2026 Season  ·  Open IEC · International Experience Canada
Megrez Immigration · RCIC R411151 · Vancouver, BC · Since 1996
IEC / International Experience Canada

Live in Canada. Travel. Work. Repeat. Up to 2 years.

A government work permit for young adults from countries with bilateral youth mobility agreements with Canada. Three categories. Open work permit option. No employer required for Working Holiday.
Departures · Partner Countries 12 / 36
SpainESP18–35Valid
ChileCHL18–35Valid
Costa RicaCRI18–35Valid
FranceFRA18–35Valid
ItalyITA18–35Valid
United KingdomGBR18–35Valid
GermanyDEU18–35Valid
JapanJPN18–30Valid
AustraliaAUS18–35Valid
IrelandIRL18–35Valid
SwedenSWE18–30Valid
NetherlandsNLD18–30Valid
36 partner countries · rotating 2026 · Bilateral
Eligibility

Five things, one list.

01
Valid passport From a partner country
02
Age 18–30 / 35 Varies by country
03
CAD $2,500 funds Settlement proof
04
Health insurance Full duration of stay
05
Admissible to Canada No criminal / medical bars
IEC Work & Holiday Program Guide

What is the IEC program?

A government work permit built on bilateral agreements
International Experience Canada (IEC) is not a tourist visa, a working visa, or a one-size-fits-all program. It is a work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada under bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements between Canada and 36 partner countries.
How selection works IEC is not first-come, first-served. Candidates submit a profile, enter a pool, and wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) issued in regular rounds throughout the season. If invited, you have 10 days to accept and 20 days to apply. The 2026 season opened December 19, 2025.
Each agreement is negotiated bilaterally between governments. That is why eligibility, age limits, quotas, and available categories vary from one passport to another. A Spanish citizen can apply under different rules than a Chilean or a French citizen, even though all three apply to the same program. IEC is built around three categories. Each issues a different type of work permit, with different eligibility rules and different audiences. Some countries offer all three; others offer only one or two, depending on the terms of their agreement with Canada.
The three IEC categories Each category serves a different audience and issues a different work permit. Eligibility depends on your country’s bilateral agreement with Canada.
01 · Working Holiday Travel and work, no employer needed The most flexible category. You arrive in Canada with an open work permit that lets you work for most employers anywhere in the country. No job offer required before applying. Designed for young adults who want to fund their travel or explore the Canadian job market.
Permit type Open
Job offer Not required
Best for Travelers, gap-year, career break
02 · Young Professionals Career-relevant work with a Canadian employer For young professionals with a pre-arranged Canadian job offer that contributes to their professional development. The job must fall under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (TEER 4 may qualify if related to your field of study). Permit is tied to that specific employer.
Permit type Employer-specific
Job offer Required · TEER 0-3
Best for Skilled workers, graduates building careers
03 · International Co-op Internship as part of your studies abroad For students currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution outside Canada whose program requires a work placement or internship. The internship must be integral to completing your degree, and you need a signed Canadian job offer aligned with your studies.
Permit type Employer-specific
Enrollment Active student abroad
Best for Students completing required internships
Working Holiday Eligibility

Who qualifies for the Working Holiday?

