Latest IEC Working Holiday Canada News

1,185 IEC invitations issued in the week of September 13

We saw 1,185 IEC invitations issued this week — almost 500 fewer than last week, and the latest in a string of increasingly smaller IEC draws.

The following countries saw the largest number of invitations this week:

• Australia – WH: 159 invitations
• Taiwan – WH: 154 invitations
• Korea, Republic – WH: 119 invitations
• Japan – WH: 111 invitations
• Italy – WH: 89 invitations

Many countries still have an excellent chance of success however the following countries have a very low chance of receiving an invitation in 2024:

• Austria – WH
• United Kingdom – WH
• Chile – WH
• South Korea – WH
• France – WH
• Spain – WH
• Greece – WH
• Greece – YP
• Hong Kong – WH
• Latvia – WH
• Latvia – YP
• Costa Rica – WH.

Our data shows that there have been over 115,800 IEC invitations issued to date, with around 18,500 spots remaining for the 2024 season. There are 36,524 candidates in the pool, an increase of 1427 candidates on last week.

There is a higher number of candidates in the pool than spots available (and this number is creeping higher each week), so not everyone waiting in the IEC pool will receive an invitation this year.

The programs experiencing the highest competition for remaining invitations are:

• France – WH: An increase of 366 candidates in the pool, now reaching 22,758 candidates.
• United Kingdom – WH: Added 152 candidates, with a total of 2,308 candidates.
• Chile – WH: Added 142 candidates, now totaling 6,574.
• Costa Rica – WH: Saw an increase of 45 candidates, now with 1,320 candidates.

If you received an invitation to one of the IEC programs in a previous round, make sure you read our guides:

• How much should you expect IEC to cost overall
• What you need to understand before submitting your biometrics
• How to choose the right health insurance
• Understand police certificates
• How to correctly format and submit your documents
• What you need to know before arriving in Canada

Quotas & invitations for the 2024 IEC season

Updates for 2024 IEC season

Get the latest IEC news straight to your inbox! To receive alerts and updates about the 2024 IEC Working Holiday Canada season, make sure you sign up for the Moving2Canada newsletter.

How to move to Canada through IEC: VIDEO

Rachel walks us through how to come to Canada through IEC in 2024.

IEC 2024 fees announced

Canada has announced that the IEC fees for all participants in the IEC 2024 season is $172 CAD.

The fees you pay for IEC differ depending on which program you are using to come to Canada. Working Holiday candidates must pay a $100 CAD fee. Young Professionals and International Co-op candidates do not have to pay additional fees, but their employers must pay a $230 CAD employer compliance fee.

Those who need to give biometrics will also need to pay the $85 CAD biometric fee when you pay the IEC fee.

The IEC fee, open work permit holder fee, and employer compliance fees are refundable if you withdraw your work permit application before you receive your Port of Entry (POE) letter of introduction, or your employer withdraws their offer of employment before your work permit is issued. You will also receive a refund if your work permit application is refused.

Read more: How much does it cost to move to Canada through IEC?

In order to come to Canada on an IEC work permit, such as the Working Holiday Visa, you need to get health insurance for the duration of your stay.

Every year, we hear stories of people who make major errors when it comes to insurance for their IEC adventure in Canada, leading to shorter-than-expect work permit durations and unnecessary medical bills. That’s why we released a video on all things health insurance. Check it out!

Temporary Resident Levels: Changes for IEC

If you’re concerned about the impact of the temporary resident target on the IEC program, we have published an article about how the changes may impact the IEC program.

We cover the following questions:

• I am waiting in the IEC pool, will this announcement reduce my changes of being invited in the coming rounds?
• I am currently in Canada for a working holiday but I need to renew my work permit with an LMIA. Will this be possible?
• Will they reduce the age limit for IEC participation?
• Will more PR options become available for IEC workers?

