What is the "IEC pool"?

Everything you need to know

The IEC pool is a draw pot where all applicants create their profile. Think of it as a raffle: Everyone enters their name and hopes to be chosen. During the invitation rounds, a computerized system will randomly and irregularly (usually weekly) pull a certain number of candidates out of the pool. Each participating country has its own pools and quotas. 

When does the IEC pool open?

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program and its pools typically open around December and remain open throughout the year. However, in October, all pools temporarily close for a few weeks in order to prepare for the next season.

How many invitation rounds are there?

IRCC never discloses the exact number of invitation rounds or when the next one is. However, they announce:

  • the date of the first round at the beginning of the IEC season
  • the date of the last round one week before the end of the season. 

In between, several rounds will take place, usually weekly, during which the system will send out a set number of invitations.

Typically, the largest number of invitations is issued in the very first round to ensure a strong start with a high volume of applications. As the season progresses, the number of invitations gradually decreases.

Around the summer months, there is often a brief pause, typically lasting 1 to 2 weeks. This break allows processing officers time to catch up on the large volume of submitted applications.

After the pause, invitations resume and continue until the IEC season officially closes, which is usually around October.

Past IEC pool closures:

  • 2023: October 13
  • 2024: October 21
  • 2025: October 20

How do IEC invitation rounds work?

A very important information for all IEC applicants

  1. First, you determine your eligibility for the IEC category (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op). 
  2. Submit your IEC profile to enter your country’s pool. Only apply for the category where you meet the requirements. 
  3. Wait for an invitation, they are usually sent out weekly.
  4. If you’re selected, you’ll be sent an ‘Invitation to Apply’ (ITA) notification into your GCKey account.
    • Tip: Notifications can sometimes end up in your spam folder, so check your account regularly.
  5. After getting an invitation, you have 10 days to accept it and then another 20 days to submit your full application.

Invitations are issued in the following order:

  • International Co-op (Internship)
  • Young Professionals
  • Working Holiday

Example:

If you are eligible for both the Working Holiday and Young Professionals categories and enter both pools, the system gives priority to the Young Professionals category. Invitations from that category are sent out first.

This means that as long as there are still spots available in the Young Professionals pool, you will only receive an invitation from that pool. Your profile will be blocked from receiving invitations from other categories, so you will not get an invitation from the Working Holiday pool, even if you are entered in both.

If you receive an invitation from the Young Professional pool, but definitely wanted a Working Holiday you need to start from scratch as it was the incorrect category.

To correct this, you need to:

  1. Decline the invitation from the Young Professionals category.
  2. Delete your current profile from the IEC pool.
  3. Create a new profile.
  4. Answer “No” when asked about a job offer.
  5. Select only the Working Holiday category.
  6. Re-enter the Working Holiday pool.
  7. Wait for a new invitation for the Working Holiday category.

Is the IEC pool "first come, first served"?

The IEC pool is not “first come, first served.” IRCC issues the first round of invitations a few weeks after the pool opens, usually in January. It doesn’t matter whether you submit your profile immediately when the pool opens or a week later, everyone in the pool has the same chance of receiving an invitation in the first round. Invitations are sent out randomly, so being early does not increase your odds. 

What’s important is to submit your profile before the invitation rounds begin. As long as your profile is in the pool when the draws start, your chances are equal to everyone else’s.

Take your time to ensure your profile is accurate and complete, this is more important than submitting it as fast as possible. Furthermore, it is essential to double-check for any typos before submitting your profile.

Keep in mind that important details such as your name, birth date, and passport number will be greyed out in your IEC profile and cannot be changed later in the application process. 

How long does it take to receive an invitation from the IEC pool?

Always remember, that being in the IEC pool does not guarantee an invitation. In fact, the IEC pool functions like a lottery: a computerized system randomly selects a set number of candidates at irregular intervals (usually once a week) throughout the season.

As a result, an invitation could arrive after one week, one month, or even several months. Generally, your best chances occur at the beginning of the season, when there are fewer applicants in the pools. However, it’s also possible that you may not receive an invitation before the season ends. It’s all a matter of luck.

During the season, the pool numbers are updated every Friday, showing how many invitations have been sent and how many spots remain. (These numbers can only be checked while the pools are open.) 

While the pools are open you can check the rounds of invitations >> here. 

