Quotas and application process for the Canada Working Holiday

Volare Editorial Team | March 23, 2026

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is the gateway for thousands of young people looking to live and work abroad. However, unlike other destinations, access to the Canada Working Holiday Visa (WHV) does not depend solely on how quickly you apply, but on a system of annual quotas and a random selection process managed by the Canadian government.

Understanding how many quotas exist for each nationality and how the invitation system works is essential for successfully planning your experience.

Quota availability by country

Each country with an active agreement has a specific annual quota. The vast majority of these destinations operate under an online "Pool" system (candidate pools), where random weekly draws are held to issue invitations.

Below is the quota availability according to the current agreement:

• Germany: 3,030 annual quotas.

• Andorra: 24 annual quotas.

• Australia: 5,670 annual quotas.

• Austria: 160 annual quotas.

• Belgium: 725 annual quotas.

• Chile: 700 annual quotas.

• South Korea: 10,239 annual quotas.

• Costa Rica: 80 annual quotas.

• Croacia: 82 annual quotas.

• Denmark: Fluctuating quota between 300 and 400 annual quotas.

• Slovakia: 220 annual quotas.

• Slovenia: 33 annual quotas.

• Spain: 857 annual quotas.

• Estonia: Fluctuating quota between 100 and 200 annual quotas.

• Finland: Fluctuating quota between 100 and 200 annual quotas.

• France: 5,661 annual quotas.

• Greece: Fluctuating quota between 100 and 250 annual quotas.

• Hong Kong: Fluctuating quota between 100 and 250 annual quotas.

• Ireland: 2,735 annual quotas.

• Iceland: Fluctuating quota between 50 and 150 annual quotas.

• Italy: 1,850 annual quotas.

• Japan: 6,282 annual quotas.

• Latvia: Fluctuating quota between 50 and 150 annual quotas.

• Lithuania: Fluctuating quota between 100 and 250 annual quotas.

• Luxembourg: 42 annual quotas.

• Norway: 125 annual quotas.

• New Zealand: 1,547 annual quotas.

• Netherlands: 500 annual quotas.

• Poland: 310 annual quotas.

• Portugal: 500 annual quotas.

• United Kingdom: 9,330 annual quotas.

• Czech Republic: 512 annual quotas.

• San Marino: 24 annual quotas.

• Sweden: 255 annual quotas.

• Switzerland: 0 direct quotas for Working Holiday. Access is exclusive through Recognized Organizations (ROs).

• Taiwan: 907 annual quotas.

The application process: From profile to invitation

The path to the Canada WHV is a structured process divided into key stages, all managed digitally through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal.

1. Profile Creation: The first step is to create an online profile and enter the IEC pools corresponding to your nationality. Being in the pool means you are an eligible candidate waiting for a draw.

2. Draws and Receipt of the ITA: Weekly, the system performs random draws. If you are selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). From that moment, you have a period of 10 days to accept the invitation.

3. 100% Digital Application: Once the ITA is accepted, you have 20 days to complete the formal application, pay the fees, and upload all required documents (criminal records, medical exams if applicable, etc.). The process is entirely digital.

Final travel requirements

It is important to remember that obtaining the approval letter (POE Letter) is only part of the process. Upon arrival, you must meet border control requirements, which include demonstrating financial solvency and having an exit ticket from Canada (or sufficient funds to purchase one).

To ensure your arrival is successful and trouble-free, we recommend reviewing every detail of the entry requirements and the validity dates of your bank documents.

You can find more details in our guide on the Working Holiday Visa Canada.