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Working Holiday Canada News

Just 1,328 invitations in March 15 IEC round

As foreshadowed by IRCC last week, the number of invitations in the working holiday category decreased significantly for the week of March 15.

We saw just 1,328 invitations in this IEC round. This is the smallest number of invitations sent in an IEC round so far in 2024. 

IRCC plans to reduce the number of invitations being sent in the Working Holiday category for the next few rounds “due to a high number of Working Holiday applications in the queue”. It notes that the number of invitations will return to normal levels ‘soon’.

To reflect this change, the odds of receiving an invitation in the working holiday program has changed to ‘very low’ for a host of countries, including Australia – which has an unlimited quota.

To adjust for the extremely high demand for the working holiday program, IRCC has also increased the quota for the Working Holiday program for Austria, Belgium, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, and Spain.

The quota for Greece was also adjusted, with space in the Working Holiday and International Co-Op programs reducing to make way for more invitations in the Young Professional category.

First round of invitations for Finns

Finnish candidates saw their first round of invitations sent out this week. 27 working holiday candidates were invited, as was 1 international co-op candidate.

Largest allocations this week

This week, France’s International Co-op, Japan’s Working Holiday, and the UK’s Working Holiday program candidates saw the largest rounds. No category saw more than 200 invitations being sent.

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.

Quotas & invitations for the 2024 IEC season

Updates for 2024 IEC season

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PoolQuotaInvitations since last weekSpots availableSpots filled last roundEligible candidates in poolCandidate changeChances of invite in next roundFirst round
Andorra – WH25016000ExcellentJanuary 8
Australia – WHUnlimited930n/a469114Very lowJanuary 8
Australia – YPUnlimited110n/a9-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Australia – ICUnlimited00n/a00ExcellentJanuary 8
Austria - WH1682671173Very lowJanuary 8
Austria - YP1015110ExcellentJanuary 8
Austria - IC202000ExcellentJanuary 8
Belgium - WH750521659539Very lowJanuary 8
Chile - WH725519787,641186Very lowJanuary 8
Chile - YP204411779Very lowJanuary 8
Chile - IC504000ExcellentJanuary 8
Costa Rica - WH8023231,90838Very lowJanuary 8
Costa Rica - YP180601230Very lowJanuary 8
Costa Rica - IC211000ExcellentJanuary 8
Croatia - WH2751252010ExcellentJanuary 8
Croatia - YP20017000ExcellentJanuary 8
Croatia - IC505000ExcellentJanuary 8
Czech Republic - WH1,000387142220-8ExcellentJanuary 8
Czech Republic - YP145175299-4ExcellentJanuary 8
Czech Republic - IC504000ExcellentJanuary 8
Denmark – WH35019223138-4ExcellentJanuary 8
Estonia - WH11067342-3ExcellentJanuary 8
Estonia - YP1008010ExcellentJanuary 8
Estonia - IC505000ExcellentMarch 11
Finland - WHUnlimited270n/a5-19ExcellentMarch 11
Finland - YPUnlimited00n/a00ExcellentMarch 11
Finland - ICUnlimited10n/a00ExcellentJanuary 8
France - WH7,000502,7176817,705491Very lowJanuary 8
France - YP2,200701,515457610ExcellentJanuary 8
France - VIE1,000108529511ExcellentJanuary 8
France - IC3,8001442,33310082-31ExcellentJanuary 8
Germany – WH4,490223,1224229958Very lowJanuary 8
Germany – YP3501922711205ExcellentJanuary 8
Germany – IC160712135-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Greece - WH1602862188Very lowJanuary 8
Greece - YP3849254ExcellentJanuary 8
Greece - IC202000ExcellentJanuary 8
Hong Kong - WH2005694285Very lowJanuary 8
Iceland - WH120211210-2ExcellentJanuary 8
Ireland – WH10,500758,8515339083Very lowJanuary 8
Ireland – YP1501012829-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Ireland – IC5023811-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Italy - WH1,75050981281155Very lowJanuary 8
Japan - WH6,5001003,72486474127Very lowJanuary 8
Latvia - WH45160140Very lowJanuary 8
Latvia - YP31100-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Latvia - IC202000ExcellentJanuary 8
Lithuania - WH188117867-5ExcellentJanuary 8
Lithuania - YP101310-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Lithuania - IC202000ExcellentJanuary 8
Luxembourg - WH8017300-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Luxembourg - YP10010000ExcellentJanuary 8
Luxembourg - IC10010000ExcellentJanuary 8
Netherlands - WH500566410917Very LowJanuary 8
Netherlands - YP1009487134ExcellentJanuary 8
New Zealand – WH2,500501,7593012027Very lowJanuary 8
Norway - WH13539512-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Norway - YP15013011ExcellentJanuary 8
Norway - IC505000ExcellentJanuary 8
Poland - WH6352044716478Very lowJanuary 8
Poland - YP11019910-1ExcellentJanuary 8
Poland - IC505000ExcellentJanuary 8
Portugal - WH1,750151,46473220ExcellentJanuary 8
Portugal - YP2000193111ExcellentJanuary 8
Portugal - IC50050000ExcellentJanuary 8
San Marino - WH25024000ExcellentJanuary 8
Slovakia - WH31515148910-3Very lowJanuary 8
Slovakia - YP3031131-2ExcellentJanuary 8
Slovakia - IC505000ExcellentJanuary 8
Slovenia - WH80066-122ExcellentJanuary 8
Slovenia - YP15112100ExcellentJanuary 8
Slovenia - IC505000ExcellentJanuary 8
South Korea - WH10,000751,7491131,333405Very lowJanuary 8
South Korea - YP1,500211,36378-11ExcellentJanuary 8
South Korea - IC5000500044ExcellentJanuary 8
Spain – WH87520342910621Very lowJanuary 8
Spain – YP70521294ExcellentJanuary 8
Spain — IECX Vives5004900-7ExcellentJanuary 8
Spain – IC1504-100ExcellentJanuary 8
Sweden - WH58012473770ExcellentJanuary 8
Sweden - YP100190000ExcellentJanuary 8
Sweden - IC20020000ExcellentJanuary 8
Switzerland - YP2005113672ExcellentJanuary 8
Switzerland - IC50037011ExcellentJanuary 8
Taiwan - WH94025334322,23774Very LowJanuary 8
Taiwan - YP50817282ExcellentJanuary 8
Taiwan - IC100010000ExcellentJanuary 8
UK – WH9,0001824,389143923216Very lowJanuary 8
UK - YP900287691423-6ExcellentJanuary 8
UK - IC10049221-1ExcellentJanuary 8

 

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!

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

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