January 30, 2026 Edition
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by sister site, Outpost Recruitment
This Week in the IEC Pool
With 22,694 IEC invitations already issued, the 2026 quota is filling fast! about 46% of the published quota has already been used.
IRCC has also now added “chances of receiving an invitation” ratings for many pools. While most are currently rated Excellent, some programs are already showing Very low, Low, Fair, or Very good chances.
Key details:
22,694 invitations have been issued so far (46.6% of the 48,670 quota).
31,464 candidates are currently in the pools (down from 35,567 in the January 23 update).
IRCC is now posting “chances of receiving an invitation” for many pools.
Some countries/categories are still waiting on their first rounds.
Quotas are still being released in waves, so some are still listed as “To be announced.”
We’ll keep tracking IRCC updates and share changes to quotas, invitations, and pool activity as soon as they’re posted.
This Week’s Read: 3 Easy Ways to Check Your eTA Status
If you’re flying to Canada on an IEC work permit, it’s a good idea to check one small detail before you travel: your eTA.
Even if you already have your Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction, you still need a valid eTA to board your flight (if you’re from a visa-exempt country). Many IEC participants get one automatically when their work permit is approved, but it’s still worth checking.
This guide shows three easy ways to confirm your eTA status:
Check your POE Letter of Introduction – the eTA number and expiry date are often listed on the first page.
Log in to your IRCC account – open your IEC application to see your eTA details and which passport it’s linked to.
Use the Government of Canada eTA status tool – helpful if you applied for an eTA separately or changed your passport.
On Your Radar: Try Snow Tubing This Winter
Ontario has seen plenty of snow recently, which makes it a perfect time to try snow tubing. It’s one of the easiest ways to enjoy a Canadian winter – no lessons or special skills needed. You just grab a tube, slide down the hill, and use the lift to get back to the top.
Snow tubing is a lot like tobogganing, but instead of a sled, you ride in a big inner tube. You fly down a packed, snowy lane, and sometimes you’ll even spin a bit on the way down – it’s all thrill, no skill.
Here are some of the best snow tubing hills across Ontario, from family-friendly spots to faster, more exciting runs. If you’ve been curious about winter activities but don’t want to ski or snowboard, snow tubing is a fun, low-pressure way to get outside and enjoy the snow.
This newsletter is sponsored by our sister site, Outpost Recruitment
Since 2012, Outpost has helped hundreds of IEC participants working in construction and construction engineering find jobs across Canada. If you work in construction or construction engineering, Outpost Recruitment can help you find a job.
IEC Life Hacks: Check Your Winter Sports Coverage
Before you hit the slopes, check your insurance policy. Even if you have IEC health insurance, skiing and snowboarding coverage isn’t always included as standard.
Most base plans cover things like emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and ambulance services. But most insurance companies treat skiing and snowboarding as “higher-risk” sports.
That means you might need to add winter sports as an optional add-on, so it’s worth confirming what’s covered before you go – especially if you’re new to the sport!
Resources, In Case You Missed Them
Whether you’re planning to enter the IEC pool, have an active profile, are waiting for an invitation to apply, or have already applied for or received your IEC work permit, our resources are designed to support you at every stage of your IEC journey:
