International Experience Canada (working holiday): eligibility

IEC is open to citizens of countries and territories with an arrangement with Canada, including Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For people whose country is not listed, IRCC suggests connecting with a recognized organization to learn about other opportunities.

Your country must have a youth mobility arrangement with Canada, you must be 18 to 35 (18 to 30 for some countries), and refugee travel document holders are excluded. Working Holiday gives an open work permit without a job offer. Young Professionals needs a career-building job offer, generally TEER 0 to 3, and gives an employer-specific permit, as does International Co-op for students enrolled abroad.

At the border you show CAD 2,500 for the first three months on a bank statement issued within a week of departure, plus a ticket out or money for one. Insurance must cover medical care, hospitalization and repatriation for the whole stay; a shorter policy shortens the permit.

The IEC fee is CAD 184.75. Working Holiday applicants add CAD 100 for the open work permit, plus CAD 85 biometrics if required. Employers of Young Professionals and Co-op participants pay a CAD 230 compliance fee. Fees are refunded on withdrawal before the port of entry letter or on refusal.

You create an IEC profile and join pools. An invitation must be accepted within 10 days, then the work permit application submitted within 20 days, counted in UTC. It includes police certificates for each country of 6 months’ residence since age 18, a CV, a photo and form IMM 5707; some applicants also need a medical exam.

Biometrics are due within 30 days of the instruction letter. The service standard is 56 days for a complete application, excluding biometrics, with a partial fee refund if exceeded. The 2026 pools are closed; uninvited profiles must be recreated for 2027, which had no published opening date.

The port of entry letter is valid for one year. Bring it with your passport, insurance, funds and ticket; the border officer issues the permit, which cannot outlast your passport, biometrics or insurance.

Without an IEC arrangement, people who want to work in Canada usually need an employer-specific work permit, a study permit with work rights, or a permanent residence route such as Express Entry. Dual citizens of an IEC country can use that nationality.