Another Working Holiday Canada
Apply through a Recognized Organization (RO)
With a Canadian-based Recognized Organization (RO) you can participate in the IEC Program two more times. This is in addition to the regular IEC process. It is the easiest way to get another open work permit in Canada.
Official government Source
Inbound foreign national youth are eligible to participate in the IEC program twice in their lifetime through a recognized organization. Participation with these recognized organizations is over and above the participation that the YMA allows.
The spots from the RO’s are very limited and became a very popular choice for young travellers between 18-35 years to work in Canada under an open work permit. Although the RO’s are very expensive, the spots are quickly gone, some within minutes after opening.
Additionally, prices at ROs range from $1,800 to $5,000, and only a small number of approved ROs offer this opportunity.
Only the following Recognized Organizations (RO) are allowed to offer multiple IEC participations:
Types of work permits:
- Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 30
Eligibility: IEC countries/territories, Brazil, India
Types of work permits:
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Citizens of IEC countries or territories and US
Types of work permits:
- Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit)
- International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Students and young professionals who are citizens from IEC countries or territories or IAESTE member countries
Types of work permits:
- International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Students and youth who are citizens of Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom
Types of work permits:
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
- Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit)
Target Market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Citizens of IEC countries or territories only
(a language course for English or French of 12 weeks at an accredited language school is mandatory)
Types of work permits:
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Citizens from IEC countries or territories only
Types of work permits:
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
- Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Citizens from IEC countries or territories only
Types of work permits:
- Working Holiday (open work permit)
- Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligibility: Citizens from IEC countries or territories and US
Additionally, certain agencies work with ROs to offer second IEC participations.
If you’re unsure whether a recommended agency is an official RO partner, simply ask them. Ask them who they’re partnering with and whether they offer second IEC participations, because not a lot of agencies are authorized to do so.
For example, one such official agency is Jenza, which partners with the main RO, SWAP, listed above (the price below was for the 2025 season and applied to IEC participants from Europe).
Updates for the 2026 season
Stepwest was the first Recognized Organization to open the application process for the 2026 IEC season on September 12, 2025. However, just three days after the opening, they already closed the waitlist due to extremely high demand.
What are some of the reasons to participate with a Recognized Organization (RO)?
You already used up all regular IEC participations.
Guaranteed invitation: Once accepted by an RO and after paying their fees, you’re guaranteed an invitation. There’s no waiting or uncertainty, unlike the regular IEC process.
Your country’s IEC pool is very competitive: RO spots are separate from the regular IEC pool, meaning you can still apply through an RO even if the spots for your country are empty.
You are over 30 years old: Some ROs allow you to apply up to 35 years old, even if your country’s regular IEC program has a lower age limit.
Your country does not offer a Working Holiday: For example Switzerland only offers the Young Professional category.
The typical RO process explained in a few steps:
- First, you sign up for the RO newsletter to ensure you don't miss the opening date.
- On their opening date, you apply with the RO first. Some RO are 'first come, first served'.
- Then, at some point during their process the RO notifies you that you were successful.
- They will send you an invoice with the fee amount and set a very short deadline. You must react fast.
- Next, you pay the fees to the RO.
- Important! If you miss the strict deadline, your spot will go to another applicant.
- After the payment, you’ll receive instructions for the next step, asking you to enter the IEC pool.
- At this point, you can apply into the IEC Pool and wait for an invitation.
- The invitation is guaranteed and will come just a few days after entering the IEC pool.
- Afterward, you receive an RO support letter (acceptance letter) to upload it into your application.
⚠️The invitation is guaranteed, but not the approval: You must still meet all eligibility requirements and submit every required document on time. After receiving an invitation, the process follows the same steps as the regular IEC application. If you make mistakes or miss a deadline, your application will be refused.
Common questions - RO participation
Where can I find more information on the RO option?
For more details, you can find the list of RO and additional information >> here under this link<< and click >> here for more<<.
Does this really mean I can get multiple years of Working Holiday in Canada?
Yes, you can have up to two additional Working Holiday permits through the RO option. For example, if you’re a British citizen, you can take part in the IEC program like this:
- Regular participation for 2 years, plus
- Another regular participation for 1 year, plus
- RO participation for 2 years, plus
- Another RO participation for 2 years.
This totals 7 years in Canada under the IEC program as a British citizen. As a result, you’ll have plenty of time to plan your next steps if you’re considering applying for permanent residency.
Do I have to be in Canada to apply through an RO?
No, you do not have to be in Canada to apply through a Recognized Organization (RO).
You can apply through an RO while you are still in your home country or another country. For example, if you’ve already participated in the regular IEC program a few years ago, returned home, and then got hit by a severe case of homesickness for Canada (it happens!), you can still apply through an RO as long as you meet the IEC eligibility requirements.
When do RO's open their application process?
Each RO has its own application process, which can begin as early as July. Therefore, once you decide to use this option, you should subscribe to their newsletter immediately. For example, the RO Stepwest opened the process in July, and the major and popular RO, SWAP, typically opens its application process in December.
