Working Holiday Visa

A working holiday can give you the opportunity to experience life in Canada while gaining international work experience. Through International Experience Canada (IEC), eligible young people from participating countries and territories can travel to Canada and work under an open work permit.

The Working Holiday category is designed for people who want to travel in Canada while earning money to help fund their stay. Unlike the Young Professionals and International Co-op categories, you generally do not need a job offer before applying for a Working Holiday permit.

The length of your stay, age limit, number of permitted participations and other requirements depend on the agreement between Canada and your country or territory.

How Does a Canada Working Holiday Work?

Canada has youth mobility arrangements with a number of countries and territories. The categories available to you depend on your citizenship. These may include Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship).

The Working Holiday category normally provides an open work permit. This means you can generally work for eligible employers in Canada without being tied to one specific employer.

Young Professionals and International Co-op normally provide employer-specific work permits. These categories generally require an eligible job offer or internship placement and have different eligibility requirements.

Participation limits, age requirements and maximum work-permit durations vary by country and category. Use the IRCC eligibility-by-country tool to check the rules that apply to you.

The Working Holiday category may be suitable if you:

• Do not have a Canadian job offer before you apply
• Want an open work permit
• Want to work for different employers during your stay
• Want to travel around Canada while working
• Want to gain international work experience while funding your trip.

If this sounds like your plans, the IEC Working Holiday category may be worth exploring.

Am I Eligible to Apply for a Canada Working Holiday?

To participate in IEC, your country or territory of citizenship must have a youth mobility agreement with Canada. Not every participating country offers every IEC category, so you need to check the category options available for your nationality.

IRCC's current IEC selector includes the following countries and territories with IEC arrangements:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Korea
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

These countries do not all offer the Working Holiday category. For example, IRCC currently lists Switzerland for Young Professionals and International Co-op rather than Working Holiday. Country requirements, quotas, and category availability can change. Always confirm the current requirements with IRCC.

Can a Recognized Organization Help You?

Some IEC applicants may be able to use a recognized organization (RO) for additional support with their work and travel plans. Depending on the organization, services may include help with finding work, preparing for your trip, or navigating IEC requirements.

Recognized organizations have their own eligibility criteria, participating countries, categories, age requirements, fees and availability. Using an RO does not automatically make someone eligible for IEC.

General Working Holiday Eligibility Requirements

IEC requirements are country-specific. Before creating your profile, check the rules for your citizenship, including the age limit, residence requirements, available categories, participation limit, and maximum permit duration. Depending on your country and category, you may need to meet requirements such as:

• Holding a valid passport from an eligible country or territory,
• Meeting the applicable age requirement,
• Having sufficient funds for your initial stay in Canada,
• Being admissible to Canada,
• Having health insurance that meets IEC requirements,
• Having a return or onward ticket or enough money to purchase one, and
• Meeting the applicable participation requirements.

Your work permit cannot normally be issued beyond the validity of your passport. If your passport expires earlier than the maximum period available to you, your permit may be issued for a shorter period.

You may need police certificates and, depending on your circumstances and intended work, a medical examination. A criminal record does not automatically produce the same immigration outcome in every case, so you should follow IRCC's admissibility requirements for your individual situation.

Dependants cannot be included in your IEC application. Family members who want to come to Canada must meet the requirements that apply to their own status or application. You must also check whether your country agreement contains a specific residence requirement. Do not assume that you must be physically living in your country of citizenship when you submit your application.

How to Apply for a Canadian Working Holiday Visa in 8 Steps

The IEC Working Holiday application process starts online. You first create and submit an IEC profile. If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you can then submit your work permit application.

Step 1: Create Your IRCC Secure Account

Start by creating or signing in to an IRCC secure account. Use the account to check your IEC eligibility and access the application process.

Follow the current instructions displayed by IRCC rather than relying on older screenshots or interface instructions, as the online account process can change. Once you have checked your eligibility, select International Experience Canada and continue with the IEC profile process.

