The final selection round of the International Experience Canada draw 2025 has officially concluded. The latest update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirms that 2,946 candidates were invited to apply for an IEC open work permit. This marks the end of this year’s invitation cycles under one of the most popular youth mobility programs in the world.

The International Experience Canada program offers young people from partner countries the chance to gain valuable work experience while enjoying life in Canada. It is well known for providing an accessible entry point to Canadian work culture and, for many, a longer term pathway toward permanent residence.

What Happened in the Final International Experience Canada Draw 2025

From October 10 to October 27, IRCC invited candidates across multiple partner countries. These youth applicants will receive instructions to apply for their work permits, allowing them to travel, work, and experience Canada for a fixed period depending on their country of citizenship.

A total of 2,946 invitations were issued in this closing round. At the time of the final draw, 40,086 candidates were registered and waiting in the pool.

Total Invitations Issued Under IEC This Year

Canada issued 102,289 invitations through the IEC Program in 2025. This reflects strong demand from international youth and continued interest in Canada as a global destination to work, travel, and develop future career pathways.

Why the International Experience Canada Program Matters

The IEC program is more than a temporary work opportunity. It supports key national interests such as:

• Strengthening cultural exchange
• Supporting businesses experiencing labour shortages in seasonal or tourism sectors
• Encouraging young talent to consider longer-term settlement
• Allowing global young professionals to gain Canadian work experience

For many international youth, this program becomes their first Canadian work reference. This experience can later support eligibility for Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs, especially under streams that reward Canadian work history.

Each stream supports a different stage of career development. Those seeking exploration and travel often choose the Working Holiday route. Meanwhile, skilled applicants who want to build a Canadian resume typically choose the Young Professionals stream.

Why This Final Draw Matters for Those Still in the Pool

Since this was the final round of invitations for 2025, any candidate who did not receive an invitation will remain in the pool until the next season opens. This is common, especially for citizens of countries with a very high demand.

Candidates are encouraged to:

• Keep profiles valid and up to date
• Monitor country specific quota announcements early next year
• Prepare documents in advance to respond quickly when invited
• Consider upgrading language test scores if planning a future permanent residence pathway

The final International Experience Canada draw 2025 highlights Canada’s steady commitment to youth mobility and global exchange. With 2,946 new invitations in the last round and more than 102,000 issued throughout the year, IEC remains one of the most welcoming and opportunity-rich work experience programs internationally. For many, this is more than a travel year. It is a meaningful step toward building a professional life in Canada.