Below is a screenshot from SWAP, where the application waitlist was full after just 30 minutes of the opening date for the 2025 Working Holiday season.
Can I participate with an RO at any time when the IEC pool is open?
Unfortunately, no. Each Recognized Organization (RO) has its own opening date, so you’ll need to apply at the right time. However, if the RO still has available spots, you can apply with them at any time during the IEC season.
Some ROs even have a waitlist in case other applicants miss payment deadlines or their applications are refused.
From past experiences, some ROs have had a few spots available as late as April, even though their process started in December. It all depends on how many applicants “mess up” their process or fail to meet the deadlines.
Important to know: Signing up for the newsletter or joining the waiting list does not guarantee a spot with the RO.
Can I register with multiple RO to increase my chances?
Yes, you can register with multiple ROs. Once you register, you only need to accept the first RO that contacts you with a positive response and asks for payment. However, remember that your spot is only confirmed after you make the payment.
Also, since ROs fill up quickly and are in high demand, don’t hesitate or be too picky if an RO selects you.
My country doesn't have any spots in the regular IEC pool; do I have a chance with the RO?
Yes, the RO spots are not included in the regular IEC pool quota.
Instead, Recognized Organizations (ROs) receive an additional quota for their applicants. This means that even if the pool for your country shows no spots left, you can still receive an invitation from the RO pool, as long as you are accepted by the RO and have paid the fees.
My country has the age limit of 30 years, and I am over it; can I still use the RO option?
If you’re from a country with an age limit of 30 years, you might still have a chance through the RO option. Some ROs allow participation up to 35 years, regardless of the regular IEC pool requirement. These countries include: Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands, and Sweden.
However, this depends on the specific RO you’re applying through, so it’s important to check with the RO to confirm their age requirements before applying.
I am over 35 years old, is the RO still an option?
Unfortunately, if you’re over the age of 35, you are no longer eligible, neither through the regular IEC program nor through an RO. The age limit for ROs aligns with the regular IEC requirement, which caps eligibility at 35 years of age.
However, keep in mind that the age limit is 35 inclusive, meaning you can still apply and receive an invitation up until the day before your 36th birthday. After that, the system will automatically remove your profile from the pool.
Is a participation via an RO a guaranteed Working Holiday?
If you’re accepted by a Recognized Organization (RO), an invitation from the IEC pool is guaranteed.
Each RO has a set number of spots in the IEC pools. Once the RO accepts you and you pay their fee, you can submit your profile to the pool. At that point, you will definitely get an invitation.
However, this doesn’t mean your application will be automatically approved. You still need to meet all eligibility requirements and submit the necessary documents on time.
If your application is refused, you will get a refund for the IEC processing fees. However, some ROs may not refund their own fees. Each RO has its own terms and conditions that you agree to when you sign up, so always read the fine print carefully.
What are common mistakes that could lead to a refusal?
The problem that could arise: If you receive a refusal, you may also lose your spot with the RO.
Missing the deadlines:
After you received the invitation, you have 10 days to accept the invitation by clicking the “Start Application” link. From then on you have additional 20 days to upload all required documents and submit the application.
Applying for the incorrect category:
The RO participation spot is typically meant for the Working Holiday category. However, since applicants are already in Canada and employed, they often respond “yes” to the question about having a job offer. This mistakenly places them in the Young Professional pool instead. The only way to correct this is to decline the invitation, withdraw the profile, and create a new one into the Working Holiday pool.
Not 'submitting' requested documents after upload:
A common mistake happens when a processing officer asks you to provide additional documents. After you uploaded the document you wait for a long time, only to receive a refusal because the document submission deadline has passed. The problem is that the document never reached the processing officer because you didn’t complete the submission correctly.
To avoid this, after uploading the document, you must click ‘next’ and complete all the steps until the system marks the document as ‘replacement provided’. Only then will the document be properly submitted for review.
What if I am unsuccessful and didn't get a spot with the RO?
Even if you’re not selected in the main process, don’t lose hope! You’ll stay on the waitlist and still have a shot at being selected. Many applicants change their minds, miss deadlines, or even get refusals (yep, it happens more often than you think). So, if that happens, your spot in the RO pool could open up and you might just be the lucky one who gets it!
That said, while waiting for that potential call-up, it’s always a good idea to have a Plan B and C ready to go, just in case!
My country requires to have a break between two participations, does this apply for the RO?
No, the discontinuance requirement does not apply when participating through an RO.
This means you can apply for a Working Holiday through an RO without needing to have a break between participations.
What is a 'discontinuance requirement'?
Here is some background information in the regular IEC process (if you don’t participate through an RO):
Certain countries have a requirement, that there must be a break between the first IEC and the second IEC. Here are the required breaks:
- Croatia: 3 months
- Latvia: 1 year
- Lithuania: 3 months
- Poland: 6 months
- Slovakia: 3 months
- Spain: 3 months
I never participated in the regular IEC process; do I need an RO?
