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By Stephanie Ford
Updated 16 seconds ago
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This week’s IEC update is brought to you by BestQuote. Get your affordable IEC health insurance quote from BestQuote here.
This page is for International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants waiting for an invitation to apply or planning their next steps. On this page, you can track all key IEC updates in one place.
You can join our community to receive weekly updates covering invitation activity, key information about the IEC pool, and tips to make your season run smoothly.
Follow the latest IEC rounds of invitations for 2026 and see how each country is performing inside the Canada IEC pool. This table breaks down weekly invitation numbers, total invites issued, current IEC pools size, quotas, and your odds of being selected in the next round. Select a country below to track draw history and monitor your chances in real time.
The IEC season for UK nationals is still going strong, with 626 invitations issued last week, bringing the total number of invitations issued so far in 2026 to 7,976.
With just 482 candidates currently in the pool, UK nationals still have an excellent chance of being selected next week, despite the high number of invitations already issued.
However, don’t get too comfortable. The UK program is among the most popular. Only 3,742 spots are remaining, and these are expected to fill quickly. If you’re not already in the pool, now is the time to enter.
There was a slight increase in invitations issued to Australian nationals this week, with 329 invites sent out.
With 3,637 spots available and just 270 candidates currently in the pool, Australian nationals have an excellent chance of being selected.
However, unlike other countries, it’s difficult to predict how competitiveness will evolve. This is the first year Australian nationals are subject to a cap, meaning that while your chances are excellent right now, they may not remain this strong as the year progresses. Applying early is the best way to secure your spot.
This week, 227 Irish working holiday makers received invitations, the lowest number issued to Irish working holiday candidates so far in 2026.
However, this is not necessarily a cause for concern. Given the current pool size, IRCC does not typically invite everyone at once, and with just 194 candidates waiting, a larger draw may not have been necessary.
More importantly, Irish working holiday makers still have excellent odds of receiving an invitation next week.
New Zealanders finally have more clarity on what the 2026 season will look like.
With a newly released quota of 1,547 spots, this year’s program will be more competitive than last year, when New Zealanders had 2,500 spots available and ultimately filled the quota.
While the odds of receiving an invitation when draws begin next week are excellent, there are already 787 candidates in the pool.
With fewer spaces available in 2026, any New Zealander considering entering the pool should do so now, before competition intensifies.
French candidates hoping to secure a Working Holiday spot in Canada in 2026 are facing a challenging season.
On February 20, IRCC issued 500 invitations, bringing the total number of invitations issued this year to 6,069 – officially exceeding the French quota.
That said, IRCC still reports 1,051 spots remaining. This is because not everyone who receives an invitation goes on to submit a complete application, and some are refused.
However, competition remains intense. There are currently 11,957 candidates in the pool competing for those 1,051 spots, meaning the odds of receiving an invitation are very low.
On February 20, 2026, IRCC issued 412 invitations to South Korean Working Holiday candidates.
South Korea has the largest IEC quota of any participating country, with 10,239 spots available in 2026. Of these, 6,773 remain, and there are just 248 candidates currently in the pool. Those in the pool, therefore, have excellent odds of receiving an invitation.
However, last year’s numbers suggest strong demand. The Korean program issued more than 5,000 invitations above the quota, highlighting significant national interest in the program, which may continue into 2026.
Once again, Japanese working holiday hopefuls will need to wait at least one more week before we can offer a deeper analysis on the season ahead. Unfortunately, Japan’s quota has not yet been announced and we aren’t sure when the first round of invitations for Japan will take place, just yet. But we keep our community members informed through our weekly IEC newsletter. Join us if you’re keen to learn more about the year ahead, whenever the information is released.
After a large number of ITAs were issued to German nationals last week, this week’s total may seem underwhelming at first glance, with just 152 invitations issued.
However, the decrease is likely due simply to a limited number of candidates in the pool. With only 139 applicants remaining, a larger draw would not have been necessary.
The numbers also suggest that roughly 100 new candidates entered the German Working Holiday pool over the past week, a pace that appears sustainable, particularly given that 1,878 spots remain available and interest will likely taper off further as the 2026 season progresses.
Italian working holiday hopefuls saw their fifth round of invitations this last week.
In total, 117 invitations were issued, the smallest round yet. Last week, 121, and the week before, 207 invitations went out.
Those in the Italian Working Holiday pool currently have excellent chances of receiving an invitation next week.
Date of the latest update: February 20
Invitations issued since last update: 3,313
Total IEC applicants invited so far: 37,973
IRCC’s latest IEC update, published on February 20, confirms that since the previous update on February 13, 3,313 additional invitations were issued across several countries.
This brings the total to 37,973 invitations issued since January 19.
The United Kingdom’s Working Holiday program remains on top with a total of 7,976 invitations, with an additional 626 invitations being issued this past week (out of a 9,330 quota).
France came in second again for the highest number of total invitations issued. France’s Working Holiday quota is nearly maxed out; an additional 500 invitations were issued, bringing the total to 6,069, which is over the country’s 5,661 quota.
As of the latest IEC update, the following pool-open countries have not yet received invitations this season for the following programs, despite candidates already being in the pools.
IRCC has also now announced the chances of receiving an invitation in the next round for many countries.
At the moment, almost all IEC programs show “Excellent” chances of receiving an invitation. The exceptions are the following programs, which currently have lower chances:
Date of the IEC Pools update: February 20, 2026
Total of candidates on the IEC Pools: 29,540
As of February 20, there were 29,540 candidates in the IEC pools, up from 28,872 in last week’s update. That’s a small increase, and it’s likely because this round saw fewer invitations issued than in previous rounds – 3,313 compared to last week’s 6,985, leaving more candidates in the pools. Overall, the pools remain well below the first update of 43,005 candidates, suggesting the initial surge when the pools opened has continued to ease.
The programs with the highest number of candidates in the pool, as of February 20, 2026 are:
Between February 13 and February 20, Japan’s Working Holiday pool saw the largest increase in size, rising from 4,797 to 5,129 – an increase of 332 candidates. Notably, Japan still hasn’t received any invitations, and it’s also the only country still waiting for its quota to be announced.
Most other countries saw smaller increases during this period, while Taiwan’s Working Holiday pool experienced a slight decrease, dropping from 1,304 to 1,285 candidates.
Remember: IEC is not a first-come, first-served program, entering the pool early allows you to participate in more invitation rounds, increasing your chances of receiving an invitation. So, don’t let the number of people in the pool already put you off submitting your profile. If anything, it’s more important than ever to get into the IEC pool early.
Here’s what we don’t know, based on this update:
Quotas are still being released in waves: while most countries now have their quotas and invitations have been rolling out since the week of January 19, several countries with open pools are still waiting for their first invitation rounds.
Here’s the data from the most recent IRCC update. To check your country’s odds for receiving an invitation, check out our IEC tracker.
Keen to see how the round sizes have been trending over time? Here are all the details:
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 2026 IEC participants.
Check out the Moving2Canada Jobs Board and join our IEC Talent Pool.
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:
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.
An IEC pool is a group of candidates who have submitted a profile for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program and are waiting to receive an invitation to apply for a work permit. Each country and category, such as Working Holiday or Young Professionals, has its own separate pool. During each IEC round of invitations, candidates are randomly selected from the pool until the quota for that round is filled.
Join 170,000+ adventurers and get insider tips, visa updates, and job resources to make the most of your International Experience Canada (IEC) adventure.
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