Canada Allows Youth from 28 Countries to Get Work Permits More Than Once

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published June 28, 2026

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Canada’s International Experience Canada program is offering young people from several partner countries a chance to work and travel in Canada, with citizens of 28 countries able to obtain Canadian work permits more than once under specific conditions.

The program, known as IEC, is based on youth mobility agreements between Canada and participating countries. While some countries allow only one participation, others allow applicants to participate twice or more, often under different categories or after meeting additional requirements.

According to recent immigration reporting, eligible citizens from the 28 countries may be able to work in Canada for a total period that can reach two or three years, depending on their nationality, age limit, and the type of IEC category available to them. Most participants must be between 18 and 35 years old, though some countries set the upper age limit at 30.

IEC includes three main categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op Internship. The Working Holiday category usually provides an open work permit, allowing participants to work for most employers in Canada. The Young Professionals and International Co-op categories are generally linked to a specific job offer, employer, or internship related to the applicant’s career or studies.

The 28 countries identified as allowing repeat participation include Australia, Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

However, being from one of these countries does not automatically guarantee a Canadian work permit. Applicants must first create a profile in the IEC pool and wait for an Invitation to Apply. The Canadian government says invitation rounds continue until the available spots are filled or the IEC season closes.

For young workers, students, and early-career professionals, the program can provide valuable Canadian work experience without going through the longer process required for some other types of work permits. But applicants are advised to carefully check the rules for their country before applying, as age limits, permitted categories, length of stay, and repeat participation rules differ from one country to another.

Canada also states that an IEC participation only counts once the applicant arrives in Canada and receives the work permit. If an application is approved but the person does not come to Canada to activate the permit, it does not count as a participation.