IEC sent 1914 work permit invitations
In the week ending May 2, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 1,914 work permit invitations to IEC 2025 candidates, bringing the annual total to 65,267.
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is your ticket to living, working, and exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Canada.
Whether you’re eyeing a working holiday visa, young professionals, or an international co-op program, this article is your ultimate resource for a viral-worthy Canadian journey.
As of May 3, 2025, this page lists the countries that have been invited, their 2025 quotas, the candidates in the pool, and the likelihood of receiving an invitation in the next week.
Table of Contents
What is the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program?
The IEC program allows young people aged 18–35 (varies by country) from over 30 partner countries to work and travel in Canada for up to two years.
It’s divided into three streams:
Working Holiday: Open work permit allowing you to work for any employer and explore Canada freely.
Young Professionals: Employer-specific work permit for career-focused roles.
International Co-op: Internship or placement for students gaining work experience.
In 2025, the IEC season opened on December 16, 2024, with weekly invitation rounds starting January 13.
The program’s popularity makes early preparation critical for success.
Detailed IEC 2025 Working Holiday Visa Invitations
| Country | Invitations Sent this Week | Available Spots | 2025 Quota | Candidates In The Pool | Chances of Invitations Next Week |
| Andorra | 0 | 22 | 25 | 0 | Excellent |
| Australia | 181 | unlimited | unlimited | 172 | Excellent |
| Austria | 4 | 32 | 100 | 4 | Excellent |
| Belgium | 16 | 201 | 750 | 18 | Excellent |
| Chile | 9 | 1 | 725 | 7,368 | Very low |
| Costa Rica | 3 | 4 | 80 | 1,665 | Very low |
| Croatia | 1 | 56 | 85 | 3 | Excellent |
| Czech Republic | 18 | 406 | 700 | 19 | Excellent |
| Denmark | 12 | 203 | 350 | 4 | Excellent |
| Estonia | 0 | 61 | 110 | 1 | Excellent |
| Finland | 3 | unlimited | Unlimited | 2 | Excellent |
| France | 289 | 112 | 6,615 | 14,403 | Very low |
| Germany | 87 | 1,756 | 3,490 | 71 | Excellent |
| Greece | 2 | 47 | 180 | 4 | Excellent |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | 3 | 117 | 200 | 1 | Excellent |
| Iceland | 1 | 113 | 120 | 0 | Excellent |
| Ireland | 94 | 1,981 | 3,800 | 67 | Excellent |
| Italy | 43 | 755 | 1,750 | 41 | Excellent |
| Japan | 136 | 3,256 | 6,500 | 105 | Excellent |
| Korea, Republic | 225 | 2,876 | 10,000 | 183 | Excellent |
| Latvia, Republic | 4 | 1 | 40 | 2 | Fair |
| Lithuania | 2 | 76 | 175 | 3 | Excellent |
| Luxembourg | 1 | 60 | 80 | 0 | Excellent |
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 430 | 60 | Very low |
| New Zealand | 33 | 1,590 | 2,500 | 36 | Excellent |
| Norway | 19 | 81 | 130 | 4 | Excellent |
| Poland | 18 | 239 | 435 | 8 | Excellent |
| Portugal | 19 | 472 | 750 | 8 | Excellent |
| San Marino | 0 | 25 | 25 | 0 | Excellent |
| Slovakia | 5 | 195 | 315 | 7 | Excellent |
| Slovenia | 3 | 67 | 80 | 1 | Excellent |
| Spain | 40 | 120 | 800 | 23 | Excellent |
| Sweden | 11 | 229 | 350 | 6 | Excellent |
| Taiwan | 68 | 30 | 940 | 836 | Very low |
| United Kingdom | 345 | 1,934 | 9,000 | 266 | Excellent |
| Total | 1,695 | 17,118 | 51,630 | 25,391 |
Detailed Young Professional Invitations
| Country | Invitations Sent this Week | Available Spots | 2025 Quota | Candidates In The Pool | Chances of Invitations Next Week |
| Australia | 8 | unlimited | unlimited | 5 | Excellent |
| Austria | 0 | 2 | 60 | 0 | Excellent |
| Chile | 2 | 1 | 20 | 284 | Very low |
| Costa Rica | 0 | 1 | 15 | 159 | Very low |
| Croatia | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Czech Republic | 7 | 51 | 145 | 3 | Excellent |
| Estonia | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Finland | 0 | unlimited | Unlimited | 0 | Excellent |
| France | 43 | 1,198 | 2,080 | 50 | Excellent |
| France – VIE | 8 | 775 | 945 | 52 | Excellent |
| Germany | 11 | 144 | 350 | 7 | Excellent |
| Greece | 3 | 23 | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| Ireland | 4 | 119 | 150 | 5 | Excellent |
| Italy | 3 | 164 | 200 | 3 | Excellent |
| Korea, Republic | 5 | 1,349 | 1,500 | 4 | Excellent |
| Latvia, Republic | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | Excellent |
| Lithuania | 0 | 15 | 20 | 0 | Excellent |
| Luxembourg | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 170 | 10 | Very low |
