Visas
Not Canadian? You’ll need a visa to work= IEC International Experience Canada manages all working holiday visas , check to see if you are eligible!
Find out if you’re eligible – International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada (IEC) provides youth with the opportunity to travel and work in Canada.
To participate:
- your country of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada that allows you to apply for an IEC work permit, or
- you may be able to use a Recognized Organization.
Depending on where you are from, you can choose from up to three travel and work experiences:
Working Holiday
Fund your vacation with temporary work in Canada. The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit.
This category 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
More Info
Sweden—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Swedish citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Swedish citizen, you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Swedish citizen,
- have a valid Swedish passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Netherlands—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Dutch citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Dutch citizen, you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Dutch citizen,
- have a valid Dutch passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Japan—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Japanese citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Japanese citizen, you may participate in IEC only once.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Japanese citizen,
- have a valid Japanese passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for residents of Hong Kong with a valid passport who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a resident in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), you may participate in IEC only once.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a resident in the HKSAR
- have a valid HKSAR passport or a valid British National (overseas) passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Czech Republic—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Czech citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Czech citizen, you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Czech citizen,
- have a valid Czech passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- provide your permanent address in the Czech Republic in your work permit application,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Belgium—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Belgian citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Belgian citizen, you may participate in IEC only once.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Belgian citizen,
- have a valid Belgian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- provide your permanent address in Belgium in your work permit application,
- be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Norway—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Norwegian citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Norwegian citizen, you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Norwegian citizen,
- have a valid Norwegian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Ireland—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Irish citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 24 months).
Note: As an Irish citizen, you may participate in the Working Holiday category only once. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may participate in IEC one more time through the International Co-op (Internship) category.
If you participated in IEC before 2013 for a period of up to 12 months, you are eligible for a second participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice. Those who participated in IEC more than once before 2013 are no longer eligible to apply.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be an Irish citizen,
- have a valid Irish passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Germany—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for German citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a German citizen you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a German citizen,
- have a valid German passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
France—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for French citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 24 months).
Note: As a French citizen, you may participate in the Working Holiday only once. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may participate in IEC one more time through the International Co-op (Internship) category.
If you participated in IEC only once before 2015, you are eligible for a second participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice. Those who have already participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are not eligible.
French citizens participating in the Volontariat international en entreprise (VIE) program to Canada must apply for their work permit through the IEC program. You must submit your profile to the Young Professionals, with VIE, pool. VIE participations before 2015 do not count as IEC participations.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a French citizen from the following territories: France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, and St. Pierre and Miquelon,
- have a valid French passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
Denmark—Working Holiday
Description: The Working Holiday category is designed for Danish citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months).
Note: As a Danish citizen, you may participate in IEC only once.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
- be a Danish citizen,
- have a valid Danish passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
- provide your permanent address in Denmark in your work permit application,
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
- have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
- be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
- be admissible to Canada,
- have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
- not be accompanied by dependents, and
- pay the fees.
United Kingdom —Working Holiday
Those applicants that do not have Canadian citizenship will require a working holiday visa for their season in Canada.
The Working Holiday category is designed for British citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 24 months).
Note: As a British citizen, you may participate in IEC once.
If you participated in IEC before 2015 for a period of up to 12 months, you are eligible for a second participation of up to 24 months. Those who participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible to apply.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
— be a British citizen from the following territories: the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey,
— have a valid UK passport with British citizenship or a valid Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey) passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
— be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
— have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
— be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
— be admissible to Canada,
— have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
— not be accompanied by dependents, and
— pay the fees.
MORE INFO
Australia —Working Holiday
Those applicants that do not have Canadian citizenship will require a working holiday visa for their season in Canada.
The Working Holiday category is designed for Australian citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 24 months).
Note: As an Australian citizen, you may participate in the Working Holiday category only once. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may participate in IEC one more time through the International Co-op (Internship) category.
Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you may be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
— be a citizen of Australia,
— have a valid Australian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
— be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive),
— have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
— be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
— be admissible to Canada,
— have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
— not be accompanied by dependents, and
— pay the fees.
MORE INFO
New Zealand - Working Holiday
Those applicants that do not have Canadian citizenship will require a working holiday visa for their season in Canada.
The Working Holiday category is designed for New Zealand citizens who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 23 months).
Note: As a citizen of New Zealand, you may participate in IEC only once.
Exception: If you participated in IEC one or more times before 2015, you may be eligible for a final participation of up to 24 months in the category of your choice.
To be eligible for the Working Holiday category, you must:
— be a citizen of New Zealand,
— have a valid New Zealand passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
— be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
— have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
— be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
— be admissible to Canada,
— have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
— not be accompanied by dependents, and
— pay the fees.