Introduction to the Working Holiday Visa Canada  

Canada ranks as one of the top choices for both travel and work purposes. The country is renowned for its diverse, welcoming society, easy immigration policies, stunning natural wonders as well a good work-life balance. The Canada Working Holiday Visa allows the youth to enjoy travel and benefits from working that Canada has to offer to its visitors.

The Working Holiday Visa in Canada offers a wonderful opportunity for the youth who are seeking temporary work opportunities while enjoying a vacation in the maple-leaf country. People aged under 18 to 35 years work and travel freely across the country with a working holiday visa in Canada. The Visa is valid for a period of 12 to 24 months, based on the country of residence.

What is the IEC Canada Working Holiday Visa Program?

The International Experience Canada is a streamlined program that enables young people from eligible countries to travel and work temporarily in Canada. It allows the youth from 30 participating countries to visit and stay in Canada for a working holiday for up to 2 years.

The table below has the details of the countries that participate in the IEC:

IEC uses a randomized draw system to issue work permits to eligible candidates. The IEC has three programs via which immigrants can migrate to Canada. They are:

• Working Holiday Canada Visa Program: This program Working Holiday Canada Visa is designed to attract young foreign nationals willing to work while traveling in Canada. The working holiday visa holders can acquire Canadian work experience and stay in Canada for up to 2 years upon eligibility. Qualifying candidates can work for multiple Canadian employers and can apply even without a job offer.
• Young Professionals Program: This program invites applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. Eligible applicants get an employer-specific work permit, which allows them to work under the same employer in the same location while they are in Canada.
• International Co-op Internship Program: This program allows foreign nationals to migrate to Canada for internships or work placements after their post-secondary education. Qualifying candidates can get an employer-specific work permit, which allows them to work under the same employer in the same location while they are in Canada.

Why Apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Canada? 

The Canadian Working Holiday Visa is designed with the purpose of letting work and leisure go hand-in-hand in Canada. Foreign nationals belonging to countries with a Youth Mobility Arrangement with Canada can avail themselves of the benefits of the Visa. The Visa allows young foreign nationals from the participating countries to work while traveling across Canada.

The working holiday visa Canada holders are eligible for open work permits in Canada. The open work permit issued to the visa holders allows them to take up employment under any Canadian employer from any location. They can also take up multiple part-time job roles and fund their trip to Canada on their own. The Canada working holiday visa Canada is a perfect way of acquiring Canadian work experience while enjoying the natural beauty and luxury of the Canadian lifestyle.

Who can apply for a Working Holiday Visa Canada? 

You can apply for the Working Holiday Visa Canada if you:

• Are a citizen of the countries that qualify for the IEC program
• Are outside Canada while applying for the Visa
• Have a valid passport for Canada working holiday visa
• Have a minimum bank balance of CAD 2500  to support your initial expenses
• Are admissible to Canada
• Have return flight tickets prior to departure for Working Holiday Canada Visa
• Pay the work permit application fee of CAD 172
• Have sufficient health insurance coverage for Working Holiday Canada Visa
• Are not accompanied by dependents with Canada Work and Holiday Visa
• Are aged between 18 and 30 years for Canada Work and Holiday Visa

Note: The maximum age limit depends on your country or nationality. Applicants from certain countries can apply till the age of 35 years.

How to apply for the Working Holiday Visa Canada?

The following are the steps to be followed while applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada:

Step 1: Create an IEC profile

To create an IEC profile, you must check if your country participates in the Working Holiday Visa program. You must also fulfill other eligibility requirements to be eligible for the Visa. If you qualify for the eligibility specifications, then your profile automatically enters the IEC pool of candidates.

Step 2: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Draws are conducted on a regular basis for IEC candidates. The IRCC issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for candidates who qualify for the Visa. There are separate quotas for different countries on the basis of which the number of ITAs issued vary.

Step 3: Accept your ITA

Once you have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will have a 10-day period to accept the ITA. On declining the application, your profile will return to the IEC pool of candidates and will be considered for the next draw.

Step 4:  Apply for an IEC work permit

Another 20 days are given to apply for an IEC work permit after you accept the ITA issued to you. Gather and arrange all the documents required and apply for an IEC work permit via the official website of IRCC.

Step 5: Fly to Canada

You can fly to Canada once you have received a confirmation on your IEC work permit.   

IEC Canada Eligibility Requirements for the Working Holiday Visa Canada

The country-wise eligibility requirements for the Working Holiday Visa are mentioned in the table below:

Along with maintaining the age limit and maximum duration of stay, candidates must also provide proof of sufficient financial resources and enough health insurance to cover the entire duration of their stay.

