First Canada Working Holiday Visa Draw Of 2026 Sent Over 10,000 Work Permit Invitations

Last Updated On 26 January 2026, 10:36 AM EST (Toronto Time)

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Canada has opened the 2026 season for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program with a major first wave of invitations under the Working Holiday Visa category.

As of January 23, 2026, the first invitation round of the year has already sent 10,689 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across participating countries and territories, out of a total 2026 Working Holiday quota of 42,127.

With 35,283 spots still available at this early stage and 34,539 candidates currently in the pool, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and fastest-moving IEC years in recent memory.

For many young travellers and early-career professionals, the Working Holiday work permit is the fastest way to legally work in Canada without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and without requiring a pre-arranged job offer.

That flexibility is why the Working Holiday category typically moves the most volume first, and why this first draw matters: it sets expectations for how quickly quotas will shrink and which pools will clear early.

Below is the full breakdown of country-wise and category-wise invitations sent during the week ending January 23, 2026.

Working Holiday Visa Draw as of January 23, 2026

Country	Total invitations issued in first round as of Jan 23	2026 Quota	Available Spots	Candidates in the pool
United Kingdom	3,129	9,330	7,198	2,671
Korea, Republic	1,995	10,239	8,960	1,655
Australia	1,275	5,670	4,789	605
Ireland	1,074	2,735	2,021	526
Italy	650	1,850	1,419	241
France	645	5,661	5,549	13,470
Spain	379	857	608	379
Belgium	370	725	464	88
Netherlands	300	500	292	235
Taiwan	259	907	747	1,551
Czech Republic	145	512	417	58
Austria	80	160	105	54
France (Volontariat international en entreprise (VIE))	75	650	590	34
Slovakia	60	220	180	26
Greece	55	130	93	13
Lithuania	40	180	154	17
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	31	193	173	1
Croatia	30	82	61	10
Estonia	30	100	80	8
Costa Rica	20	80	68	1,342
Latvia, Republic	20	40	29	27
Slovenia	11	33	25	0
Luxembourg	10	42	35	0
Iceland	5	48	44	0
Andorra	1	24	23	0
San Marino	0	24	24	2
Chile	not announced	700	700	5,687
Denmark	not announced	not announced	not announced	85
Finland	not announced	120	120	55
Germany	not announced	not announced	not announced	1,274
Japan	not announced	not announced	not announced	3,489
New Zealand	not announced	not announced	not announced	501
Norway	not announced	not announced	not announced	30
Poland	not announced	310	310	151
Portugal	not announced	not announced	not announced	176
Sweden	not announced	not announced	not announced	78
Spain (ICEX Vives)	n/a	5	5	n/a
Total	10,689	42,127	35,283	34,539

The fastest-moving working holiday visa pools so far

Looking at the first-round invitation totals, a few countries stand out because they combine high invitations with strong remaining quota space:

Korea, Republic: 1,995 ITAs issued with 8,960 spots still available, and 1,655 candidates in the pool.
United Kingdom: 3,129 ITAs issued with 7,198 spots still available, and 2,671 candidates in the pool.
Australia: 1,275 ITAs issued with 4,789 spots still available, and 605 candidates in the pool.
Ireland: 1,074 ITAs issued with 2,021 spots still available, and 526 candidates in the pool.
Italy: 650 ITAs issued with 1,419 spots still available, and 241 candidates in the pool.

In practical terms, these numbers suggest that for certain nationalities, early 2026 could be a season where eligible candidates have a relatively high probability of receiving an ITA quickly, especially if they entered the pool early, kept profiles complete, and responded immediately when invited.

The most competitive pressure points right now

Several pools are showing strong signs of heavy demand relative to available spaces, or unusually large candidate pools compared to the pace of invitations:

France: 13,470 candidates in the pool with 5,549 Working Holiday spots still available and 645 ITAs issued in the first round.
Chile: 5,687 candidates in the pool while invitations are still “to be announced,” with 700 quota and 700 available spots listed.
Japan: 3,489 candidates in the pool, and invitations still “to be announced.”
Costa Rica: 1,342 candidates in the pool for only 68 available spots after 20 invitations in the first round.
Taiwan: 1,551 candidates in the pool, with 747 available spots.