Step 2: Submit Your IEC Profile

Complete your online IEC profile and submit it to one or more pools for which you are eligible. You can only have one IEC profile at a time. Depending on your citizenship and eligibility, you may be able to enter more than one IEC pool.

Submitting a profile does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply. IEC invitations are issued from country- and category-specific pools during rounds of invitations. IRCC recommends creating and submitting your profile as soon as possible if you want to work in Canada within the next 12 months.

Step 3: Receive and Respond to Your Invitation to Apply

If you are invited to apply, IRCC will send a message to your account explaining what to do next. You have 10 days to accept the Invitation to Apply. From the date and time you accept the invitation, you have 20 days to complete and submit your work permit application and supporting documents.

If you do not respond to the invitation before the deadline shown in your account, the invitation will expire. You would then need to submit a new IEC profile and be accepted into a pool again before you can be considered for another invitation. If you are in more than one IEC pool, you will only receive an ITA for one category at a time.

Step 4: Submit Your IEC Work-Permit Application

After accepting your ITA, you must submit your work permit application within the 20-day deadline. Your personalized document checklist will determine which documents you need. Depending on your circumstances, these may include:

• Passport,
• Digital photo,
• CV or résumé,
• Family information form, if requested,
• Police certificates,
• Medical examination proof, if required,
• Additional country-specific documents.

You may need police certificates for countries or territories where you have spent six or more months in a row since turning 18. IRCC can also request additional documents while processing your application. Make sure your documents are complete, readable, and uploaded according to the instructions in your personalized checklist.

Step 5: Pay Your IEC Fees and Submit Your Application

There is no fee to create an IEC profile. You pay the applicable fees when you submit your work permit application after receiving an invitation. For the 2026 season, the applicable Working Holiday fees are:

Fees can change, so confirm the amount on the official IRCC fee page before paying. Working Holiday participants pay the open work permit holder fee. Young Professionals and International Co-op participants have different fee arrangements, including an employer compliance fee paid by the Canadian employer.

Step 6: Provide Your Biometrics If Required

Depending on your citizenship and circumstances, you may need to provide fingerprints and a photograph after submitting your application. If IRCC requires your biometrics, you will receive a biometric instruction letter. Follow the instructions in the letter and provide your biometrics at an official collection location within the required deadline.

Do not assume that previous travel to Canada automatically means you can skip biometrics. Previously submitted biometrics may still be valid, but you should check your biometrics status and follow the instructions attached to your current application. Biometrics are generally provided in person. If you need to provide them, follow the instructions in your biometric instruction letter.

Step 7: Wait for Your IEC Work-Permit Application to Be Assessed

There is no fixed 56-day processing time that you should rely on for a Working Holiday application. Processing times can change and depend on the application and the information IRCC needs to assess it.

Check IRCC's current processing-time tool before making travel arrangements.

If your application is approved, IRCC will issue a port-of-entry letter of introduction (POE LOI). The POE LOI is not your work permit. It is the document you use to demonstrate your approval when you arrive in Canada. The actual IEC work permit is normally issued at the Canadian port of entry after a border services officer reviews your documents and determines that you meet the requirements to enter and receive the permit.

Step 8: Prepare for Your Arrival in Canada

Once your application is approved, prepare your documents before travelling to Canada. You should bring:

• Your valid passport,
• Your valid port-of-entry letter of introduction,
• Proof of sufficient funds,
• Proof of health insurance covering your intended stay,
• A return or onward ticket, or proof that you have enough money to purchase one,
• Copies of the documents you submitted with your IEC application.

Your bank statement should normally be issued no more than one week before your departure and should show at least the required equivalent of 2,500 CAD. Your health insurance should cover medical care, hospitalization and repatriation for the entire intended stay. If your insurance coverage expires earlier than your intended stay, your work permit may be issued only until the insurance expiry date and generally cannot later be extended for that reason.