If you haven’t participated in the regular process yet and you’re from an IEC country, you can skip the costly RO option.
Instead, save your money and apply for free! All you need to do is familiarize yourself with the official IEC application process. The good news is, all the information you need is readily available on this website.
>Here are all the steps in the regular IEC application process.
Is the application processing time faster if I use an RO?
As mentioned earlier, the invitation is guaranteed when applying through an RO. However, the application processing time is the same for all IEC participants. The RO cannot speed up the process or influence the outcome in any way.
Officially, an IEC application can take up to 8 weeks to process, depending on the time of year. Typically, processing is faster early in the season but can take longer as the season progresses.
I participated with an RO; can I still apply via the regular process?
Absolutely! As long as you haven’t used the regular IEC process yet and still meet the age requirement, you can apply.
Common questions - RO application process
Is the application process different with an RO?
Not really. If you’ve participated in the IEC program before, applying through an RO is a breeze. The process is almost exactly the same, with a few exceptions:
Everything is exactly the same in the application process with these exceptions:
- When you create your profile into the IEC pool, you answer the question about the support from an RO with “yes.”
- Then select the name of the RO from the dropdown list.
- In the document checklist you will have a spot where to upload the RO acceptance letter (confirmation letter).
Other than these steps, the application process remains the same!
Do I need all police certificates again when I participate through an RO?
Most likely yes, for your home country. However, this depends on various factors. Here are the general rules:
➡️ First check: Is the police certificate under 6 months old? > You can use it.
➡️ Second check: Is the police certificate over 6 months old? Then this applies to you:
- If the police certificate was issued while you were still in the country > you need a new one.
- If the police certificate was issued after you left the country, but you were back to that country > you need a new one.
- If the police certificate was issued after you left the country, but have never been back > you can re-use it
The graph below makes it easy to understand whether you need a new police certificate. It applies at the time when you submit your application for the IEC work permit.
I spent more than 6 months in Canada; do I need a police certificate from Canada?
No, Canada does its own background checks. Therefore, you don’t need a police certificate from Canada unless the IRCC specifically requests one during your application process. If they need one, they will request it later.
Do I have to give biometrics again?
Good news! If you’ve already given biometrics for another Canadian work permit application, they are valid for 10 years and can be used for all future temporary resident applications.
When completing your application, simply answer “yes” when asked if you’ve previously given biometrics. Then your biometrics will be automatically linked to your profile.
You can check > here < if your biometrics are still valid. If they show ‘expired’ then the processing agent will request new biometrics.
I have to renew my passport; can I still apply?
Yes, you can use your new passport.
However, if you still have your old passport, keep in mind that, when your work permit is issued, it will not be valid beyond the expiry date of the passport it’s linked to. In fact, some RO may require that your passport remains valid for a certain period.
If your passport is expiring soon, you have several options depending on your situation.
My current work permit expires before the opening of the RO process; what do I do?
It is important to note: There is no maintained status between two IEC participations. Even if it is through an RO.
For example, let’s say you’re in Canada, and your work permit expires in November, but the RO option won’t open until December or January.
In this case, to stay in Canada legally, you must apply for a visitor record before your current status expires. After your current work permit expires, you will be in maintained visitor status and can stay in Canada as a visitor until a decision is made on the visitor record application or until you activate a new work permit, whichever comes first.
Once your current work permit expires, you must stop working and wait until you can activate the new work permit.
For more detailed information about the visitor record, click > here <
I am already in Canada. Can I activate the work permit at the US land border via flagpoling?
No, flagpoling is no longer an option. The Canadian government ended flagpoling on December 24, 2024. The announcement can be found > here <. Due to this change, a short visit to the USA is not an option either, because this is how the government defines ‘flagpoling’:
“Flagpoling occurs when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada, leave Canada and, after a visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services at a port of entry.”
As strange as it sounds, many travelers take a short trip to Mexico and back, or visit family at home, then activate their work permit on the way back to Canada.
⚠️NEW! You can activate online and get the work permit sent to you via mail, if you meet all 3 requirements mentioned here.
Do I need IEC health insurance again when I participate through an RO?
Yes, you will need the same documents for activation as for the Working Holiday work permit because an RO participation is a work permit under the IEC (International Experience Canada).
When you activate the work permit, you must have a health insurance that must be valid for the entire length of your intended stay in Canada.
Additionally, if you are already in Canada, be sure to have an “already travelling” policy.
Your health insurance must cover:
- medical care
- hospitalization and
- repatriation (returning you to your country in the event of severe illness, injury or death)
If you have provincial health care, it is not sufficient for the RO work permit. This is, because repatriation is not covered by provincial health insurance.
If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. You will not be able to extend your work permit later. For example, if you only have a health insurance for 3 months, you will get a work permit for 3 months.
The best IEC health insurance for European and UK citizens
recommended by other IEC participants who used them