These numbers do not automatically mean candidates are “unlikely” to get invited.

They do, however, signal that waiting times and selection volatility may be materially higher, and candidates should consider backup strategies within IEC where eligible, such as Young Professionals or International Co-op, or building a Canada plan that does not depend on an immediate Working Holiday invitation.

Why some countries show “not announced” for invitations or quota?

In the IEC season opening phase, it is common for some countries to show “to be announced” in one or more columns.

This typically indicates that the season has opened, pools are forming, but the invitation rounds for that specific country either have not started yet, are pending updates, or are awaiting finalization of operational quotas.

From a candidate perspective, “to be announced” should be treated as “open but not yet moving.”

The correct move is usually to enter the pool as early as possible (if you are eligible) and ensure your profile is accurate, because the first invitations for a country can come in clusters once the round cadence starts.

What to do immediately if you received an ITA

An IEC Working Holiday ITA is time-sensitive. Candidates who delay often miss deadlines, make avoidable document errors, or lose the opportunity to apply in that season.

If you were invited in the first round, your priorities should be:

Accept the invitation immediately if you plan to proceed.
Review document requirements early, especially police certificates, which can be the longest bottleneck depending on your country and travel history.
Prepare proof of funds in a format that is clear and consistent with your bank statements.
Confirm passport validity. If your passport is expiring soon, renew it early because work permit issuance length can be tied to passport validity.
Plan biometrics quickly if required, especially if local appointment availability is limited.

A common mistake is assuming the ITA means the work permit is guaranteed. It is not.

Your application must be complete, truthful, and consistent, including travel history, address history, and any prior visas or refusals.

What to do if you are still in the pool

If you are still waiting as of January 26, 2026, the best strategy is usually not to “wait passively.”

Instead, you should actively improve your readiness so that when an invitation arrives, you can submit without scrambling.

Key actions:

Re-check your profile for accuracy and completeness.
Track the pool numbers and available spots for your country.
Prepare documents that take time (police certificates, reference letters if needed for other categories, internship confirmation letters for International Co-op).
Consider whether you qualify for Young Professionals or International Co-op if your Working Holiday odds look tight.
Start planning for job search and settlement logistics so that once approved, you can move quickly.

Understanding the three IEC pathways and how they differ

Many candidates treat IEC as “Working Holiday only,” but the 2026 tables show why the other pathways can be strategic.

Working Holiday

Open work permit in most cases.
No job offer required to apply.
Highest demand and typically the largest pools.

Young Professionals

Employer-specific work permit.
Requires a qualifying job offer that aligns with career development.
Often less crowded than Working Holiday for many countries, but depends heavily on job-offer access.

International Co-op (Internships)

Employer-specific work permit tied to an internship placement.
Typically requires proof that the placement is connected to studies.
Can be the best fit for students who can structure a Canadian internship through their institution or program requirements.

In 2026, candidates who can access a legitimate job offer or internship placement may find the non-Working Holiday categories to be faster and less stressful, even if they require more planning upfront.

Young Professionals draw results as of January 23, 2026

Country	Total invitations issued in first round as of Jan 23	2026 Quota	Available Spots	Candidates in the pool
France	434	1,900	1,602	87
United Kingdom	210	322	231	51
Netherlands	75	80	39	11
Korea, Republic	57	200	171	9
Spain	50	100	72	4
Italy	32	60	46	5
Australia	28	50	42	5
Czech Republic	27	160	145	2
Taiwan	25	55	45	19
Ireland	24	48	36	7
Slovakia	16	41	31	5
Greece	14	58	50	4
Costa Rica	7	15	12	183
Lithuania	6	10	7	0
Estonia	3	16	14	1
Austria	2	10	9	0
Latvia, Republic	1	5	4	1
Luxembourg	1	3	2	0
Croatia	0	10	10	0
Slovenia	0	10	10	0
Chile	to be announced	20	20	253
Finland	to be announced	15	15	5
Germany	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	117
Norway	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	3
Poland	to be announced	100	100	13
Portugal	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	4
Sweden	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	4
Switzerland	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	50
Total	1,012	3,288	2,713	843

What the Young Professionals numbers reveal

The early Young Professionals invitation count of 1,012 is meaningful because this category usually moves more quietly than Working Holiday, yet it can produce faster approvals for candidates who are well-prepared.

