Which countries allow repeat participation in Canada's IEC program

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a longstanding program that lets young people from partner countries work and travel in Canada. Applicants are generally aged 18 to 35, though the upper age limit is 30 for citizens of some countries, depending on the youth-mobility agreement Canada has with each nation.

Contrary to some reports, there is no new rule taking effect on June 28, 2026, that suddenly grants "priority access" or repeat permits. The ability to participate in IEC more than once is an existing feature of the program that has been in place for years, and eligibility varies by country of citizenship. That date is simply when a news explainer on the topic was published, not the effective date of any policy change.

Citizens of 28 countries can take part in IEC more than once. In most cases, a second participation must be in a different category than the first. IEC has three categories: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship). By contrast, several countries — including Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and Taiwan — allow only a single participation.

The most recent substantive change is separate from repeat-participation eligibility: since 2025, and extended on February 10, 2026, qualifying IEC participants can receive a subsequent work permit from within Canada rather than having to leave and re-enter the country.

If you want to take part, check whether your country of citizenship has a youth-mobility agreement with Canada, confirm the age range and number of participations allowed for your nationality, and review the category requirements before creating an IEC profile. Exact quotas, deadlines, and category rules change each season, so verify current details on the official IRCC and Canada.ca IEC pages before applying.

This is general information, not legal advice — for your situation, consult an authorized immigration representative.