This program is currently closed – We do not have any information regarding RO IEC 2026 Season, or its requirements, therefore we can not accept applications for a waiting list or provide any information about future IEC seasons. Once we have information everything will be posted here.
Since 2015, Stepwest has been a Recognized Organization (RO) under International Experience Canada (IEC); a status given by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Every year we are able to offer IEC RO Programs for participants from IEC countries.
As a Recognized Organization (RO) by the Government of Canada, we receive a limited annual quota for IEC RO work permits to help eligible international youth participate in the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program for the first time or under repeat participation.
We are able to help participants that hold a passport from any of the IEC countries that currently have a Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada to secure the following work permit categories:
Please keep in mind that the duration of your work permit under RO status will follow the Youth Mobility Agreement with your country of citizenship and Canada or in default the max. duration agreed between us, as a Recognized Organization and IEC.
In order to apply for any of our IEC RO Programs, you will need to meet the following requirements:
We offer limited spots for First Participation and Repeat Participation applicants under International Experience Canada.
*Important: We can’t help citizens from non-IEC countries.
You’ve probably guessed it, but First Participation is for participants that have never been able to secure an invitation or those who activated their IEC work permit but needed to leave Canada way sooner than planned. Please see some examples below:
So, you want to stay in Canada, eh? We don’t blame you! Repeat Participation is for applicants who have previously participated in IEC and want to secure a new IEC work permit. Examples:
Important for in-Canada applicants: If you are currently in Canada, to qualify for Repeat Participation you must have a valid status. Please note that IEC work permits cannot be extended. So, if your IEC work permit is about to expire, you must apply for an extension as a visitor record to maintain your legal status – this is essential!
A new IEC work permit application, even under RO status, will not provide you with maintained status during processing (previously called implied status).
You must wait for us to open registrations for the IEC season. Each Season the requirements or opening date for our waiting list can change, so keep an eye on this page for updates.
For you to have a general idea, this is how we normally accept applications. We do not assign spots first come first served. We review the profiles first!
We must be able to see your experience, so time to get your resume ready with the relevant information. This includes your current address, education, work experience and contact details.
Important – Please make sure your resume includes the City & Country for each work experience and education. You should include all your experiences and locations from when you turned 18 years old.
Once our Waiting List opens for the Season, submit your application under the right program (RO Working Holiday or RO Young Professional) so you can automatically join our waiting list.
Please note that joining our waiting list does not mean our team will reach out to you, nor does it mean we will offer you a RO spot for IEC Season. You do not have to pay to join our waiting list.
We will carefully review applications and if you match the requirements and our quota, we will contact you to arrange an online meeting to discuss details.
We can NOT reach out to all the participants that show interest in our RO program, so you will need to allow us some time to review your case.
If successful, we will be reaching out to you by email. Please make sure to check your spam frequently in case our email is redirected.
Please note that joining our waiting list does not mean we will be offering you a RO spot for IEC Season. Due to the high demand and limited number of spots available, we can NOT reach out to everyone that shows interest in our RO program.
We do not ask you for payment until we are sure we can help you, which is why we will first meet all our participants.
Acceptance into the program will be confirmed only after your mandatory eligibility meeting. If successful, you will receive an acceptance email and be required to submit information and documents on your end.
Kindly be advised: A fixed timeframe will be provided for the completion of all program registration steps, including program payment. Non-compliance with this deadline will result in the withdrawal of your application, and the offer of participation will be extended to the next eligible candidate on the waiting list.
In the event of a missed deadline, any subsequent interest will require you to join our waiting list again. Your prior position on the waiting list will not be reinstated.
Please note that our RO Waiting List for IEC 2025 Season is CLOSED – At this time, we have no information regarding RO IEC 2026 Season.
The number of applications we received were significantly higher than spots available. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee that you will be contacted, nor assisted by Stepwest.
As of today we have no confirmation that the RO IEC program will be available during IEC 2026 Season or its requirements, therefore we can not accept applications for a waiting list or provide any information about future IEC seasons.
No, IEC deletes all profiles from one Season to the other. So, if you are accepted into our RO program, you will need to create a brand new IEC profile under Stepwest and start from zero once the new IEC season begins. You can follow the steps here to create an IEC profile.
Try again! The regulation changed during IEC 2023. If you could not travel to Canada before your POE expired in the past, it no longer counts as a participation anymore. So apply again under regular IEC!
As outlined on the IRCC website here, you must wait until the POE has expired to create a new IEC profile to receive an Invitation to Apply.
Example: You are from Australia and you had a Port of Entry Letter (POE) for your Working Holiday valid for 12 months, but you never traveled to Canada. The POE has expired. You can now apply again, as your previous participation will not count! You are still eligible for a Working Holiday in Canada, no need to use a Recognized Organization.
You will know you have been selected if you receive a meeting request from our team by email. After completing that meeting, you will receive official confirmation of your acceptance via email.
Joining our waiting list is completely free, but it does not mean that we will be reaching out to offer you an RO spot. If you email us to get an update on your application, unfortunately, we will not be able to respond given the high number of applications.