Several patterns are visible in these numbers:

France is moving aggressively in Young Professionals

434 invitations already issued with 1,602 spots still available and only 87 candidates in the pool.
This is one of the clearest signs of a low-congestion pathway where eligible candidates may receive invitations quickly, assuming job offers are valid and meet program rules.

The United Kingdom and Korea also show strong early movement

United Kingdom: 210 invitations with 231 spots available and 51 candidates in the pool.
Korea, Republic: 57 invitations with 171 spots available and 9 candidates in the pool.

Costa Rica stands out as unusually competitive in Young Professionals

If you are a Costa Rica candidate, a Working Holiday plan alone may not be sufficient. You may need a broader Canada strategy, including employer outreach and alternative work permit pathways outside IEC where eligible.
183 candidates in the pool for 12 available spots, even after 7 invitations.

International Co-op (Internships) results as of January 23, 2026

Country	Total invitations issued in first round as of Jan 23	2026 Quota	Available Spots	Candidates in the pool
France	954	2,790	1,801	132
United Kingdom	15	15	7	1
Italy	9	23	17	2
Spain	4	5	2	0
Taiwan	3	5	4	2
Ireland	2	20	19	0
Korea, Republic	2	50	28	0
Australia	1	17	16	1
Austria	1	4	3	0
Greece	1	5	4	0
Costa Rica	0	2	2	1
Croatia	0	5	5	0
Czech Republic	0	5	5	0
Estonia	0	5	5	0
Latvia, Republic	0	3	3	0
Lithuania	0	3	3	0
Luxembourg	0	3	3	0
Slovakia	0	5	5	0
Slovenia	0	5	5	0
Chile	to be announced	5	5	1
Finland	to be announced	10	10	0
Germany	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	31
Norway	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	1
Poland	to be announced	4	4	0
Portugal	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	3
Sweden	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	0
Switzerland	to be announced	To be announced	to be announced	10
Total	992	2,989	1,956	185

Why International Co-op can be a hidden advantage in 2026?

The International Co-op category is often underestimated because it requires a structured internship placement.

But when candidates can meet that requirement, the pool sizes can be dramatically smaller than Working Holiday, and the invitation-to-spot ratios can be more favourable.

France is again the clear volume driver

954 invitations already issued with 1,801 spots still available, and only 132 candidates in the pool.
This suggests a strong probability of continued invitations for eligible candidates with proper internship arrangements.

Several pools show extremely low candidate counts

Many pools with 0 to 2 candidates can move quickly, but only if candidates enter correctly and can prove their internship meets program rules.

The core barrier is not competition, it is eligibility

Candidates need a credible internship letter, proof of student status where required, and a placement that aligns with the program’s internship intent.

For students and recent students who can set up a Canadian internship through their university or a legitimate employer relationship, International Co-op can be the best “certainty play” in IEC.

Common mistakes that cause IEC refusals after an ITA

Even though IEC is popular, refusals still happen, often for preventable reasons.

The most common issues include:

Passport validity problems that shorten the work permit or create mismatches.
Police certificates missing, expired, or inconsistent with travel history.
Inconsistent address history, employment history, or travel history.
Misunderstanding open work permit versus employer-specific rules.
Weak proof of funds presentation, especially if statements are unclear or funds are not readily accessible.
For Young Professionals and International Co-op: job offer or internship documentation that does not meet program intent.

What these early numbers suggest for the rest of the IEC 2026 season?

Based on the scale of the first round, 2026 is likely to develop in phases:

Phase 1: January to February

High-volume early invitations for countries already moving strongly.
Countries marked “to be announced” begin receiving invitations once round cadence starts.

Phase 2: March to May

Working Holiday pools tighten for oversubscribed countries.
Young Professionals and International Co-op continue steady movement, often with better predictability.

