel opportunities to Canadian and foreign nationals.
IAESTE offers student and professional-internship opportunities in technical-career-related fields to Canadians and foreign nationals.
The International Internship Network offers personalized academic internship/co-op and working holiday programs for post-secondary students and youth from specific countries.
IRE is a Canadian organization that offers paid placements in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture to individuals with experience or education in Canada or overseas.
Languages Canada offers the opportunity to improve English or French skills at an accredited language school and work with a Canadian employer. Participation options are in specific cities: Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.
Stepwest and Stepabroad, a program for Canadian youth, facilitate work experiences in Canada and abroad. Their multi-award nominated program portfolio ranges from paid ski resort jobs to industry-specific student internships.
SWAP Working Holidays facilitates working holidays, young professional work and travel opportunities for Canadians and foreign nationals.
The 2026 IEC season officially opened on December 19, 2025. You can now create your profile and enter the pools. Apply early to improve your chances. Sign up to get the latest IEC updates and quota announcements.
A Recognized Organization (RO) may be a good option if you meet IEC eligibility criteria (including age and citizenship requirements under a Youth Mobility Agreement) but face limitations such as country quota caps, repeat participation restrictions, or uncertainty about the application process. ROs can be particularly helpful for applicants whose country’s IEC spots are full, those seeking a second participation beyond their country’s standard allowance, or individuals who want structured support with logistics like job placement and accommodation.
However, using an RO is not necessary for most first-time applicants from IEC-participating countries, and service fees can be significant. You must still meet all IEC age and admissibility requirements, and not all ROs support every country or work permit category.
Not sure if a Recognized Organization is the right option for you? Read our full guide to choosing whether an IEC Recognized Organization is the best pathway for your situation.
You may be able to apply for a work permit without needing a recognized organization.
If you are from one of the IEC participating countries, aged between 18 and 35, and have never previously applied for an IEC work permit, you can save around $4,000 by applying to the program directly, rather than with the assistance of a recognized organization.
The same opportunity is available if you are from one of these countries, aged between 18 and 30, and have never previously applied for an IEC work permit: Austria, Belgium, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Sure, recognized organizations can help with job opportunities, application preparation, and orientation after landing in Canada, but if you feel (as many do) that this does not justify the price tag, we encourage you to head over to our IEC section to get moving on your application, no recognized organization required.
If you are over 35 years old, you are not eligible to participate in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program—even if you apply through a Recognized Organization (RO).
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.
Join 170,000+ adventurers and get insider tips, visa updates, and job resources to make the most of your International Experience Canada (IEC) adventure.
Search results
results for “”