Yes. Just like the regular IEC pathway, when you get approved under RO status, you will have 12 months to activate your RO Port of Entry (POE) Letter.
You must have a valid status in Canada to be eligible to join our program and when going through the RO application process. So if you still have plenty of time on your current permit this is perfect timing for you to secure your RO work permit.
No, processing times are the exact same as under the regular IEC process (8 weeks). The benefit of applying under a Recognized Organization is that your Invitation to Apply (ITA) is guaranteed, and we will give you access to a permit that you might not otherwise be eligible for.
Absolutely not! Applying under a Recognized Organization does not mean you will be guaranteed an approval. Your application will be reviewed by IRCC, and you must be sure you comply with all requirements and provide all the required information before the deadlines. The last word will be on the IRCC Officer that reviews your application, so it ultimately will be up to the Government of Canada
No, it will not. When you apply under a RO the discontinuance requirement does not apply, as per the IRCC website.
Example: You are from Poland, and the regulation under IEC says that you must wait six months to apply again for a second work permit category. This will not apply under our IEC RO Program, as we will be able to help you right away!
As with the regular IEC pathway, you must still provide a mailing address in your home country, even if you are living abroad, as per the IRCC website instructions here.
Please note that Italian residency requirements are NOT waived by using a RO– In addition to a residential address, applicants must submit a valid a residence certificate (certificato di residenza).
35 years old, no matter the IEC country you are from. As long as you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA) before your 36th birthday, we can help you! Even if under regular IEC you are only eligible until 30 years old.
Example: You are from Japan, Sweden or New Zealand, where the age limit is 30 years old. If you apply with a Recognized Organization, the age limit will be 35 years old instead.
It depends actually! Usually, Biometrics are valid for 10 years; yet, it is not always the case. This is why it is very important that you check your own Biometrics validity here.
⚠️ Important: Your work permit will never be issued for a longer period than your Biometrics, even if you are eligible for a longer work permit.
Example: You are from Ireland, and your Biometrics expire in Dec 2027. You receive a POE or approval letter in March 2026 and you activate your work permit right away with valid 2-year insurance. Instead of receiving a work permit for 2 years (until March 2028), your work permit will be issued only until Dec 2027 due to your Biometrics expiring by then. This cannot be corrected after the work permit is issued.
Therefore, if your biometrics expire sooner than the expected duration of your work permit, you MUST select “No” to the question: “Have you ever completed Biometrics before?” This will cause the IRCC system to trigger a request letter for you to complete Biometrics again!
This will ensure that the expiry of your biometrics does not limit the duration of your work permit.
Yes, as long as you submit a truthful application and submit all the required documents to the Government of Canada. Exactly like a regular IEC work permit application.
This is why we do a one-to-one meeting with all our participants beforehand. We want to make sure you are eligible. But remember that your work permit application will still be reviewed by IRCC, so you must comply with their requirements.
No. You will still need to go through the same process. Remember that you will not get maintained status during your RO work permit process, so you should apply for an extension as a visitor, at least 30 days before your current work permit expires. Remember that if you lose your status in Canada, we can not help!
Absolutely not. Maybe you did a working holiday in Canada in your early 20s and now you would like to return in your 30s. That’s fine, we can still help in your are outside of Canada.
Only if it is already a requirement under regular IEC for your country of citizenship or if you are planning to work in specific jobs that require a medical exam.
The regulation for RO participants is exactly the same as Regular IEC, so if your country of citizenship requires a medical exam, you will also need it for your RO application or if you are planning to work in a specific field. Learn more about the medical exam requirements here.
Yes, but you should have a new passport at the time of activation, so you can get the full duration of your work permit.
You can still apply for your RO work permit with your old passport and get approved, but make sure you start planning in advance so you can get a new passport for your RO work permit activation. This is especially the case if you are currently in Canada, as the process to get a new passport might take longer.
Remember, getting a new passport means that you will need a new Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Learn more about getting a new passport through the IEC process here.
No, you can not. You still need insurance that covers you for your complete stay. Provincial plans in Canada are not eligible for IEC. Please learn everything about IEC insurance requirements here.
Insurance must be valid for the entire period for which the work permit is sought. Participants can present two consecutive healthcare insurance policies if they were not able to purchase one policy to cover the entire length of their work permit.
Only once you receive your approval letter or Port of Entry (POE) and you know the specific date you will be activating your RO work permit (example: date you will be landing in Canada). Please make sure to review the requirements of the insurance on IRCC website here.
You might need to! Take a look at this post where we explain everything you need to know about police certificates when applying under International Experience Canada (IEC).
Disclaimer: No Legal Advice Provided.
The material on our website and on this webpage is intended to provide only general information to our clients. Although we make our best efforts to ensure that the information found on our website is accurate and timely, do not, under any circumstances, rely on information found on our website as legal or immigration advice. We can not answer client-specific immigration-related questions or provide any immigration advice. For assistance with your specific inquiry, please contact IEC directly through the IRCC website or contact a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).