Phase 3: June onward

Many countries begin to show reduced available spots, and late entrants face a higher chance of missing the season unless their country’s pool is under-subscribed.
Candidates shift toward alternative plans if IEC timelines do not align.

The first Canada Working Holiday Visa draw of 2026 is already setting the tone for a fast-moving IEC season, with over 10,000 ITAs issued by January 23 and tens of thousands of candidates still competing across pools.

For readers, the smartest move right now is to treat this first-round snapshot as a strategy map: check your country’s pool pressure, prepare documents before you are invited, and seriously consider Young Professionals or International Co-op if your Working Holiday pool is crowded.

In a year where timing will decide who lands in Canada first, readiness is the real advantage.

Frequently asked questions about the first 2026 IEC draw

How long do I have to enter Canada after my IEC Working Holiday visa is approved?

Most candidates want to know the practical timeline between approval and travel. In general, after your application is approved, you receive a letter of introduction that sets a deadline to arrive in Canada. Your work permit is issued at the border when you enter Canada, and the validity period typically starts then, not when you get invited. Always check the exact expiry date on your letter and plan travel accordingly.

Can I work for any employer anywhere in Canada on a Working Holiday permit?

Working Holiday is commonly used as an open work permit, which usually means you can change employers and locations without applying again. However, some jobs can require extra steps, such as a medical exam if you plan to work in certain fields (for example, with vulnerable populations or in some health-related roles). Candidates also ask whether they can do remote work, self-employment, or gig work—this can be possible depending on the situation, but you should ensure your work is legal, properly taxed, and consistent with permit conditions.

What should I do if my passport expires soon, and can my work permit be issued for a shorter period because of it?

This is a major “surprise” issue. If your passport expiry is earlier than the maximum duration you could otherwise receive, officers can issue a shorter work permit that matches your passport validity. Renewing your passport before you travel can help you avoid losing months of eligibility. If you renew after you arrive, you may need to explore options to extend or change status, which can be complicated.

Can I update my IEC profile after joining the pool, and does it affect my chances?

Yes, you can typically update parts of your profile while you are in the pool, and candidates frequently ask if edits “reset” anything. The key is to keep your profile truthful and consistent with your real documents. Changes like a new passport number, new address, or corrected details are common. What can hurt you is making changes that create inconsistencies with future proof documents, or failing to update something important and then trying to explain it later during the work permit application.

What should I do if I don’t get an IEC invitation for a long time?

Keep your IEC profile active and prepare documents in advance so you can apply quickly if invited. If delays continue, consider backup pathways based on your situation, such as employer-supported options, study-based planning, or other immigration programs. The best alternative depends on your eligibility and whether you can secure a qualifying job or admission.

Can a 4-year-old learning to speak succeed in Junior Kindergarten?

A 4-year-old child who is just beginning to speak can thrive in Junior Kindergarten (JK). Many JK programs are designed to support children with varying language skills, providing a nurturing environment for language development through peer interaction and teacher guidance. Socialization in JK enhances communication skills and confidence, as children learn through play. Individual needs vary, so parental involvement, such as reading and engaging in conversation at home, can further support language growth. For tailored strategies, consulting a speech-language pathologist may also be beneficial before starting JK.

Why do many French speakers apply for the IEC program?

French-speaking individuals are drawn to the International Experience Canada (IEC) program for several reasons. Canada’s bilingual nature allows for easier integration into the workforce, particularly in provinces like Quebec. The IEC program offers young people the opportunity to gain international work experience without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), making it an attractive option. Additionally, the program fosters cultural exchange, allowing participants to immerse themselves in Canadian culture while sharing their own. There is also a strong demand for bilingual workers in Canada, enhancing employment prospects for French speakers. Many applicants may have educational or familial ties to Canada, further motivating their interest in the IEC program.

What is the date for the next Canada Working Holiday Visa draw?

The date for the next Canada Working Holiday Visa draw has not been officially announced. However, the 2026 season for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program has commenced, with the first draw occurring on January 23, 2026, which issued 10,689 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Additional draws are expected as the season progresses, and specific dates will be confirmed by Canadian authorities. For the latest updates, regularly check the official Government of Canada website.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.