When is the best time to apply into the IEC pools?

If you are applying for the first time

If you plan to travel to Canada within the next 12 months, you can apply anytime while the IEC pools are open.

The best time to apply is as soon as the IEC season opens, usually in December. Entering the pool early increases your chances of being selected in the invitation rounds, since there are fewer applicants at the beginning of the season. 

If you are applying for a second IEC - Timing tips

If you are planning to apply for a second International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit, plan your pool entry carefully to maximize your total work time in Canada.

As you know, once your new IEC is approved, you will have 12 months to activate the work permit. Therefore, calculate the timing of entering the IEC pool. If you apply too early, you might end up losing valuable time on your current work permit.

For example:

  • You still have 18 months left on your current work permit. 
  • If you apply into the pool now, and get an approval (POE letter) fast, your 12 months for activation will start ticking from the POE approval date. It means you will lose 5-6 months from your current work permit. Makes sense? 

💡 Tip:

  • At the beginning of the IEC season invitations and approvals happen fast: Apply when you have about 12 months left on your current permit. 
  • Towards the end of the season processing and invitations may take longer, so apply when you have about 15 months left on your current permit.

How do I apply into the IEC pools?

The IEC process is very simple and self explanatory. > Here is your free step-by-step guide to applying for an IEC in Canada.

Start with step 1 and follow each step in order to make sure you don’t miss anything along the way.

What do I need to register in the IEC pool?

To register in the IEC pool, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid passport from a country that participates in the IEC program. Before applying, make sure to check your passport’s expiration date. If your passport is expiring soon, there are two options you could consider.

Option 1 (best option):

  • Renew your passport before applying, and use the new passport for your application.
  • Using a new passport helps avoid the need to update documents or apply for extensions later.
  • This also ensures that your approval (POE), and your eTA, are correctly linked to your new passport.

Option 2 (only if you have some time until you plan to travel to Canada):

  • Apply using your current (old but still valid) passport.
  • Once you receive your approval (POE), renew your passport before you travel to Canada to activate your work permit.
  • If you are flying to Canada, you will need to apply for a new Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) linked to your new passport, even if you already had one for the old passport. You can apply for a new eTA >> here.
  • At the time of entry into Canada, show both your old passport (or a copy of it) and your new passport to the border officer.

Can I create a profile before the pool opens?

No, you will not be able to create a pool profile before the season opens. You will receive an error message. 

Do I have to apply online, or can I also do it on paper?

The IEC application process is an exclusively online process via the pools. It is not possible to apply by post, not in an embassy, not at a border, not at an airport and not at one of the Visa Application Centres. No exceptions are made.

I have two citizenships; can I apply into both pools at the same time?

In general, you cannot have more than one IEC profile in the IEC pools.

However, if you hold two different citizenships (for example, UK and Ireland) and have valid passports for both, you can apply to each country’s IEC pool. You will need to create a separate GCKey account and profile for each citizenship.

If you are selected from one IEC pool, you must delete your profile in the other pool, as maintaining multiple profiles can interfere with the application process. This also prevents the situation of having two Port of Entry (POE) approvals, which are valid for only 12 months.

Do I need a job to apply into the IEC pools?

No, you do not need a job to enter the IEC pool. You only need to meet the eligibility requirements for your country and category, such as age and citizenship. 

For the Working Holiday category, no job offer is required at any stage of the application process.

However, if you are selected from the pool, the Young Professionals and International Co-op categories require a job or internship offer to complete your work permit application. You should only apply to these two categories if you meet all the specific requirements. 

Do I have a better chance in the Working Holiday pool if I have a job lined up?

No, a job is not required for the Working Holiday and has no influence on the chances of invitation. In the Working Holiday pools, all participants are treated equally. For example, an applicant with a university degree will have the same chances of receiving an invitation as a young traveller who is just applying after high school graduation. 

Your education or work experience does not matter in the Working Holiday category. It only matters and is a requirement for the Young Professional category.

I received an invitation before the pool closed, will my profile be deleted too?

No — your profile will not be deleted when the pool closes, as long as you’ve already received an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Here’s what happens:

  • Once you receive an invitation, your application moves into the next stage of the IEC process.
  • Even if the pool closes for the season, you’ll still have your full 10 days to accept or decline the invitation, and 20 days (after accepting) to submit your complete work permit application.
  • Your profile only gets removed after the pool closes if you haven’t received an invitation by that time.