More About This IEC Season

The IEC 2024 season officially opened on December 11, 2023. International youth from eligible countries have been able to submit profiles to the IEC pool since then. Back in December, the Canadian government announced that the first round of invitations would begin the week of January 8, 2024. Read the full story here.

The 2024 IEC season

The 2024 International Experience Canada (IEC) season opened on January 8, 2024.

Since Dec. 11, 2023, eligible candidates are able to complete these steps:

1. Submit a profile: Submit a profile through your IRCC account in order to be considered for an invitation. If you submitted a profile in previous years, you can use the same account, but you have to create a new profile.
2. Receive an invitation: In order to apply for a work permit, first you have to be invited. Invitations are issued each week through a randomized lottery system. The earlier you’re in the pool, the more invitation rounds you’ll be considered for.
3. Submit a work permit application: If you receive an invitation, you then have 10 days to accept or decline the invitation. If you accept, you have 20 days from that moment to prepare and submit your application.

Invitation rounds typically begin in the weeks following the season opening.

Once quotas for each country are announced, they will be posted on this page along with regular updates on spots remaining and chances of receiving an invitation.

What to do to prepare yourself for IEC?

If you’re hoping to snag an invitation through IEC, the best thing to do is plan ahead. You can start by checking your eligibility for IEC — take our free Canadian Immigration Quiz to see if you’re eligible.

First, make sure you’re eligible for one of the three IEC programs: the Working Holiday program (the most popular option), Young Professionals, and International Co-op.

If you meet the eligibility for one of the programs, the next step is to submit yourself to the pools. Submitting your profile as early as possible will guarantee that you’re considered for all invitation rounds. Invitations are issued randomly, so you want to be in the pools as early as possible.

You can also begin preparing yourself for the work permit application you’ll have to submit if you receive an invitation.

For free personalized guidance, make sure to sign up for a Moving2Canada account. Your account gives you access to tons of resources, including checklists with step-by-step instructions for your immigration process, job openings from Canadian employers looking to hire IEC participants, and much more!

Finding a job for the 2024 IEC season

Many IEC Working Holiday participants may want to start looking for jobs in Canada before they arrive. Thankfully, we have partnered with several Canadian employers who are looking to hire 2024 IEC participants.

Check out the Moving2Canada Jobs Board.

Young Guns Container Crew

If you’re looking for a physically demanding job with a great crew, we recommend taking a look at our partner, Young Guns Container Crew. They’re hiring labourers to help unload shipping containers in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Cornwall, Ontario (among others!). They love IECers and can offer you a job before you arrive. Apply here — or get more information by watching this video:

Skyscapes Balcony and Patio Flooring

If you’re physically fit and looking to live in Toronto or the GTA, consider applying to work at our partner Skyscapes. They pay well, and offer team-wide profit sharing. They also have a track record of securing LMIAs for valuable team members, so it’s a good fit for those authorized to work in Canada on an IEC or other open temporary work permit.

Skyscapes is hiring general labourers and construction workers who are authorized to work in Canada or who will be soon. Learn more and apply here.

What is the IEC program?

The IEC program allows international youth from more than 30 countries aged 18 to 35 (or in some cases, 18 to 30) to live and work in Canada for up to 24 months.

Further help with your Working Holiday Canada application

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.

Other IEC Working Holiday Canada Resources

IEC Health Insurance

• Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for IEC — compare prices for IEC health insurance options with a free quote comparison from BestQuote

Articles

• Read our FAQ guide for IEC permits
• Find out which documents you need for your IEC application
• Learn about 5 avoidable mistakes IEC applicants make
• Visit our full IEC portal for more articles
• Where to buy your health insurance for Canada (note: this is a mandatory IEC requirement).
• What are your alternatives when you can’t immigrate through IEC? 

Facebook

• Join our IEC Working Holiday group on Facebook
• Get updates on our Moving2Canada Facebook page

Employment tips

• For construction and engineering jobs, visit our Outpost Recruitment agency
• How to adapt to the resume format in Canada (or ‘CV’)