Working Holiday - Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for participating in the Working Holiday Program?
To participate in the Working Holiday Program, you must:
- be a citizen of the country you are applying for (all participating IEC countries here)
- have a valid passport for the duration of your stay in Canada
- be between 18 and 30 or 35 years (inclusive)
- have at least $2,500 in funds
- have health insurance for the duration of the intended stay
- have a return ticket or instead prove that you have the financial means to buy a return ticket at the end of your stay in Canada
- have a credit card for the fees
How much does it cost to participate in the Working Holiday Program?
- All IEC participants must pay the IEC participation fee of CAD$179.75
- Then there is the Open work permit fee: CAD$100
- And an additional fee for the biometrics: CAD$85
My country allows 2 years but my passport expires in a year, can I still apply?
Definitely, yes. Here is what you can do:
- Apply into the pool with the old passport.
- After you received the approval from the Working Holiday Canada application, you can apply for a new passport.
- Then when you travel to Canada to activate the work permit, show the immigration officer the new passport and a copy of the old passport.
- Don’t forget to apply for a new eTA > here < for the new passport.
The other option is to apply for a new passport first, and then apply into the pools with the new passport. But it depends on the season and available spots for your country if you can afford to wait any longer to apply for the Working Holiday.
Can I apply for the IEC if I am not living in the country of citizenship?
Yes, you can apply for the IEC even if you are not currently living in your country of citizenship. Your current country of residence does not affect your eligibility, and you can enter your country’s IEC pool from anywhere in the world, as long as you meet all other program requirements.
However, some countries have a residency requirement, which means in the application (after being invited) they must provide a mailing address from their home country. Those countries are:
Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden
**NEW for Italy**: If you’re an Italian citizen, you’ll also need to provide a residence certificate (certificato di residenza) to prove you live in Italy. The certificate must be translated into English or French by a certified translator (it cannot be translated by you). You must then merge the original + translation into one file and upload this file into the “Optional documents” spot at the bottom of the Document Checklist page in your GCKey account.
When is the best time to apply for a Working Holiday in Canada?
If you plan to travel to Canada within the next 12 months, you can apply anytime while the IEC pools are open.
However, the best time to apply is as soon as the IEC season opens, usually in November or December. Entering the pool early increases your chances of being selected in the invitation rounds, since there are fewer applicants at the beginning of the season.
Can I apply for the Working Holiday if I am still under 18 years old?
No. At the time of creation and transmission of the profile, you must be at least 18 years old.
What is the "IEC pool"?
The IEC pool is a draw system where applicants create their profiles and wait to be selected.
>> Here you can explore many more questions and answers about how the IEC pool works.
I am already in Canada on an IEC; do I have to wait until it is expired to apply for a new IEC?
In general, and for most countries you can apply while your current Working Holiday is still active. Keep in mind, that you will have 12 months from the new POE (approval) to activate the new work permit. Therefore, the best option to use the time wisely, is, to apply about 12 months before the expiry of the current work permit.
There are however, a few countries that have a ‘discontinuance requirement‘.
In other words, it means there must be a break between the expiry date of the first IEC work permit and the submission date of the second IEC work permit application. You can only apply for a second participation after a certain time since the old work permit has expired. Here are the breaks:
- Croatia: 3 months
- Latvia: 1 year
- Lithuania: 3 months
- Poland: 6 months
- Slovakia: 3 months
- Spain: 3 months
The break starts after your first IEC work permit expires. If you apply earlier than that, the application will be refused. You can find the requirements of your country > here <.
When can I apply for the Working Holiday?
You can apply anytime throughout the IEC season. You can always submit your profile to the pool while the IEC pools are open.
Do I need a job offer for the Working Holiday?
The Working Holiday work permit is an open work permit that gives you the freedom to work for any employer anywhere in Canada. So the answer is: No, you don’t need a job offer to apply for the Working Holiday Canada.
Can I work in any job in Canada with a Working Holiday?
As mentioned, with the Working Holiday work permit you can work for any employer anywhere in Canada and for the entire duration of the work permit. So the answer is: Yes, you can. However, there are two restrictions that you must be aware of.
There will be a restriction, that applies to all participants and will be printed on the bottom of the work permit:
“Not valid for employment in businesses related to the sex trade such as strip clubs, massage parlours or escort services”
In other words, it means you can’t work for employers, who offer striptease, erotic dance, erotic massages, or escort services. This restriction is a strict rule and cannot be removed from the work permit.
Another restriction that will be printed on the work permit is
“Not authorized to work in 1) child care, 2) primary or secondary school teaching, 3) health services field occupations.”
It means you can’t work in health care, child care or elderly care jobs. This restriction can be removed if you get a medical exam. More on this topic here > on this page <.
Can we apply for a Working Holiday together as a partner?
No, everyone has to apply for their own WHV. Note that not both will receive an invitation at the same time and one will have to wait for the other. It can even happen that only one of the partners is invited. Then you can still both go to Canada, take a look > here < for info on the partner work permit.
Can I take my children to Canada with the Working Holiday?
Yes. But they cannot accompany you under your Working Holiday. They will be granted entry as tourists usually for the duration of your work permit. If they are only admitted as visitors for the max. of 6 months, you can extend the visitor status by applying online for the visitor record. More info about the visitor record > here <.
Can I study in Canada on a Working Holiday?
Yes. If the course is max. 6 months. The course also cannot be part of a program lasting longer than six months, for example as a two-year program or four-year degree. If the course or program is longer than 6 months, you need a study permit.
