Canada invited 6,442 young foreigners into the International Experience Canada pool between June 6 and July 10, 2026, bringing the year-to-date total to 83,013 invitations. South Korea, Australia, and France received the largest shares of that latest round, while over 36,900 candidates remained in the pool awaiting an invitation as of July 10.
International Experience Canada remains one of the most sought-after ways for young people around the world to live and work in Canada, and the 2026 season is moving briskly. If you registered in the pool this year, or you are weighing whether to create a profile, the latest round of invitations gives a useful read on your odds.
How Many Candidates Were Invited In The Latest 2026 Round?
Between June 6 and July 10, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 6,442 invitations to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of July 10, another 36,940 candidates remained in the pool waiting for their turn. Across all rounds so far in 2026, Canada has invited 83,013 IEC candidates in total.
Which Countries Received The Most Invitations This Round?
Invitation volume varies enormously by country, largely reflecting each nation’s bilateral quota with Canada and how many candidates are actively in that country’s pool. South Korea and Australia led the latest round by a wide margin, followed by France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
| Country | ITAs Issued (Jun 6 to Jul 10, 2026) |
| South Korea | 1,234 |
| Australia | 1,186 |
| France | 809 |
| United Kingdom | 527 |
| Germany | 630 |
| Italy | 424 |
| New Zealand | 318 |
| Spain | 143 |
| Taiwan | 136 |
| Ireland | 121 |
Smaller quota countries such as Andorra and Iceland issued only a handful of invitations in the same window, a reminder that IEC access is fundamentally shaped by each country’s negotiated agreement with Canada, not by applicant volume alone.
Source: International Experience Canada Program Invites Over 6,400 Candidates
What Are Your Odds of Getting An Invitation In The Next Round?
This is where IEC gets country-specific fast. Take the United Kingdom’s Working Holiday category as an example. Its 2026 quota is 9,285 spots, and 14,211 invitations had already been issued to date against a pool of 2,636 remaining candidates, with only 158 spots left. IRCC currently rates the chance of an invitation in the next round for that category as very low. This pattern, a high cumulative invitation count but few remaining spots late in the season, is common for popular categories that opened early in the year.
A candidate’s odds depend far more on their specific country and category quota than on the overall national total. Two applicants from different countries can be in completely different positions even in the same week.
When Do IEC Rounds of Invitations Happen
IRCC does not publish a fixed calendar for every round. Instead, rounds continue until a category’s quota is met or the season closes, and the department commits to giving at least five days notice before a final round. Because quotas can be redistributed mid-season to give candidates a better chance in their preferred category, it pays to check your country-specific page regularly rather than relying on a single invitation date you saw months ago.
Does A Declined or Expired Invitation Open Room For More Candidates
Yes. IRCC has noted that during final rounds, some candidates decline their invitation, let it expire, or later have their work permit application refused. To still meet the season’s quota, the department may issue a small number of additional invitations after the official final round has already taken place. This is worth knowing if you are still in the pool after a final round closes. It is not necessarily over.
How ImmigCanada Supports IEC Applicants
A profile in the IEC pool is only the starting point. Once an invitation arrives, applicants typically have a limited window to submit a complete work permit application, and errors at that stage can cost a candidate their spot entirely.
Under the guidance of RCIC Eivy Joy Quito, our team recently helped a 27 year old hospitality professional from Ireland convert her ITA into an approved Working Holiday work permit within days of receiving it, by having her supporting documents, proof of funds, and medical requirements pre-verified before her invitation even arrived. That kind of preparation is what turns an invitation into an actual permit.
Frequently Asked Questions About IEC Invitations In 2026
A: As of July 10, 2026, Canada had invited 83,013 candidates across all IEC categories and countries for the year, with 6,442 of those invitations issued in the most recent round.
A: Roughly 36,940 candidates remained in the pool awaiting an invitation as of July 10, 2026, based on the latest reported figures.
A: In the most recent round, South Korea, Australia, and France issued the highest invitation counts, though this reflects each country’s negotiated quota rather than applicant demand alone.
A: A low rating usually means a category has issued a high proportion of its total quota already, leaving few remaining spots relative to the number of candidates still in the pool.
A: Sometimes. IRCC may issue a small number of additional invitations after the final round if enough invited candidates decline, let their invitation expire, or are later refused a work permit.
A: Submit your work permit application promptly with all supporting documents, proof of funds, and any required medical or background checks, since incomplete files risk missing the application deadline entirely.