A working holiday in Canada is not obtained through a classic visa application. Instead, you go through the pool system of International Experience Canada (IEC). You submit a profile, wait for an invitation, and then have only a few days to act. This guide shows the deadlines, the fees according to IRCC, and the points you need to clarify for Germany yourself.
Short answer: The working holiday in Canada runs through the IEC pool system. First you submit a profile, then you wait for an invitation. After that you have 10 days to accept it and 20 days to apply for the work permit. According to IRCC, the pools for the 2026 season are closed. IRCC gives the IEC fee as 184.75 Canadian dollars, plus 100 dollars for the open work permit. The fee information for 2026 could not be retrieved from the page, so the amounts must be confirmed in the IRCC account. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- A profile in the pool is not yet an application. Only an invitation opens the deadlines.
- After the invitation you have 10 days to accept and then 20 days to submit the online application, so at most 30 days.
- According to IRCC, the pools for the 2026 season are closed (page dated 19 October 2026).
- IRCC gives an IEC fee of 184.75 Canadian dollars and a fee of 100 dollars for the open work permit for the working holiday, plus possibly 85 dollars for biometrics.
- The age limit for Germany and the length of the permit are on the IRCC country pages. They could not be confirmed from the pages consulted.
How Does the International Experience Canada Pool System Work?
There is a separate pool for each category and each country. The three categories are International Co-op (Internship), Young Professionals and Working Holiday. You may submit a profile for several pools, but you can have only one IEC profile at a time. IRCC issues invitations in this order: first International Co-op, then Young Professionals, and finally Working Holiday. If you are looking for a working holiday, you therefore wait until after the other two categories. Once you have started a profile, you must submit it in full within 60 days.
| Step | Deadline according to IRCC | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Start and submit profile | 60 days from starting the profile | IRCC, page dated 19 October 2026 |
| Accept invitation | 10 days from the invitation, otherwise it expires | IRCC, page dated 19 October 2026 |
| Apply online for work permit | 20 days from accepting the invitation | IRCC, page dated 19 October 2026 |
| From invitation to application in total | At most 30 days | Calculated from the two deadlines above |
Worked example. Assumption: the invitation arrives on 2 March. The 10-day acceptance deadline ends on 12 March. If you accept the invitation on 6 March, the application deadline runs until 26 March. If you wait until 13 March, the invitation has expired.
Who Can Take Part, and What Is Confirmed for Germany?
IRCC states on its help page on participation that you normally have to be between 18 and 35 years old. For some countries, the limit is 29 or 30 years (page dated 17 April 2026). The page does not name the value for Germany. It appears in the country-specific conditions you see in the IRCC questionnaire. The length of the work permit also depends on the country. IRCC speaks in general of up to two years, depending on the destination. Which countries take part in which category is shown by IRCC only after you answer the questionnaire and on the page with the invitation rounds.
What Does a Working Holiday in Canada Cost?
On the program page, IRCC names an IEC fee of 184.75 Canadian dollars, which you pay online by credit card through your IRCC account. In addition, there is 100 dollars for holders of an open work permit. Biometrics cost 85 dollars and apply only if your country requires them. The section with the fees for 2026 on the same page could not be retrieved. Confirm the amounts in your IRCC account before you apply. The help page on costs lists the types of fees without amounts (page dated 28 September 2026). The compliance fee of 230 dollars is paid by the employer for Co-op and Young Professionals, not by you.
| Item | Amount | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| IEC fee | 184.75 Canadian dollars | IRCC, page dated 23 October 2026, section for 2026 not retrievable |
| Fee for open work permit (working holiday) | 100 Canadian dollars | IRCC, page dated 23 October 2026 |
| Biometrics, if required | 85 Canadian dollars | IRCC, page dated 23 October 2026 |
| Proof of funds according to IRCC note | 2,500 Canadian dollars in the account | IRCC, video on the program page, retrieved October 2026 |
Flights, accommodation and insurance come on top. We do not give figures for these, because they depend on travel period and provider. For guide values on insurance costs, see travel health insurance per month.
Which Health Insurance Do You Need in Canada?
In its program video, IRCC recommends that you check comprehensive health insurance. A requirement is not recorded in the written text of the page. Public health care is organized by the provinces, and whether and when you are admitted depends on where you live. Your statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) reimburses treatment outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland only in the cases the law provides for. Section 13 (4) of the Social Code Book V (SGB V) limits cost reimbursement abroad to those countries. Travel health insurance should therefore clearly cover the entire stay, repatriation, pre-existing conditions and deductibles. The terms are explained in the glossary on travel health insurance (in German).
How Do You Plan Studies and Stay Together?
Whether your enrollment is suspended and how the stay affects your insurance is something to clarify with your university and health insurer. If you want to study in Canada instead of working, the guide Study Abroad in Canada: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026 is the better basis. For an internship, read internship abroad in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for Canada without an invitation?
No. The profile in the pool is not an application. Only after an invitation can you apply for the work permit, and within the deadlines set by IRCC.
Why are the pools closed for 2026?
IRCC states that the pools for the 2026 season are closed. The page gives neither a reason nor a date for the next season. Check the page before you set travel dates for 2027.
How much time do I have after the invitation?
You have 10 days to accept and then 20 days for the online application. Have your passport and documents ready in advance.
Do I need an eTA for Canada?
Whether and how an eTA is required in addition to the work permit depends on your route of entry. The IRCC pages reviewed do not cover this, so check it on canada.ca before you book.
Do I have to prove that I have money?
In its program video, IRCC mentions 2,500 Canadian dollars in the account and a passport that is valid for the entire stay. Check the proofs for your application.
What to Do Now
- Check the age limit and the length of the work permit for Germany on the IRCC pages.
- Submit your profile as soon as a pool is open for your season, and note the 10-day acceptance deadline.
- Clarify your health insurance, travel health insurance and leave semester before you book the flight.
- After accepting, apply for the work permit within 20 days and keep the amounts ready.
Related Articles
- Study Abroad in Canada: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Internship abroad in Canada: visa, insurance and funding
- Health Insurance Abroad for Students Explained
- Travel health insurance per month: guide values by region
- Funding Study Abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and Scholarships
Sources: IRCC, International Experience Canada: pools (page dated 19 October 2026); IRCC, International Experience Canada: about the program (last changed 23 October 2026); IRCC Help Centre, costs of participation (last changed 28 September 2026); IRCC Help Centre, who can take part (last changed 17 April 2026); SGB V, section 13 cost reimbursement (status October 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