The border services officer will review your documents when you arrive. If you meet the entry and work-permit requirements, the officer can issue your IEC work permit at the port of entry. Do not travel with the assumption that your POE LOI itself is the work permit. Keep your documents organized and make sure they remain valid when you arrive.

IEC Working Holiday vs Other IEC Categories

IEC has three main categories. The category available to you depends on your citizenship and the youth mobility agreement between Canada and your country or territory.

Young Professionals and International Co-op applicants generally require an eligible employer and job offer or internship. The employer must submit the required offer through the Employer Portal and pay the applicable employer compliance fee before the participant submits their work permit application.

How IEC Invitation Pools Work

Submitting an IEC profile puts you into the pool or pools for which you are eligible. It does not mean that you have applied for a work permit or that you are guaranteed an invitation. Each country and category has its own quota and invitation process. IRCC conducts rounds of invitations throughout the IEC season. The number of candidates in a pool, available places, and invitation activity can vary by country and category.

Working Holiday pools can be competitive because the number of candidates may exceed the available spots. IRCC randomly selects Working Holiday candidates from the pool for invitations. If you are in more than one pool, you can receive an invitation for only one category at a time. If you decline an invitation, your profile may become active again, and you may be considered for another invitation while the season remains open, depending on available spots.

Your IEC profile normally remains active until the end of the applicable season. If you do not receive an invitation before the season ends, you must create a new profile for a future season if you still want to participate. Check the IRCC rounds of invitations page for current country- and category-specific information.

An IEC Profile Does Not Guarantee an Invitation

It is important to separate creating an IEC profile from receiving an ITA. You can be eligible for IEC and still remain in a pool without receiving an invitation before the end of the season. Before submitting your profile, check your country's category availability, quota information, participation limits, and current rounds of invitations. Keep your supporting documents ready because you have only 20 days to submit your work permit application after accepting an ITA.

An Experience You Will Never Forget

A Working Holiday through IEC can give you the chance to explore Canada while gaining international work experience. You can experience different communities, meet people from different backgrounds, and develop skills that can support your future career.

Because IEC requirements vary by country and category, preparation matters. Start by checking your eligibility, confirm that Working Holiday is available to you, understand the invitation-pool process, and prepare the documents you may need after receiving an ITA.

If you are eligible for the 2026 IEC season, you can create your profile and follow the current IRCC instructions throughout the application process.

FAQs

Is the IEC Canada Program Currently Open?

Yes. The 2026 IEC season is open, and the pools are available to eligible candidates. Opening dates, invitation rounds, quotas, and available places vary by country and category, so check the current information on the IRCC website.

Do I Need a Job Offer for an IEC Working Holiday?

Normally, no. The Working Holiday category generally provides an open work permit, so you do not need a specific Canadian job offer before applying. Young Professionals and International Co-op generally have different requirements and require an eligible job offer or internship.

What Kind of Jobs Can I Do on a Working Holiday?

A Working Holiday open work permit generally allows you to work for most eligible employers in Canada and can allow you to change employers while your permit remains valid. Some occupations may require a medical examination, licence, registration, or professional accreditation.

How Long Can I Stay in Canada on a Working Holiday?

The maximum duration depends on your country or territory, the applicable IEC agreement and your participation history. Do not assume that every Working Holiday permit lasts 12 or 24 months. Check the requirements for your citizenship before applying.

Do I Need Health Insurance for an IEC Working Holiday?

Yes. IEC participants must have health insurance covering medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation for their intended stay. If your insurance expires early, your work permit may be issued only until the insurance expiry date and generally cannot later be extended for that reason.

Can I Stay in Canada After My Working Holiday Expires?

Your IEC work permit has an expiry date. If you want to remain in Canada afterward, you must qualify for another immigration status or permit and apply before your current status expires, when required. Here's a handy guide to options that may be available after your IEC participation.

Do I Need a Car in Canada?

No. A car is not an IEC requirement. Your transportation needs will depend on where you live and work in Canada. Major cities generally offer public transit, while some rural and seasonal work locations may have fewer transportation options.