2026 Canada Working Holiday Pool Nears 4,000 | What Japanese Applicants Need to Know

There appear to be several clear reasons behind the sudden growth of the 2026 Canada Working Holiday pool.

1. LMIA Work Permits Have Become Harder to Obtain

One factor is that obtaining a work permit that requires an LMIA has become noticeably more difficult than before. In recent years, LMIA application screening standards have become stricter and processing times longer, and the procedures and burden placed on employers have also grown.
As a result, the number of employers able to offer visa support has fallen significantly.

2. The Working Holiday Can Now Be Used Twice

Since 2025, Japanese citizens have been able to participate in Canada’s Working Holiday program up to twice in their lifetime. It is likely that the pool includes not only people who are seriously planning to go this year, but also a large number of people who simply want to keep the option open. As a result, we expect that people like the following are considering coming to Canada:

• “I used it once before, but I only recently found out I can go again.”
• “I’ll just enter the pool for now, as insurance for the future.”
• “I came to Canada on my first Working Holiday, but I’d like to extend for another year.”

3. “Two Years of Open Work” Is Attracting Attention

Canada’s Working Holiday is a very generous program by North American standards, offering an open work permit* and a stay of up to two years. At a time when work visas for the United States are very difficult to obtain and many European countries impose strict age and occupation restrictions, the attractive combination of “English-speaking country × able to work × two years” has spread rapidly among Japanese people already on a Working Holiday in Canada and through social media.

*A work permit that allows you to work freely in Canada without being tied to a specific employer or occupation

4. Co-op Programs Have Become Harder, Pushing People Toward the Working Holiday

Because of policy changes over the past few years, significant limits have been placed on the number of PALs (provincial attestation letters) required for study permit applications, making it realistically difficult to enroll in private language schools and career colleges, especially Co-op programs (Co-op study). As a result, we believe the following trend is occurring:

People who originally planned on “language school → Co-op study → work or Working Holiday” give up on enrolling because private colleges do not hold enough PALs, and choose the Working Holiday as an alternative.

In other words, the current increase in Working Holiday applicants is not simply a rise in the program’s popularity. It also appears to reflect people turning to the Working Holiday as a “fallback” after the PAL shortage narrowed their other options.

This year, the Working Holiday quota may fill up faster than usual.
If you are considering applying, it is important not to wait and see, but to register in the pool early and get your travel plans in order.

In addition, by considering other ways to come to Canada in advance, such as a study permit, in case you are unable to obtain a Working Holiday, you can broaden your options for coming to Canada and for permanent residence (PR).

If you have any doubts or concerns, contact Shiraishi Visa JP Canada early and make sure you have a realistic plan that suits you.

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