Working holiday and work permits in Canada: the IEC guide for Australians

If you're an Australian aged 18 to 35, Canada will let you live and work here for up to two years. You just have to play the pool game first.

The short version

• International Experience Canada (IEC) has three categories for Australians: Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op [1].
• You must be 18 to 35 inclusive when you apply, have at least CA$2,500 in funds and hold health insurance for your whole stay [1].
• Working Holiday and Young Professionals permits last up to 24 months, and you get one go in either category, plus a possible extra stint through Co-op [1].
• Fees for a Working Holiday come to about CA$370: the CA$184.75 IEC fee, the CA$100 open work permit holder fee and CA$85 for biometrics if needed [2].
• After an invitation, deadlines are tight: 10 days to accept and 20 days to submit your application [2][3].

The three IEC categories for Australians

Canada and Australia have a youth mobility arrangement, and IEC is the Canadian side of it. Here's how the categories compare for Australian citizens.

All details from IRCC's country requirements for Australia [1].

How many times can you go?

Australians get one participation in either Working Holiday or Young Professionals, not both. You can add one International Co-op participation if you meet its rules [1]. If you took part in IEC before 2015, you may be eligible for one final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice [1]. A participation only counts once you arrive and are issued your permit [1], so an approved application you never use doesn't burn your chance.

Some third-party sites still quote older or different participation rules. Go by the IRCC page for Australia.

Young Professionals: what counts as professional?

Your Canadian job has to sit in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of Canada's occupational classification. A TEER 4 job may qualify if it's in your field of study [1]. In plain terms, that's management, professional, technical and skilled trades roles. Most entry-level bar and retail jobs won't qualify, which is why most Aussies use Working Holiday.

The application, step by step

IEC isn't first come, first served. You join a pool and wait to be drawn.

1. Check eligibility on IRCC's IEC pages for Australia [1].
2. Create an IRCC account and submit your IEC profile. It costs nothing to enter the pool [2]. You choose which pools to join.
3. Wait for an invitation to apply (ITA). Invitations are random within each pool. IRCC posts pool and quota updates on its rounds of invitations page, usually on Fridays [4].
4. Accept within 10 days. If you're not ready, you can decline and go back into the pool [2]. Deadlines run on UTC, not Sydney time [2].
5. Submit your work permit application within 20 days. Pay the fees and upload your documents [3]. Young Professionals and Co-op applicants also need their employer to submit the job offer and pay the CA$230 employer compliance fee in this window [2].
6. Give biometrics within 30 days if asked. Instructions usually arrive within 24 hours of applying [3].
7. Wait for a decision. Assessment can take up to 56 days, and the clock pauses if IRCC asks for more documents [2].
8. Get your port of entry letter and bring it to Canada. A border officer issues the actual work permit when you land, so check it carefully before you leave the counter [2].

Documents to prepare early

• Police certificates from every country where you've spent six months or more in a row since turning 18. The one for your current country can't be more than six months old when you apply [3]. Order your Australian National Police Check early.
• A CV listing your education, jobs and main duties [3].
• A digital photo meeting IRCC's size rules [3].
• A medical exam, only if you've lived in certain countries or plan to work in health care, child care, schools or elderly care [3].
• A passport valid for your whole stay, because your permit can't outlast it [1].

Insurance, funds and the border

Two things get checked at the airport, so pack them in your carry-on:

• Proof of funds. At least CA$2,500, usually a recent bank statement [1].
• Health insurance for the full stay, including repatriation cover [1]. Buy it for the whole period you plan to stay, not just the first few months.

You also need a return ticket or enough money to buy one [1]. Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Canada, so this insurance matters long after the border.

On OHIP: Ontario covers work permit holders who work full-time for an Ontario employer for at least six months and meet the residence rules [8]. Working holiday makers in casual or short jobs often won't qualify, so keep your private cover until you're sure.

Your first job in Canada

Once your permit is issued, you're ready to work.

• Apply for your SIN straight away. Online is fastest. Temporary residents' SINs start with 9 and expire with the permit. You can start work as soon as you've applied [7].
• Know the minimum wage. In Ontario it's CA$17.95 an hour from 1 October 2026 [9].
• Use a recognized organization if you want extra help. These Canada-based groups help with job hunting, banking and settling in. Australians don't have to use one, and most charge a fee [5].
• Expect a Canadian-format CV. One or two pages, no photo, no date of birth.

Staying longer: what comes after IEC

Plenty of Aussies fall for Canada and want to stay. IEC itself doesn't lead to permanent residence, but the work experience you gain can.

The main route is the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry. You need at least one year of skilled paid work in Canada (1,560 hours) in the three years before you apply, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs, plus an approved English or French test [6]. Self-employment doesn't count [6]. So if staying is your long-term plan, chase a skilled job early in your IEC stay. A year of bartending won't count towards this route.

Rules and draws for permanent residence change often, so get advice from a licensed Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer before you make big decisions.

For lived experience, ask in Cooee Canada, our Facebook group for Australians in Canada. Plenty of members have just been through the pool.

Sources

1. International Experience Canada: Eligibility by country (Australia) – IRCC
2. International Experience Canada: About the program – IRCC
3. International Experience Canada: Submit your work permit application – IRCC
4. International Experience Canada: Rounds of invitations – IRCC
5. International Experience Canada: Recognized organizations – IRCC
6. Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class – IRCC
7. SIN for temporary residents in Canada – Service Canada
8. Apply for OHIP and get a health card – Government of Ontario
9. Minimum wage – Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, Government of Ontario

Keep reading

• Moving to Toronto from Australia: the complete guide
• Renting in Toronto as an Australian
• Aussie life in Toronto
• Are you still an Australian tax resident once you move?