Cost of the Working Holiday Visa Canada

The total fees for a Canada Working Holiday visa depend on a number of factors, such as the country you are applying from and the IEC category you have chosen. No fees are required to submit an IEC profile in the pool of candidates. However, working holiday Canada visa applicants must pay an open work permit holder fee when submitting an online work permit application under IEC.

The table below provides the breakdown of the total fees for Working Holiday CanadaVisa applicants:

Documents required for a Working Holiday Visa Canada

The following are the documents required to apply for a Canadian Working Holiday Visa:

• Completed and signed application form for Working Holiday Visa Canada
• Updated CV or resume along with a cover letter
• A Valid Passport  Working Holiday Visa Canada
• Two recent passport sized photographs  for Canada Work and Holiday Visa
• Biometrics (required after your application is approved)
• Fee payment receipts Working Holiday Visa Canada
• Confirmation letter from your RO (if applicable)
• Police Clearance certificates for Canada Work and Holiday Visa
• A Port of Entry (POE) letter for Working Holiday Visa Canada
• Copies of documents uploaded along with your work permit application
• Health Insurance Certificates for Working Holiday Visa Canada
• Proof of sufficient financial resources for Canada Work and Holiday Visa
• Return flight tickets or enough financial resources to buy a flight ticket from Canada

Health Insurance Details

It is mandatory to have health insurance coverage to apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Canada. The country does not allow immigrants to enter Canada without a health insurance certificate. The work permit issued to you will expire at the same time as a health insurance policy if it does not cover the entire duration of your expected stay in Canada.

Your health insurance certificate must include the following details:

• Medical care and the health issues covered under the insurance
• Hospitalisation policies for working holiday visa canada
• Repatriation demonstrating that you would be returning to your home country in case of severe injury, illness, or death.

Note: Provincial Health Cards do not qualify as health insurance as they do not cover repatriation details.

Details of Proof of Funds

When you arrive at the port of entry, you might be asked to show proof of funds. The documents you provide as proof of funds must clearly demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself even without a job offer in Canada for at least 3 months or a minimum bank balance of CAD 2500.

 The following documents qualify as proof of funds in Canada:

• Cash in Canadian dollars
• Bank statement issued at least 1 week before you travel to Canada
• Bankers' cheques, drafts or, travellers' cheques, or money orders
• Securities in bearer form, such as bonds, stocks, treasury bills, or debentures

Chances of getting a Working Holiday Visa Canada

The Working Holiday Visa category is the most popular one among all three categories under IEC. It is a highly competitive category, as the number of candidates usually exceeds the number of spots available.

 IRCC rates each category of the IEC on the basis of the following factors:

• Number of accepted invitations for working holiday visa canada
• Number of invitations declined
• Number of applicants who have not responded to their ITAs
• Number of expired applications
• Number of applicants who have withdrawn their profiles

Your chances of receiving an ITA depend upon the rating provided by IRCC. The IRCC holds regular draws to invite candidates through this program, but the selection procedure is random. This implies that all candidates in the pool have equal chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

There are quotas on the number of candidates to be invited from each country. Therefore, if you belong from a country which has a large quota, then your chances of getting an approval is more. The cap count for each country is negotiated each year, and the quota is announced before the first rounds of invitations are conducted for that country.

Tips for increasing your chances of getting an approval

One of the best ways to increase your chances of getting approval is to stay longer in the IEC pool of candidates. As the Working Holiday visa program is the most competitive program, you should try applying via the young professionals program if your country allows you to do so. The young professional's program is less competitive, and usually, there are more spots than the number of candidates. Therefore, applying under the young professionals will increase your chances of being selected.

Benefits of Working Holiday Visa Canada

The benefits of the Working Holiday Visa Canada are listed below:

• Work temporarily while travelling across Canada
• Gather valuable professional work experience while travelling
• Stay in Canada for up to 2 years
• Earn up to CAD 37,050 and fund your vacation on your own
• Work legally under any Canadian employer
• Take up employment under multiple employers in Canada
• Explore the culture, job market, and life in Canada
• Migrate to Canada even without a job offer
• Apply for Canada work permit once you get a job in Canada
• Potential to obtain Canada PR on eligibility

Can work experience on a Working Holiday Visa lead to a Canada PR?

The work experience acquired via a Canada Working Holiday Visa can be considered as Canadian work experience only if it meets the NOC requirements. However, to apply for Canada PR as a working Holiday visa holder, you must first get a Canadian work permit with a valid job offer under a Canadian employer.

Skilled workers and professionals who have been working in Canada on a valid work permit can apply for Canada PR. There are several pathways to obtain Permanent Residence in Canada.

