Understanding IEC Ratings and Selection Chances

What are your Real-Time Odds of Receiving An Invitation to Apply For IEC?

Your odds of receiving an invitation to apply for an IEC work permit changes from week-to-week, depending on how many people from your country are in the pool and how close it is to the annual quota. Knowing your weekly odds of approval can help you plan your working holiday in Canada or know if you need to adjust your plans or try for a different pathway.  

Use our IEC tracking tool to see your real-time odds of receiving an ITA for an IEC work permit

What Are The Odds of Getting A Working Holiday In Canada?  

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ranks countries as having the following odds of receiving an invitation to apply in the next round:  

• Excellent  = 80% – 99% chance
• Very good = 60% – 79% chance
• Fair = 40% – 59% chance
• Very low = 20% – 39% chance
• Low = 1% – 19% chance. 

If you live in a country and are applying for an IEC pathway with Excellent odds of approval, you are likely to receive an invitation to apply for that pathway in the next round. Conversely, those in the very low and low range may not receive an invitation to apply for that pathway in the next round – or any future round (since rounds are random and more people are likely to join the pool each week).  

What can you do to increase your chances of being successful?

If you’re hoping to secure an IEC Work Permit, there are a few ways to improve your chances and maximize your opportunities:

✅ Enter the pool as early as possible – Even if you’re not planning to move right away, submitting your profile as soon as you’re eligible gives you more chances to be selected in multiple rounds of invitations. The longer you’re in the pool, the better your odds.

✅ Keep an eye on your country’s selection odds – Check Immigration, IRCC updates on selection probabilities. If your country’s odds are low, you might want to explore alternative pathways.

✅ Consider applying through the Young Professionals Program – If your country has an agreement for the Young Professionals stream, this can be a less competitive route compared to the Working Holiday visa. The catch? You’ll need a job offer from a Canadian employer before applying. Start job searching early, network through LinkedIn, and explore job boards like Job Bank Canada and Moving2Canada’s own job board.

✅ Expand your job search beyond major cities – If you’re applying through the Young Professionals program, looking for jobs outside of popular hubs like Toronto and Vancouver can boost your chances. Smaller cities and rural areas often have less competition and may be more open to hiring international workers.

✅ Ensure your documents are ready – If selected, you’ll need to accept your invitation quickly and submit all required documents on time. Delays or missing paperwork can result in losing your spot.

✅ Stay flexible – If your country has a low quota or high competition, consider other immigration pathways, such as student visas, employer-sponsored work permits, or applying through a provincial program if you meet the criteria. A great example of this is alternative options for French citizens. 

Further Resources for IEC Candidates

Please explore our many resources to help you plan your application. Research is crucial as you plan for success on your Working Holiday Canada permit.

• Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for IEC — compare prices for IEC health insurance options with a free quote comparison from BestQuote
• Check your real-time odds of receiving an Invitation to Apply for IEC. 
• Learn more about the latest IEC draws and pool updates. 
• Increase your chances by applying for the best IEC program for your profile. Read our article about  Which IEC Category is Right for me?