So don’t worry — if you’re invited before the pool closes, you’re still in the process.

Understanding your status: candidate vs. applicant

  • While in the pool, you are simply a candidate — someone waiting to be chosen to apply.
  • You are not in the pool anymore once you’ve received an invitation and applied for a work permit. 
  • If you’ve been invited before the pool closes, you’ve become an ‘applicant‘ — and your profile won’t be deleted.

My country shows 0 spots available — why is the IEC pool still open?

Even when the spots show as “0,” the pool stays open because people often decline their invitations or get refused, which frees up that spot for others. Some applicants also withdraw before applying, or don’t finish their applications in time. Those unused spots get back into the pool spots.

Basically, it’s never truly full until the season officially closes — there’s always movement as people change their minds or don’t meet the requirements.

My country shows 0 spots available — does that mean my chances are gone?

Not necessarily! As long as the IEC pool remains open, you still have a chance to receive an invitation.

The number of available spots in the pool can change at any time because:

  • Some applicants decline their invitations.
  • Some let their invitations expire.
  • Others miss deadlines and receive a refusal.
  • Some work permit applications are refused for other reasons.

When any of these things happen, those spots become available again — and one of them could go to you.

Also, not all hope is lost if you don’t receive an invitation in one season. The next IEC pool opens just a few weeks after the previous one closes. When it does, the quota for each country is reset, giving you excellent chances to be selected again. 

So if I am not selected in one season, can I apply again in the new season?

Yes, absolutely!

If you’re not selected in one IEC season, you can apply again in the next one, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements (such as age, nationality, and program criteria).

Here’s how it works:

  • When a new IEC season opens the quota for each country resets.
  • You need to create a new profile in the pool for that new season — the system doesn’t automatically carry over your old one.
  • Once you reapply, you’ll be considered again for the next round of invitations, with fresh chances just like any new applicant.

💡 Common misconception:
Many people in the IEC community think that if they weren’t invited one year, they can’t try again — but that’s not true. You can absolutely reapply into the IEC pool as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

I’m 35, if I don’t get an invitation to apply before my 36th birthday will I automatically be removed?

Yes your profile will be removed from the IEC pool on your 36th birthday. Your profile will also be removed when the IEC season ends in October. To stay in the process, you’ll need to re-enter the pool once it reopens, usually in December, as long as you are still under 36 years old.

Keep in mind that age limits vary by country. The chart below shows each country and its corresponding age limit.

I received an invitation from the IEC pool but I am not ready yet; can I decline?

Yes, you can decline an invitation if you’re not ready, and there are no consequences for doing so.

If you decline, your profile remains in the IEC pool for future invitation rounds during the same season, giving you another chance to be selected. Keep in mind that selection is random, so there is no guarantee you will receive another invitation.

How to decline an invitation:

  1. Log in to your account and go to the section “Continue my profile / application, not yet submitted.”
  2. Find the application labeled “Work permit.”
  3. Click “Decline application.”

If you want to exit the IEC pool completely and apply later, you must both decline the invitation and delete your profile. You can re-enter the pool whenever you’re ready.

Will the chances for invitations worsen, if I decline an invitation in the IEC pool?

No — declining an invitation does not reduce your chances for future invitations. There are no repercussions and your chances remain unchanged.

If you decline an invitation, your profile remains in the pool, as long as the pool is still open and you meet the eligibility requirements. You can still be invited in the next rounds of invitations during the same season. 

If I don't receive an invitation, will I be notified?

As long as you meet the age requirement, your profile stays in the pool until the end of the season and takes part in every invitation round. There will not be any notification if you didn’t get picked in an invitation round. 

The only three messages you will receive when you are in the pool:
  • welcome to the pool letter (after you created the profile)
  • invitation to apply letter (if you are invited)
  • letter that your profile was removed from the pools (when the pool closes, and you were not invited)

What do I do if I don't receive an invitation before the season closes?

You can try your luck again in the next season. At the end of each season, all profiles are removed from the pool, so every new applicant starts fresh. When the new season opens, the quota of each country is reset, and all spots become available again, giving you another chance to be selected.

I didn't receive an invitation before the season closed, can I use the same account to re-apply?

Yes, you can use the same GCKey account to re-apply into the pool. 

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