Four conditions to enter the pool. All four must be met.
01 · Citizenship Passport from a partner country You must be a citizen (not just a resident) of one of the 36 countries that have a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay — the work permit issued will match your passport’s expiry date.
  • Valid passport from one of 36 partner countries
  • Permanent residents of partner countries do not qualify — citizenship is required
  • Dual citizens may apply on either passport, but only once per citizenship
02 · Age Between 18 and 30 or 35 The upper age limit depends on your country’s bilateral agreement with Canada. Your age is locked in when IRCC issues your Invitation to Apply, not when you submit your application — so you remain eligible even if you turn older during processing.
  • 18 to 30: Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, others
  • 18 to 35: United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, France, Spain, Chile, others
  • Verify your country’s exact age limit on canada.ca before applying
03 · Funds & insurance $2,500 CAD plus medical coverage You must show CAD $2,500 in available funds at port of entry — typically a recent bank statement — to cover initial expenses. You also need private health insurance covering medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation for the entire duration of your permit.
  • $2,500 CAD shown at landing via bank statement
  • Health insurance valid for full work permit length
  • Insurance shorter than permit = officer may issue a shorter permit
04 · Disqualifiers Who cannot participate Even if you meet all other criteria, certain conditions automatically disqualify you. The Working Holiday is an individual permit: you cannot include dependents, and prior IEC participation may exclude you from applying again.
  • Holders of a refugee travel document from any country
  • Applicants accompanied by dependents on the same permit
  • Those with serious criminal records or inadmissibility findings
  • Those who have used all participations allowed by their country
Eligible Countries · 2026 season

Where can you apply from?

36 countries have a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. Each agreement defines age, duration, and categories. Verify your country’s specific rules on canada.ca.
🇦🇩 Andorra 18-30·12mo
🇦🇺 Australia 18-35·24mo
🇦🇹 Austria 18-30·12mo
🇧🇪 Belgium 18-30·12mo
🇨🇱 Chile 18-35·12mo
🇨🇷 Costa Rica 18-35·12mo
🇭🇷 Croatia 18-35·12mo
🇨🇿 Czech Rep. 18-35·12mo
🇩🇰 Denmark 18-35·12mo
🇪🇪 Estonia 18-35·12mo
🇫🇮 Finland 18-35·12mo
🇫🇷 France 18-35·24mo
🇩🇪 Germany 18-35·12mo
🇬🇷 Greece 18-35·12mo
! 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 18-30·12mo
🇮🇸 Iceland 18-30·24mo
🇮🇪 Ireland 18-35·24mo
🇮🇹 Italy 18-35·24mo
🇯🇵 Japan 18-30·12mo
! 🇱🇻 Latvia 18-35·12mo
! 🇱🇹 Lithuania 18-35·12mo
🇱🇺 Luxembourg 18-30·12mo
🇳🇱 Netherlands 18-30·12mo
🇳🇿 New Zealand 18-35·23mo
🇳🇴 Norway 18-35·12mo
🇵🇱 Poland 18-35·12mo
🇵🇹 Portugal 18-35·24mo
🇸🇲 San Marino 18-35·12mo
🇸🇰 Slovakia 18-35·12mo
🇸🇮 Slovenia 18-35·12mo
! 🇰🇷 South Korea 18-35·24mo
🇪🇸 Spain 18-35·12mo
🇸🇪 Sweden 18-30·12mo
🇨🇭 Switzerland 18-35·no WH
! 🇹🇼 Taiwan 18-35·12mo
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 18-35·36mo
Working Holiday Young Professionals International Co-op Not available !Medical exam required If your country isn’t listed, you may still participate in IEC through a Recognized Organization (RO). ROs are Canadian-based partners authorized by IRCC to nominate candidates from non-partner countries. Additional fees apply.
The Process

Working Holiday in four steps.

IEC is designed to be self-service through your IRCC online account. Profiles are free; fees apply only after you receive an Invitation to Apply. From ITA to POE letter, IRCC’s service standard runs 56 days. Biometrics in person; everything else online.
01 Profile
Create an IRCC profile Open a free IRCC online account and complete the Come to Canada tool. Choose Working Holiday as your category and select your country pool. Submit your profile to the candidate pool. No documents required at this stage.
Cost · Time Free · ~30 min
02 Invitation
Wait for an Invitation to Apply IRCC runs random rounds throughout the season. If selected, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in your IRCC account. Once invited: 10 days to start your application, then 20 days to complete and submit it. No job offer required for Working Holiday.
Deadlines after ITA Start in 10 · Submit in 20
03 Application
Submit your work permit application Pay the IEC fee and the Open Work Permit holder fee. Upload your passport, digital photo, CV, and proof of funds (CAD $2,500). Police certificates and a medical exam are required only for some countries or applicants. Submit biometrics in person. Insurance must cover medical care, hospitalization and repatriation. IRCC service standard: 56 days.
Government fees $284.75 CAD · + $85 biometrics
04 Travel
Receive your POE Letter and travel IRCC issues a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction — not the work permit itself. You have 12 months to enter Canada. At the border, present the POE Letter, proof of insurance and funds, and your passport. The officer issues your physical work permit on arrival.
Letter validity 12 months · from issue date
Recognized Organizations

