International Experience Canada (Working Holiday)

Yes. The Working Holiday category gives you an **Open Work Permit**, meaning you can work for virtually any employer in Canada (exceptions apply to certain restricted sectors like sex work or health services without a medical exam).

Working Holiday is an open permit with no job offer required. **Young Professionals** is an employer-specific permit that requires a signed job offer or contract of employment in your field of study or expertise (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3).

As long as you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA) **before** your 36th birthday (or the specific age limit for your country), you remain eligible even if you turn 36 during the processing phase.

IEC does not technically include 'dependents'. Your spouse or common-law partner and children must apply for their own status (e.g., a visitor record, their own IEC permit, or a separate open work permit if you meet the 'highly skilled' criteria).

Once you submit your full application and biometrics, IRCC typically processes the work permit within 5-8 weeks. If approved, you receive a POE Letter of Introduction which you present to the officer on arrival.