Working Holiday Canada - To Do List
All you need to know to prepare for your Canada adventure
Doubts such as, “Can I do it all by myself?” are completely normal. After all, moving to a distant country can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to feel torn. In fact, you might even consider seeking help from an agency to ease your mind and simplify the process.
Take the first step!
Apply for a Working Holiday
Not sure when to apply for the Working Holiday Canada? It’s easy to figure out: Once your Working Holiday is approved, you have 12 months to activate the work permit at the border. Therefore, you can apply as early as one year before you plan to start your Canadian adventure.
Luckily, there are plenty of free, step-by-step guides available online for the Working Holiday application. In fact, this blog includes a detailed 8-step application guide, packed with tips to help you avoid common mistakes. Additionally, the extensive FAQ section in this group answers nearly every question ever raised in the Working Holiday Facebook groups.
Then, once you’ve mastered that first hurdle and have the Working Holiday approval in your hands, rest assured that it’s only going to get easier from now on. At this point, you can be proud of yourself.
Checklist - Before Departure
Prepare and print the paperwork for entry
You can find the information and requirements for activating your Work Permit in Canada >here< on the official Canadian government website. When you arrive at the immigration office at the Canadian airport, you must present the following documents:
- your passport
- your Port of Entry (POE) Letter
- proof of funds (minimum $2,500)
- proof of Health Insurance for the entire duration of your stay
- a ticket for your departure from Canada or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
- copies of the documents you provided in your work permit application (police certificates, family form, CV)
> Here < you can find a lot of FAQ to the topic “Work permit activation”
Cancel subscriptions and contracts at home
There are several contracts and services that you won’t need or be able to use in Canada. These include:
- Rental agreements
- Car insurance
- Phone or mobile contracts
- Gym memberships, and more.
Additionally, you should consider cancelling the following before leaving:
- Utilities (e.g., electricity, water, or gas contracts for housing)
- TV subscriptions (such as cable or satellite contracts)
- Internet contracts
- Bank accounts/credit cards (from your home country that may not be usable in Canada).
Furthermore, it’s important to check if you are required to unregister from local authorities in your home country before leaving.
Take out health insurance
For the International Experience Canada (which includes the Working Holiday) you must have health insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. Specifically, your health insurance must cover:
- medical care;
- hospitalization; and
- Repatriation (transportation expenses to your home country in case of serious illness, injury or death).
Furthermore, if you are already in Canada, please note that provincial health care coverage is not acceptable. This is because provincial health insurance does not include repatriation, which is a mandatory requirement.
Your IEC health insurance must be valid for the entire intended stay in Canada.
If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will get a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. In this case, you will not be able to extend your work permit later, even if your intended stay was longer.
For instance, if you arrive at the border with health insurance valid for only three months, you will be issued a work permit for exactly three months. That’s it, after three months you can return back home or look into other work permit options.
The best IEC health insurance for European and UK citizens
recommended by other IEC participants who used them
Order a Canadian SIM card
Do I need a SIM-Card in Canada? Your answer to this question > here
With the SIM card from >>PhoneBox<< you’ll have a Canadian phone number and data as soon as you land in Canada. Currently, PhoneBox has very good data plans with unlimited calls within Canada. You can order it online to be sent to you by mail, or as eSIM if your cell phone supports eSIM. With this link you can save the $10 SIM-card fee.
Additionally, they deliver worldwide and delivery is free of charge. Just make sure to place your order at least 30 days before departure to ensure timely delivery.
Another major advantage of using PhoneBox is that it accepts foreign credit cards for payment, something not all Canadian carriers offer.
Great feature from PhoneBox: free international calls are included and possible to over 30 countries. See list below.
Book a flight - but only after you received the POE (approval letter)
A few tips:
- Compare prices using tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, and others to find the best deal.
- Incognito/Private Browsing: Some websites track your searches and may increase prices after you’ve viewed the same flight multiple times. To avoid this, browse in incognito mode.
- Clear Cookies: Alternatively, clearing your browser’s cookies can prevent price increases based on repeated searches.
