If you want to travel to Canada in order to experience all that Canada has to offer on a temporary basis, it can be difficult to ensure you have enough money to do so in advance. Wouldn’t it be great if you could travel to Canada while also working so you could earn enough money to fund your stay? The Working Holiday Visa is your answer.
There is a way to do this, with the several different types of International Experience Canada programs available to foreign nationals who wish to visit Canada while also working or amassing Canadian work experience through internships. The most popular IEC program is the Working Holiday Visa.
What is the Working Holiday Visa Program in Canada?
The Working Holiday Visa allows you to fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada. This option is very popular for young adults who are traveling and working in Canada to fund their travels. The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit. An open work permit is a type of work permit that allows a person to work for any employer in Canada, except for an employer:
- who is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with conditions, or
- who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages
The Working Holiday Visa Program allows young people from over 30 different countries around the world to live and work in Canada. The work permit is valid for either 12 or 24 (1 or 2 years) depending on your country of citizenship.
Who Can Apply for the Working Holiday Visa?
The Working Holiday Visa is for you if:
- You don’t have a job offer yet
- You want to work for more than one employer in Canada
- You want to work in more than one location
- You’d like to earn some money so that you can travel
The following countries allow for the Working Holiday Visa for their citizens. The Working Holiday Visa Canada age limit changes depending on which country you are coming from. Each country has specific age eligibility and maximum validity.
Australia: Age 18-35, 24 months
Austria: Age 18-30, 12 months
Belgium: Age 18-30, 12 months
Chile: Age 18-35, 12 months
Costa Rica: Age 18-35, 12 months
Croatia: Age 18-35, 12 months
Czech Republic: Age 18-35, 12 months
Denmark: Age 18-35, 12 months
Estonia: Age 18-35, 12 months
France: Age 18-35, 24 months
Germany: Age 18-35, 12 months
Greece: Age 18-35, 12 months
Hong Kong: Age 18-30, 12 months
Ireland: Age 18-35, 24 months
Italy: Age 18-35, 6 months, may apply another 6 months as a visitor
Japan: Age 18-30, 12 months
Latvia:Age 18-35, 12 months
Lithuania: Age 18-35, 12 months
Netherlands: Age 18-30, 12 months
New Zealand: Age 18-35, 23 months
Norway: Age 18-35, 12 months
Poland: Age 18-35, 12 months
Portugal: Age 18-35, 24 months
San Marino: Age 18-35, 12 months
Slovaki: Age 18-35, 12 months
Slovenia: Age 18-35, 12 months
South Korea: Age 18-30, 12 months
Spain: Age 18-35, 12 months
Sweden: Age 18-30, 12 months
Taiwan: Age 18-35, 12 months
United Kingdom: Age 18-30, 24 months
Requirements for Working Holiday Visa
For all countries that are eligible under the Working Holiday Visa in Canada, there is a set of requirements for candidates.
- Must be a citizen from one of the countries listed above.
- Must have a valid passport throughout your stay in Canada
- Must be between the age requirement for your country.
- Must have the equivalent of $2,500 CAD to cover initial expenses.
- Must be admissible to Canada under Immigration regulations.
- Must have a round-trip ticket or financial resources to purchase a departure ticket out of Canada.
- Must not be accompanied by any dependents.
- Must pay the application fees.
Working Holiday Canada Jobs
There are several industries that many Working Holiday candidates are interested in but truly there is an endless amount! Canada has so many seasonal job opportunities that many foreign nationals love to try.
Winter Sports
Canada is a leading country for winter sports! Many international workers love to work at Canada’s many ski resorts for their many benefits and job availability. Those who work at ski resorts often receive subsidised accommodation and free ski passes.
Hospitality and Tourism
Restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes are never scarce! You’ll find hospitality and tourism positions all around Canada (more within urban areas). Although if you are coming from Europe you can expect a drop in wages compared to these positions in Europe. You will make up these drop in wages with tip and service charges. The average tip on food and beverage in Canada is between 15%-20% on checks.