| Norway | 1 | 12 | 15 | 0 | Excellent |
| Poland | 2 | 70 | 110 | 3 | Excellent |
| Portugal | 4 | 33 | 40 | 1 | Excellent |
| Slovakia | 1 | 11 | 30 | 3 | Excellent |
| Slovenia | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0 | Excellent |
| Spain | 3 | 7 | 120 | 7 | Excellent |
| Spain – ICEX | 0 | 50 | 50 | n/a | Excellent |
| Sweden | 5 | 33 | 40 | 3 | Excellent |
| Switzerland | 3 | 58 | 200 | 2 | Excellent |
| Taiwan | 2 | 22 | 50 | 1 | Excellent |
| United Kingdom | 15 | 650 | 900 | 20 | Excellent |
| Total | 131 | 4,822 | 7,273 | 623 |
Detailed International Co-op Invitations
| Country | Invitations Sent this Week | Available Spots | 2025 Quota | Candidates In The Pool | Chances of Invitations Next Week |
| Australia | 0 | unlimited | unlimited | 0 | Excellent |
| Austria | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | Excellent |
| Chile | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Costa Rica | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Croatia | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Estonia | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Finland | 0 | unlimited | Unlimited | 0 | Excellent |
| France | 75 | 1,774 | 3,590 | 46 | Excellent |
| Germany | 2 | 136 | 160 | 1 | Excellent |
| Greece | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Ireland | 0 | 37 | 50 | 1 | Excellent |
| Italy | 2 | 34 | 50 | 1 | Excellent |
| Korea, Republic | 7 | 490 | 500 | 5 | Excellent |
| Latvia, Republic | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Excellent |
| Lithuania | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Luxembourg | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Norway | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Poland | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Portugal | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| Slovakia | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Slovenia | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Excellent |
| Spain | 0 | 1 | 30 | 0 | Excellent |
| Sweden | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| Switzerland | 1 | 32 | 50 | 0 | Excellent |
| Taiwan | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | Excellent |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 94 | 100 | 2 | Excellent |
| Total | 88 | 2,687 | 4,652 | 57 |
Which Programs Have Low Invitation Odds?
IEC sent 1914 work permit invitations
While most IEC programs offer excellent odds of receiving an invitation, some have lower chances due to high demand:
Costa Rica: Working Holiday and Young Professionals
Chile: Working Holiday and Young Professionals
France: Working Holiday (over 14,000 candidates in the pool)
Taiwan: Working Holiday
Netherlands: Working Holiday and Young Professionals
For example, Chile and Costa Rica’s Working Holiday pools have thousands of candidates, making competition fierce.
Applicants in these programs should act quickly and consider alternative streams if eligible.
2025 IEC Quota Changes: What’s New?
The 2025 IEC season introduced notable quota adjustments:
France: Combined Working Holiday and Young Professionals quotas dropped by over 2,000.
United Kingdom: Working Holiday quota decreased by 500, but International Co-op and Young Professionals quotas increased.
Ireland: Working Holiday quota slashed from 10,500 to 3,800, reflecting lower demand (only 5,746 invitations issued in 2024).
Australia: Unlimited quotas continue, offering flexibility for Aussies.
South Korea: Working Holiday quota decreased by 1,625, but Young Professionals and International Co-op quotas rose by the same amount, balancing opportunities.
Taiwan: Working Holiday quota reduced by 2,240.
Increased IEC Fees for 2025
Applicants must pay a CAN $179.75 fee, up from $172 in 2024.
Budgeting for this cost is essential when planning your application.
The 2025 IEC season is in full swing, with 1,914 invitations issued in the latest round and opportunities still available.
By acting early, preparing thoroughly, and staying informed, you can secure your spot to work and explore Canada.
From navigating quota changes to avoiding flagpoling pitfalls, this guide equips you with everything needed for a successful IEC adventure.
Start your application today, connect with employers, and get ready to experience Canada like never before!
Stay updated with Immigration News Canada.
Contact us today to explore the possibilities.
GFK Immigration
Gboyega Esan RCIC R708591
Phone: +1 (647) 225-0092
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