- Mid-week Flights: Flights tend to be cheaper on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays compared to weekends.
- Use nearby airports: Flights into smaller airports can be significantly cheaper than flying directly into a major city.
- Layovers: If you’re willing to have a layover, connecting flights can often be much cheaper.
- Round-Trip vs. One-Way: In some cases, booking a round-trip ticket may be cheaper, but booking one-way tickets with different airlines may save you money.
- Remember that for the IEC program, a return flight is not required. However, you must show proof of sufficient funds to buy one, approximately $1,000 should be enough.
Book a place to stay for the first few weeks
Generally, it’s not recommended to secure a monthly rental place to stay before arriving. Unfortunately, the risk of encountering scammers is high, and many travellers have lost money to fraudulent listings.
Therefore, NEVER pay for accommodation in advance if you haven’t seen the place in person, even if it appears legitimate. Scammers are becoming increasingly clever and convincing, so it’s important to stay cautious.
Instead, consider booking a hostel or Airbnb for a few weeks when you first arrive. This way, you’ll have time to search for a place in person while you’re already in Canada.
Plus, you’ll be able to assess whether the neighborhood feels right for you and how easy it is to get around the city without a car.
Another alternative is Homestay.com, where you will be staying in a real home rather than a hotel or hostel.
Checklist - After Arrival
Apply for the SIN
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a personal 9-digit number that is used for tax purposes and which you need to work and get paid. You apply for the SIN at the Service Canada office as soon as you arrive in Canada and after you activated the work permit.
Fortunately, you can apply for a SIN at any Service Canada location in the city, and no appointment necessary. Simply walk in during opening hours. The process is quick, usually taking about 10 minutes. To apply, you only need your work permit and passport.
If you’re arriving in Toronto, you can apply for your SIN directly at the airport, at the Service Canada office located inside the terminal. This is currently the only airport in Canada that offers this service. Be sure to activate your work permit first.
Open a bank account
Most major Canadian banks offer special accounts for newcomers that have no monthly fees, unlimited transactions, etc. To open an account, visit a local bank branch in person with your passport, work permit, and Social Insurance Number (SIN). In many cases, you can set up both a chequing account for daily use and a savings account.
Additionally, some banks may offer a credit card to help you start building a Canadian credit history.
In addition to the above-mentioned necessary documents, you need the Canadian phone number to set up multifactor authorization. You will receive a debit card right away, if you apply for a credit card, it will be mailed to you to the address provided.
Before choosing a bank, it’s a good idea to compare newcomer offers and branch locations to find the best fit for your needs. >> More info here <<
Transfer money to your Canadian account
Because the Canadian banks offer a credit card with low limit, it’s important to always keep some cash available in your bank account. This is particularly crucial when you need to pay for your first month’s rent and security deposit.
Fortunately, transferring money to Canada is straightforward. One of the more affordable options, known for its low fees and competitive exchange rates, is >> Wise <<
Find a job
Finding a job in Canada can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right approach, you’ll improve your chances quickly.
First, create a strong LinkedIn profile and start networking, both online and in person. Consider attending job fairs, industry events, or workshops offered by newcomer support centers. In addition, many cities have employment agencies that specialize in helping newcomers connect with employers. If needed, take on a temporary or entry-level position to gain Canadian experience, which will be a huge value on your resume.
Some of the most commonly used job websites include:
- Indeed.ca
- Monster.ca
- Workopolis
- SimplyHired.ca
If you would like to do a ski or summer season in Canada, here a few Ski resorts:
>> A website for Ski resorts<<
- Lake Louise
- Banff
- Banff + Jasper
- Banff + Canmore
- Castle Mountain
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (Golden)
- Panorama Resort (Invermere)
- Whistler
- Whistler’s Job Board Facebook Group
- Sun Peaks
- Big White
- Whitewater Ski Resort (Nelson, BC)
- Red Mountain
- RCR (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley and Nakiska)
- Revelstoke
- Silver Star
- Manning Park Resort
- Washington (Vancouver Island)
The basic rules for better chances in the job search:
- It should be a Canadian Resume format. There are a lot of Resume Templates on the Internet. Pick one that you like best.