Depending on the work experience you have gathered, you can opt for the following PR pathways:

• Express Entry Program: This program is designed for skilled professionals who want to apply for Canada PR. The Express Entry program is one of the fastest routes to get a Canada PR. With more than one year of skilled work experience in Canada, you can score higher under the CRS score calculator. A high CRS score will significantly increase your chances of getting selected for Canada PR. There are three immigration streams managed by the Express Entry program:
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

   Employees who have Canadian work experience can apply under the Canada Experience Class which is exclusively deigned for candidates like them.

• Provincial Nomination Program (PNP): Different Canadian provinces hold their respective PNP Express Entry draws to invite skilled immigrants for Canada PR. Canada PNP offers an excellent pathway to apply for Canada as it allows you to stay and work in Canada even while your application is in process.
   
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): This program is designed for skilled workers and international graduates from Canadian universities who are willing to apply for Canada PR. Eligible applicants can migrate to one of the four Atlantic Provinces in Canada with a permanent resident status.

Can spouses join on a Working Holiday Visa in Canada?

Spouses or dependent children are not eligible to be included in a Working Holiday Visa. However, your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children can be sponsored once you get a valid Canadian work permit. Your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children under the age of 24 can migrate to Canada on a dependent visa. After arriving in Canada, the spouse or common-law partner can then apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit upon eligibility.

Other IEC Categories - Work and Holiday Visa Canada

The International Experience Canada (IEC) comprises of three separate programs. Countries with a reciprocal bilateral agreement with Canada participate in these programs to let citizens work while travelling to Canada. Each category under the IEC has its own set of requirements and eligibility criteria. The three IEC categories include the working Holiday visa program, the Young professionals program, and the International Co-op internship program.

The other IEC programs are described below:

• Young Professionals Program: Foreign nationals willing to gain Canadian work experience can apply for this program to get an employer-specific work permit if eligible. This program provides a wonderful opportunity for young professionals to acquire professional experience in Canada, which can later be used while applying for Canada PR. Candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for this program:
  • You must have a valid job offer in Canada for a paid position contributing to their professional development.
  • Your job offer must be listed under NOC skill type 0, A, or B.
  • You must intend to work for the same employer at the same location while you are in Canada.
• International Co-op Internship: The citizens of participating countries willing to intern for Canadian companies after completing their post-secondary education can apply for this program. Candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for this program:
  • You are registered at a post-secondary educational institute outside of Canada
  • You have a valid placement or internship offer in Canada
  • You intend to work for the same employer at the same location while staying in Canada

Note: You must have a co-op placement offer in Canada before you apply for the program.

Employment tips for Working Holiday Visa Canada

The working Holiday Visa provides an excellent opportunity to gain professional work experience in Canada while you are on a vacation to Maple Leaf country. Here are the top 5 tips to help you get the best of Canada while you are on a Working Holiday Visa:

• Research about the NOC codes: Your working holiday work experience will be considered while applying for Canada PR only if you meet the NOC requirements. You must ensure that your job role in Canada is listed under the same NOC code as mentioned in your CV and Express Entry profile.
• Check job availability across provinces: Not all provinces have the same number of job openings for different sectors. A thorough research on the Canadian job market will help you decide which Canadian province you should choose to stay in.
• Prepare your CV and cover letter: You can ace your job hunt in Canada with a well-prepared professional CV that aligns with the key trends in your field. Make sure you tailor your CV and cover letter according to Canadian professional standards to be considered by employers.
• Network well: Find as many ways as possible to connect to professionals in your industry. You can use social media platform to network with your industry giants as well fellow IEC work permit holders to build a strong chain of network in Canada.
• Join Integration Services:  Canada offers several integration programs to help immigrants settle in Canada. Integration services in Canada include language training programs, job search services, online employment workshops, networking events, etc.

IEC Health Insurance - Work and Holiday Visa Canada

It is mandatory to have health insurance coverage to apply for a Working Holiday Visa or any other visa program under the IEC. Canada does not allow immigrants to enter the country without a health insurance certificate. The work permit issued to you will expire at the same time with a health insurance policy if it does not cover the entire duration of your expected stay in Canada.

IEC Health Insurance Coverage Details

Your health insurance certificate must include the following details:

• Medical care and the health issues covered under the insurance
• Hospitalisation policies
• Repatriation demonstrating that you would be returning to your home country in case of severe injury, illness, or death.

How can Y-Axis help you? 

As the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy, Y-Axis has been providing unbiased and personalized immigration assistance for 25+ years. Our team of visa and immigration experts will assist you with the following:

• Arranging the immigration document checklist
• Filling out application forms
• Documentation and petition filing
• Getting your updates and follow-ups
• Finding relevant jobs with Y-Axis Job Search Services
• Obtaining Canadian Permanent Residence