May 2026: Invitations slow down as pool quotas fill and chances shift
As of May 15, 2026 a total of 71,931 invitation were issued since the start of the IEC season.
After just 4 months many pools have almost filled their quota and chances of invitations for a Working Holiday open work permit changed to ‘low’ chances. For example countries like UK, Ireland. Or ‘very low’ chances for Spain and Netherlands.
Despite the relatively low quota, Germany and Australia still have ‘excellent’ chances for a Working Holiday.
If you’ve already received an invitation from the IEC pool, now is not the time to make mistakes.
>> Here you can find common mistakes to avoid before, during, and after your application.
These include issues like missing documents, entering incorrect information, or not submitting your work permit application on time after receiving your invitation. Even small errors can delay or affect your application.
April 2026: Month tally: 13,861 invitations were issued
March 2026: Month tally: 11,649 invitations were issued
March 2, 2026: No round of invitations
No invitations were issued this week. IRCC is taking time to work through the large number of work permit applications already submitted.
It’s common for invitation rounds to slow down or temporarily pause so processing can catch up before the next draws continue.
February 2026: Three rounds of invitations
A total of 15,279 invitations were sent out in February in were issued across three draws in February. This is a noticeable slowdown compared to the strong pace seen in the first two weeks of the season, where higher volumes of invitations were issued.
As more people get invited, more of them will start sending in their work permit applications. This means IRCC has more applications to check and process at the same time.
January 30, 2026: The second IEC round of invitation
A total of 22,694 invitations were sent out this week. This brings the total to 35,387 invitations in just the first two weeks of rounds, making it one of the most active starts to an IEC season so far.
January 23, 2026: The first IEC round of invitation
A total of 12,693 invitations were sent out this week.
January 19, 2026: The first IEC round of invitation will officially begin.
At this stage, candidates who have already submitted their profiles into the IEC pool may start receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through scheduled rounds.
Your chances depend on several factors, including the number of spots available, your country of citizenship, and the category you’re applying under (such as Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op). Since selections happen in rounds, being in the pool early and ensuring your profile is complete is important.
Find out >> here, how the IEC pool works and what your chances could look like.
December 19,2025: The IEC Pool is open
36 IEC countries and 61,189 spots are up for grabs.
Now is the time to create your IEC profile and start your application. Make sure to complete each step carefully by following >> this application guide, one section at a time, to avoid delays or errors in your submission.