What is an RO?

A Recognized Organization (RO) is a third-party group authorized by IRCC to support IEC participants with logistics — accommodation, job placement, airport pickup, banking setup, and bundled working-holiday packages. ROs are private companies, not government agencies. They cannot apply for your work permit on your behalf, but going through one can unlock two extra IEC participations in your lifetime — useful if you want to come back through IEC again.

What ROs do

  • Help you find a job Job placement support; some programs offer guaranteed positions before arrival.
  • Plan accommodations & travel Housing for your first weeks or full season; travel coordination.
  • Set up Canadian banking Banking, SIN, and phone setup so you can start working immediately.
  • Secure health insurance Insurance referrals that meet IEC requirements, sometimes at group rates.
  • Language & intercultural training Bundled programs combining language schools with work permits.
  • Help in work or travel emergencies Support throughout your IEC stay, including emergency assistance.

What ROs don’t do

  • Apply for your work permit Only you (or a licensed RCIC) can submit the IEC application to IRCC.
  • Provide legal immigration advice ROs are not licensed to give legal counsel under IRPA s.91.
  • Represent you to IRCC Cannot communicate with IRCC on your behalf or respond to their requests.
  • Speed up IRCC processing The 56-day service standard is the same whether you use an RO or not.
  • Guarantee selection or approval IEC selection is random; using an RO does not improve your odds.
  • Replace a licensed RCIC For complex or contested cases, you need a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
Government IEC fees $284.75 CAD + $85 biometrics Mandatory for all participants — paid directly to IRCC.
RO program fees Varies by program Optional — only if you choose to use an RO. Verify directly with each organization.

The seven Recognized Organizations

Authorized by IRCC
01
GO International Working Holiday programs with pre-arrival coaching, job placement services, accommodation options, activities, and travel advice.
Working Holiday
Eligibility: IEC countries only
02
IAESTE International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience. Student and professional opportunities in technical career-related fields.
Working Holiday Young Professionals Co-op
Eligibility: IEC countries or IAESTE member countries
03
International Internship Network Personalized academic internship/co-op and working holiday programs for post-secondary students from 11 partner countries.
Working Holiday Co-op
Eligibility: Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, UK
04
A-Way to Work / International Rural Exchange Canada Paid placements in agriculture, hospitality, culinary arts, tourism, horticulture, landscaping, and other sectors.
Working Holiday Young Professionals
Eligibility: IEC countries only
05
Languages Canada Consortium of accredited language schools combining English or French studies with work permits. Available in Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria.
Working Holiday
Eligibility: IEC countries only
06
Stepwest Work experiences ranging from paid ski-resort jobs to industry-specific student internships, primarily in BC and Alberta.
Working Holiday Young Professionals
Eligibility: IEC countries only
07
SWAP Working Holidays Working holidays and young professional work-and-travel opportunities. The only RO that admits citizens of the United States.
Working Holiday Young Professionals
Eligibility: IEC countries + United States
Source: IRCC official list of Recognized Organizations under International Experience Canada. The list may update with IRCC announcements at the start of each season.
Legal Representation

You don’t need an RCIC.