- Canadian phone number for call back
- Short resume, i.e. 1 page, max 2 pages
- Tailor the resume to the job (only list job-relevant experience in the resume, babysitting jobs are irrelevant if you apply for an office job)
- No photo of yourself!
- No date of birth!
Resumes with photo and date of birth must always be discarded and ignored due to discrimination rules in Canada. In fact, adding a photo can limit your chances of securing an interview.
If you apply from outside Canada before you arrive: In the cover letter mention your firm plans, such as, “I will be arriving in Canada on xx day and will be available to start immediately”
What employers don’t like is a vague answer like, “I plan on arriving within the next 4 months.” The reason for this is that many jobs in Canada are filled within DAYS, so employers need to know that you are either already in Canada or plan to arrive soon. The longer you delay, the worse your chances become.
Finally, a key tip: Do not write your cover letter with ChatGPT. Employers have software that detects writing styles, and you could be out of the job race before making it to the second round if they detect something off.
Look for a place to stay
The reserved short-term accommodation like a hostel, Airbnb, or budget hotel for your first few weeks gives you time to explore the city, understand neighborhoods, and view long-term rental options in person.
If your job search was successful and you plan to stay in the city for a little longer, it is advisable to look for your own apartment or a shared flat.
Meanwhile, browse local platforms like Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, RentFaster (in some bigger cities like Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver) and join local housing groups to see new listings.
Alternatively, if you’re open to shared living, renting a room in a shared apartment can be more affordable and offers the bonus of meeting new people, which is always a plus when settling into a new city!
Once again, and I cannot stress this enough: NEVER, NEVER pay money in advance if you haven’t seen the place in person. Unfortunately, rental scams targeting inexperienced newcomers are all too common, and falling victim to one can be costly and frustrating. Always make sure you see the place firsthand before committing. Your safety and peace of mind are worth it!
Here are some common rental scam examples that you should watch out for:
Often, scammers create listings with beautiful photos, low rent, and ideal locations to attract attention. If the price seems far below market value, it’s usually a red flag.
In addition, scammers may ask you to send a deposit, first month’s rent, or other fees before you’ve seen the apartment in person. They may claim they’re out of town or “saving” the place for you. Therefore, be cautious, as this is a frequent tactic used by scammers.
Moreover, scammers often say there are “many applicants” or that you must decide immediately. As a result, they hope to rush you into paying without allowing enough time to properly verify the details of the listing.
Similarly, some scammers claim the apartment can’t be shown because they’re overseas and “will send you the keys with a courier.” In such cases, they may offer to rent it without a viewing. Never agree to this.
Connect with other Working Holiday travellers
Join online communities, forums, or social media groups (Facebook groups, Meetup, etc.) where other participants share tips and experiences. These networks can help you find housing, job leads, travel buddies and friends before you even arrive.
Exchange Driver's License
If you plan to drive in Canada, exchanging your foreign driver’s licence should definitely be on your to-do list.
In fact, it is a legal requirement in all provinces. However, each province has its own set of rules and deadlines for when you must exchange your licence after moving there. Therefore, it’s important to check the specific regulations for the province you’ll be living in.
Info links:
Please google the rest of the provinces…
Is it easy to exchange the driver's licence?
Depending on your home country, you may be eligible for a direct exchange without taking a written or road test. Canada has agreements with several countries. To exchange your driver’s licence, visit your province’s licensing authority (such as Service Ontario or ICBC in British Columbia) with your current licence, passport, immigration documents, and proof of address.
Additionally, in most cases, your licence must be valid and accompanied by a certified translation if it’s not in English or French. However, if you’re not eligible for a direct exchange, you may need to take a knowledge test, provide a driving record from your home country, and complete a road test. In the meantime, you may be allowed to drive with your foreign licence for a limited period (usually 60 to 90 days), so it’s best to start the process soon after arriving.
