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Youth mobility and work permits

International Experience Canada

Explore Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op options. IEC is a temporary work-permit program, distinct from the Canadian Experience Class.

Temporary work permits

Three categories. Different work conditions.

Working Holiday

An open work permit for eligible youth. A job offer is not required before applying. Employment remains subject to permit conditions and any occupational restrictions.

Young Professionals

An employer-specific permit requiring a paid, non-self-employed offer that contributes to professional development. Usually TEER 0–3; a relevant TEER 4 job may qualify with a qualifying post-secondary credential.

International Co-op

An employer-specific permit for eligible students with a study-related placement or internship. Registration and curriculum requirements apply, with some country-specific exceptions.

IEC is LMIA-exempt. Employers using Young Professionals or International Co-op generally must submit an offer through the Employer Portal and pay the employer compliance fee.

Before entering a pool

Check more than your age.

Eligible citizenship, a passport valid for the intended stay, an invitation, admissibility, required fees and a category-specific application are necessary. Participants generally need at least C$2,500, departure-ticket funds and insurance covering medical care, hospitalization and repatriation for the entire stay.

Country-specific residence or address rules, previous participation limits and education or employment conditions can also apply. A shorter passport or insurance validity can shorten the permit. Family members need their own status and are not automatically included in an IEC permit.

Important country-specific conditions: Austria’s Young Professionals category requires continuing employment with an Austrian company and work with its Canadian partner, parent or subsidiary. Austrian co-op is limited to eligible study or recent graduation in forestry, agriculture or tourism. United Kingdom durations depend on whether this is a first or second participation. France’s VIE and Spain’s ICEX Vives have separate sub-pools and additional conditions.
IEC country chart

Find your country and compare the categories.

The chart covers the 36 countries and territories with direct IEC youth mobility arrangements for entry to Canada. Age limits are inclusive. “Not offered” means that category is not available under the direct agreement.

2026 season snapshot — September 25, 2026

“Season quota” is the published allocation for that category. “Spots remaining” is the number reported as still available on that date. These are work-permit places, not guaranteed visas, job offers or invitations. Allocations and availability can change; this chart is not a live feed.

Showing 36 countries and territories.

IEC age limits, maximum stay and 2026 places. Availability reported September 25, 2026.
Country / territoryWorking Holiday
Open permit · no offer needed
Young Professionals
Employer-specific · offer required
International Co-op
Employer-specific · placement required
AndorraAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 24Spots remaining: 16Not offeredNot offered
AustraliaAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 5,670Spots remaining: 44Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 50Spots remaining: 4Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 17Spots remaining: 16
AustriaAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 160Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 10Spots remaining: 6Age 18–35Up to 6 monthsSeason quota: 4Spots remaining: 1
BelgiumAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 725Spots remaining: 4Not offeredNot offered
ChileAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 655Spots remaining: 3Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 65Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 1
Costa RicaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 80Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 15Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 2Spots remaining: 1
CroatiaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 88Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 7Spots remaining: 5Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 2Spots remaining: 2
Czech RepublicAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 562Spots remaining: 8Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 110Spots remaining: 10Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 5
DenmarkAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 266Spots remaining: 0Not offeredNot offered
EstoniaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 100Spots remaining: 25Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 16Spots remaining: 7Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 5
FinlandAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 120Spots remaining: 1Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 15Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 10Spots remaining: 1
FranceAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 5,811Spots remaining: 157Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 1,900Spots remaining: 61Volontariat international en entreprise (VIE): separate quota 650; 210 spots remaining.Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 2,640Spots remaining: 316
GermanyAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 3,030Spots remaining: 11Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 350Spots remaining: 27Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 100Spots remaining: 30
GreeceAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 130Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 58Spots remaining: 8Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 1
Hong KongAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 193Spots remaining: 65Not offeredNot offered
IcelandAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 48Spots remaining: 27Not offeredNot offered
IrelandAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 2,735Spots remaining: 8Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 48Spots remaining: 15Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 20Spots remaining: 6
ItalyAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 1,840Spots remaining: 13Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 64Spots remaining: 4Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 29Spots remaining: 2
JapanAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 6,433Spots remaining: 80Not offeredNot offered
LatviaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 40Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 4Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 3Spots remaining: 3
LithuaniaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 170Spots remaining: 5Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 20Spots remaining: 7Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 3Spots remaining: 3
LuxembourgAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 42Spots remaining: 4Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 3Spots remaining: 2Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 3Spots remaining: 3
NetherlandsAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 480Spots remaining: 0Age 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 110Spots remaining: 10Not offered
New ZealandAge 18–35Up to 23 monthsSeason quota: 1,547Spots remaining: 9Not offeredNot offered
NorwayAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 130Spots remaining: 5Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 10Spots remaining: 4Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 4
PolandAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 354Spots remaining: 1Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 56Spots remaining: 1Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 4Spots remaining: 1
PortugalAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 500Spots remaining: 6Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 22Spots remaining: 6Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 10Spots remaining: 6
Republic of KoreaAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 10,239Spots remaining: 1,420Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 200Spots remaining: 137Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 50Spots remaining: 33
San MarinoAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 24Spots remaining: 11Not offeredNot offered
SlovakiaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 220Spots remaining: 2Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 41Spots remaining: 2Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 5
SloveniaAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 33Spots remaining: 0Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 10Spots remaining: 5Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 5
SpainAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 834Spots remaining: 8Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 120Spots remaining: 6ICEX Vives: separate quota 5; 1 spots remaining.Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 8Spots remaining: 0
SwedenAge 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 255Spots remaining: 0Age 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 30Spots remaining: 5Age 18–30Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 4
SwitzerlandNot offeredAge 18–35Up to 18 monthsSeason quota: 207Spots remaining: 45Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 35Spots remaining: 0
TaiwanAge 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 867Spots remaining: 6Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 95Spots remaining: 17Age 18–35Up to 12 monthsSeason quota: 5Spots remaining: 2
United KingdomAge 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 9,213Spots remaining: 12First participation; a second may be up to 12 months.Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 434Spots remaining: 20First participation; a second may be up to 12 months.Age 18–35Up to 24 monthsSeason quota: 20Spots remaining: 3First participation; a second may be up to 12 months.

Eligibility reviewed October 1, 2026 using IRCC’s country-and-category guidance. Quotas and remaining places are reproduced from IRCC’s September 25, 2026 IEC rounds dataset. Maximum durations are conditional on the agreement, participation history, passport, insurance and, where applicable, the contract.

Other routes

What if your country is not listed?

There may be limited opportunities through an IRCC-recognized organization, depending on that organization’s citizenship, age, category and allocation rules. This is a separate route; eligibility and an available place should not be assumed.

If IEC does not fit, consider employer-supported work permits, Express Entry or a provincial pathway. IEC approval does not guarantee employment or permanent residence.