IEC is designed by IRCC to be a self-service program. Most Working Holiday applicants complete the entire process on their own through the IRCC online portal: profile, invitation, application, biometrics, and Letter of Introduction. No professional representation is required, and hiring one does not improve your odds of selection or speed up processing. That said, some cases benefit from licensed guidance.
01

When you don’t need one

Most cases
  • You meet all eligibility requirements Citizenship, age, passport validity, proof of funds, insurance.
  • No prior visa refusals Clean immigration history with Canada and other countries.
  • No criminal record No charges, convictions, or pending proceedings in any country.
  • No medical concerns No conditions that may complicate the immigration medical exam.
  • You can read English or French forms IRCC application is bilingual; no language barrier with the portal.
  • Standard Working Holiday application No employer sponsorship, accompanying dependants, or special circumstances.
02

When you might want one

Complex cases
  • Prior refusals or admissibility issues Past visa denials, removal orders, or inadmissibility findings.
  • Criminal record DUIs, charges, convictions, even if minor or expunged abroad.
  • Misrepresentation concerns Past applications with errors, omissions, or inconsistencies in your record.
  • Health issues affecting medical exam Conditions that may complicate or delay the immigration medical exam process.
  • Complex family situation Bringing dependants, custody disputes, or accompanying spouse with separate applications.
  • Strategy for staying after IEC Planning a path to permanent residence: Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, or sponsorship.
Legal context

Who can legally help with your application

Under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), only three categories of professionals are authorized to provide paid immigration advice or representation in Canada: Canadian lawyers (members of a provincial law society), Quebec notaries and Ontario paralegals (members of provincial regulators), and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Recognized Organizations (ROs) operate in a different category: they provide logistical support like job placement, accommodation, and banking setup, but cannot give legal advice or represent you to IRCC. Anyone else charging for immigration advice is doing so unlawfully. For a standard IEC Working Holiday, none of this applies to you: you can complete the full application yourself through your IRCC online account at no cost beyond government fees.
About Megrez
Megrez Immigration Consultants is a Vancouver-based RCIC firm operating since 1996. We don’t handle IEC applications. The program is designed for self-service and most applicants don’t need professional help. If your case involves prior refusals, criminal admissibility, or you’re planning a path to permanent residence after your Working Holiday, whether through Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class), a Provincial Nominee Program, spousal sponsorship, or an LMIA-based work permit, our team can help you navigate those next steps. RCIC license: R411151 (CICC) · This page is informational only and does not constitute legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions IEC Work & Holiday

International Experience Canada (IEC) is an IRCC program for citizens of 36 partner countries with bilateral youth mobility agreements. Applicants aged 18 to 30 or 35 (depending on country) can apply for one of three categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op.

No, the IEC Working Holiday does not require a job offer. It grants an LMIA-exempt open work permit that lets you work for any employer anywhere in Canada, in nearly any role. This makes it the most flexible IEC category for participants who want to job-hunt after arrival.

Working Holiday duration depends on your country’s bilateral youth mobility agreement with Canada, typically 12 or 24 months. Some nationalities can participate twice for a total of up to 36 months. Your exact length is set when you activate the work permit at a Canadian port of entry.

Unlike a regular Canadian work permit, the IEC Working Holiday is LMIA-exempt and grants an open work permit, letting you work for any employer anywhere in Canada. Regular work permits are typically tied to one specific employer and require an LMIA. IEC selection is also lottery based, not application based.

Most countries allow two lifetime IEC participations under the bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement. After using these, you can apply for two additional IEC stays through a Recognized Organization (RO), for up to four total lifetime participations. Each stay requires a new application and government fees.

Many IEC participants transition to permanent residence through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC), since IEC work experience counts toward eligibility. Other paths include a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), spousal sponsorship, or an LMIA-based work permit.

Related Services

Open Work Permit

Work for any Canadian employer without an LMIA or employer-specific restrictions.

Spousal Open Work Permit

Work in Canada while your spouse studies, works, or applies for permanent residence.

Processing Times

Check current IRCC processing times for visas, work permits, and permanent residence applications.