Updated on April 7, 2026
Looking to work and travel in Canada? Check out the updated list of IEC countries approved and learn how to apply for a Working Holiday visa through the IRCC program.
Key Takeaways
- For 2026, there are 36 countries with bilateral agreements with Canada under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
- If your country of citizenship is not listed, you may be able to participate in the IEC program with the assistance of one of these IEC recognized organizations.
- There are between one and three categories available for each country (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-Op), with the exception of France, where a fourth is also available.
- If you have spent six months or more in a country not featured in this list, you may require a medical exam.
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What Are IEC Countries?
IEC countries refer to the countries that have a bilateral agreement with Canada under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. This program allows young people (usually aged 18–35) from these countries to live and work in Canada temporarily, typically for up to 1 or 2 years, depending on the agreement.
Which IEC Categories Are Available for Each Country?
Countries participating in International Experience Canada (IEC) may offer one or more of the program’s three work permit categories:
- The Working Holiday category provides an open work permit, allowing participants to work for almost any employer in Canada.
- Young Professionals and International Co-op are employer-specific permits designed for career development or internships related to a participant’s field of study.
Not every country offers all three options. Depending on the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and each participating country, applicants may be eligible for one, two, or all three IEC categories, with different rules for eligibility, participation limits, and permit duration.
List of IEC Participating Countries in 2026
| Country | IEC Categories by Country | Age eligibility | Type of work permit | Maximum validity | Participation frequency in International Experience Canada | Medical Exam needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
| Australia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Two participations maximum in IEC. A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals; a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. These two participations can be carried out in the order of the applicant's choice. Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you might be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| International Co-op | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (unless it is the applicant's second participation since 2015, in which case, 12 months) | No | ||
| Austria | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Applicants are allowed 3 participations in total. No repeat categories are allowed. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op | 18-35 | Employer-specific Internship or work placement must be in forestry, agriculture, or tourism | 6 months | Must be a resident of Austria and must be registered as a student in forestry, agriculture or tourism or have graduated in 1 of those fields within the past 12 months. | No | |
| Belgium | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
| Chile | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations – Repeat category is permitted | No |
| Young Professionals (Supplementary graduate training) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Young worker exchange program) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Costa Rica | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Croatia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is permitted. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Czech Republic | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible) | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
| Estonia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Finland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | TBA |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | |||
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | |||
| France | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Maximum of two participations. A participation of 24 months in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals or Young Professionals (VIE); a second participation of 12 months in International Co-op. Applicant can choose the order of these two participations. Exception: French citizens who participated prior to the 2015 quota year are eligible for one final participation in the category of their choosing. An applicant is considered to have participated prior to 2015 if their application(s) was submitted to any quota year prior to the launch of the 2015 quota year which took place on February 21, 2015. Those who have participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| Young Professionals - VIE | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Enrolment in a training centre in France is acceptable. | No | |
| Germany | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two times. Repeat category is not permitted. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Greece | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two International Experience Canada participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Hong Kong | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | Yes |
| Iceland | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 24 months | 12-month participation can be renewed one for a total of two participations | TBA |
| Ireland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | To avail of two International Experience Canada participations, one must be under the International Co-op (Internship) category. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Italy | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | Two participations under any category | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months (Total of two permits combined.) | No | ||
| Japan | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | One participation | No |
| Latvia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | Yes |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| Lithuania | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | Yes |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Awaiting details. | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Netherlands | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| New Zealand | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 23 months | One participation (if you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply) | No |
| Norway | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Poland | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Portugal | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | One participation | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | No | ||
| San Marino | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations | No |
| Slovakia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Slovenia | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| South Korea | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 24 months | Two participations. | Yes |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | Yes | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 24 months | Yes | ||
| Spain | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Sweden | Working Holiday | 18-30 | Open | 12 months | Two participations. Repeat category is not permitted | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-30 | Employer-specific | 12 months | No | ||
| Switzerland | Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 18 months (Total duration of the two permits combined cannot exceed 18 months) | Two participations. Repeat category is permitted if the sum of the two participations is within the 18-month total limit. | No |
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | No | |||
| Taiwan | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 12 months | One participation | Yes |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 12 months | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Working Holiday | 18-35 | Open | 36 months | Two participations | No |
| Young Professionals | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 36 months | Two participations | No | |
| International Co-op (Internship) | 18-35 | Employer-specific | 36 months | Two participations | No |
How IEC Country Agreements Work
Participation in International Experience Canada (IEC) is based on Youth Mobility Agreements (YMAs) between Canada and partner countries. These bilateral agreements define the conditions under which young citizens can work and travel in Canada for a limited period.
Each agreement specifies key details such as age eligibility, participation limits, and work permit validity. Because these rules vary from country to country, the number of times someone can participate in IEC and the duration of their work permit may differ depending on their citizenship.
What If Your Country Is Not on the IEC Countries List?
If your country does not have a Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada, you may still be able to participate in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program through a Recognized Organization (RO). These government-approved organizations help facilitate youth mobility programs and can nominate eligible participants for IEC work permits.
Some well-known Recognized Organizations, such as SWAP Working Holidays and GO International, offer programs that may allow applicants from non-participating countries to take part in IEC. These programs typically include additional services and fees, and applicants must still meet all IEC eligibility requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Do you have IEC health insurance?
Personalized IEC Guidance with Moving2Canada
Now that you have an idea of when to begin the IEC process, make sure to join the Moving2Canada community. By joining, you can access tons of resources, including checklists with step-by-step instructions for your IEC application, job matches from Canadian employers looking to hire IEC participants, resume and cover letter templates, and much more!
Once you sign up for free, we’ll guide you on your IEC journey from how to select the best path for you, create your IEC profile, plus a bunch of other important tasks to help you along the way.
FAQs about Participating Countries in the IEC
How do I find out if my country participates in the IEC program?
Over 30 countries participate in the IEC program. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada publishes an up-to-date list of participating countries.
Can I participate in the IEC if my country is not listed?
Individuals from non-listed countries can participate in Canada’s IEC program through recognized organizations. These organizations offer various support services, including employment assistance and logistics.
What is the maximum validity of an IEC work permit?
The maximum validity of an IEC work permit varies depending on the country and category.
How does Canada’s IEC program compare to other countries’ working holiday options?
Canada’s IEC program stands out for its diverse categories, flexible employment options, and specific medical exam requirements. Participants benefit from multiple participation opportunities and support from recognized organizations. These features offer a unique working holiday experience compared to other countries’ programs.
Are there any special conditions for French participants in the IEC program?
Yes, France has a unique standing in the IEC program, offering a fourth category in addition to the standard three. This provides French citizens with additional options for participating in the IEC program.
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