Agriculture
Canada is cold for several months of the year making those warm months extremely important for the Farming industry. If you’re interested in working on a farm there are several agencies in Canada that will help you obtain experience on a farm all while meeting people from around the world. Many farms provide several benefits for foreign workers such as free meals, free accommodation, monthly salary, and farm experience.
How to Apply for the Working Holiday Visa
Step 1: Answer “Come to Canada” Questionnaire
First, you must determine your eligibility by using the online tool, Come to Canada, to see if you meet the criteria in order to participate in International Experience Canada (IEC). When you get to the end of the questionnaire you will receive a “personal reference code”.
Step 2: Create your My CIC Account
If you are eligible, you would have received the “personal reference code” after the questionnaire. You will put your code into the IEC online profile. There is no fee queried at this step.
Step 3: Create and Complete your IEC Pool Profile
There are four sections of the IEC profile: Personal details of the applicant, contact information, work & education details, and application details. Once all four sections are completed you will continue and electronically sign and submit your IEC profile.
Step 4: Receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Once you’ve submitted your IEC profile you will be in the pool of your country of citizenship for one year or until the IEC 2018 season closes. Invitations to apply (ITA) will be issued by the CIC regularly in rounds to candidates in the pools. Eligible candidates will be invited from the pools to apply for a work permit at regular intervals throughout the year and in numbers that are in line with periods of high demand. Rounds of invitations will take place until there are no more spots available.
Step 5: Accept Invitation & Apply for your Working Holiday Visa
If you are invited to apply, you will get a message in your MyCIC account. You will have 10 days to accept the invitation, otherwise, it will EXPIRE.
To accept your Invitation To Apply (ITA) for your Working Holiday, you will need to:
- Go to the section called “Applications” in MyCIC
- Find the application called “Work permit” and
- Click “Start application.”
From the day you accept the invitation, you will have 20 days to apply online for a work permit. You will receive a message in your MyCIC account with the time and date of your deadline. When you have completed the application, the system will generate a personalized Document Checklist for you. It will show all the supporting documents you need to upload. Receiving an invitation to apply does not mean that you will automatically receive a work permit.
Step 6: Get your Biometrics Taken
Biometrics is part of the application process to confirm your identity. You will have your fingerprints scanned and photo take when you apply for your visa or permit to Canada. After you submit your work permit application, you will receive a referral letter telling you that you are required to have your fingerprints and photograph taken. You have 30 days to complete them otherwise your visa will be denied.
Step 7: Receive your IMM 5665 POE (Port of Entry)
After you submit your work permit application with all your final documents, your application will be processed on a “first-in, first-out” basis. Typically applications for the Working Holiday Visa are about 8 weeks.
Other International Experience Canada (IEC) Work Permits
Young Professionals
Gain Canadian professional work experience to better compete in a global economy.
The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.
This category is for you if:
- You have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development
- You’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
Under this category, work must be:
- paid
- not self-employed
Your employer must meet all labour laws in the province or territory you plan to work including meeting minimum wage requirements.
The job you are offered in Canada must be classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered as contributing to your “professional development.” A NOC C job might be accepted if you can submit a post-secondary diploma, certificate or degree, with your work permit application. Your diploma, certificate or degree must be translated to English or French.
International Co-op Internship
Get valuable overseas work experience related to your field of study.
The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit. The internship you are offered in Canada must be directly linked to your field of studies and classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered. A NOC C job might also be accepted if your internship is directly linked to your field of studies with a post-secondary institution in your country.
This category is for you if:
- You’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution
- You have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada
- You need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies
- You’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
Wages must follow the labour laws in the province or territory you will be working in. The labour code of the province or territory will determine if an internship needs to be paid or not.
Employment and labour law standards apply to all foreign nationals in Canada. It is up to the IEC candidates and their Canadian employer to inquire, for their particular case, with the relevant provincial or territorial departments regarding labour standards.
Are You Interested in Temporarily Working in Canada?
If so, Contact VisaPlace today. All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for Niren and Associates an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.
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VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Ella Bergquist
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
