How Much Money Do You Need for a Working Holiday in Canada?

How much money will I need for my working holiday in Canada?

This is undoubtedly one of the most asked and most important questions about Canada’s IEC programme.

Creating a budget in line with your plans is the key to making sure you won’t have to fly home early because you’ve run out of money.

This article will discuss:

1. Expenses related to your visa application
2. How much to save for your move to Canada
3. Cost of living in Canada

Expenses related to your visa application

1. Valid passport: CA$120-400

If you don’t have a passport, or have one that is near expiration, you should apply for a new passport.

Here are the passport fees in 2026 for a few countries. If you apply from outside your country of citizenship, the fee may be higher.

• Australia: AU$422 for a ten-year passport. Source.
• Ireland: €75 for a standard ten-year passport. Source.
• New Zealand: NZ$247 for an adult passport. Source.
• United Kingdom: £102 for a standard adult passport. Source.

2. Working Holiday permit fees: CA$364.75

Submitting your profile to the pool is free, but you will have to pay the Working Holiday permit fee if your profile is drawn and if you accept the invitation to apply.

The application fee for an IEC Working Holiday permit to Canada is CA$364.75. This includes the:

• $184.75 IEC participation fee
• $100 open work permit holder fee
• $85 biometrics fee

3. Potential travel expenses for biometrics

The biometrics fee is covered in the previous point, but if you don’t live near a visa application centre (VAC), you will need to budget for travel to the nearest VAC.

Depending on where you are, you might even have to travel out of the country, so plan accordingly.

4. Medical exam fee

Not all applicants are required to take a medical exam.

You will only have to complete this step if:

• You indicated in your application that you wish to work with children, in healthcare, or as a caregiver in Canada.
• You recently lived in one or more countries that Canada designated as having risk factors for tuberculosis. In the list of countries, look for “YES” in the “Immigration Medical Exam (IME) required” column to see if a medical exam is required.
• You have a physical or mental condition that will require ongoing treatment in Canada.
• You or someone in your family has or had TB.

Fees vary from one physician to another and also depend on the rates in your country. For example, applicants living in Sydney, Australia may be billed up to AU$600.

This kind of medical exam typically isn’t paid for by national or private healthcare plans.

Find an approved panel physician.

5. Police certificate fee

Unless you are a citizen of a country where exemptions or special instructions apply, you will need a police certificate from your country of citizenship.

You also need a police certificate for any country in which you spent more than 6 months since the age of 18.

Fees vary from one country to another. If the document issued isn’t in English or French, you will also have to provide a certified translation. Professional translators typically charge per word.

For more info, read How to get police certificates for your IEC permit to Canada.

How much to save for your move to Canada

After your application has been approved and you receive your POE Letter of Introduction, you’ll want to make sure you’ve saved enough money for your actual move to Canada.

Here are the upfront fixed costs that you should save for.

1. Plane ticket to Canada

The price of your plane ticket obviously depends on your point of origin and destination as well as the time of year, but the number one tip is to be flexible about your travel date. Remember that your POE Letter is valid for 12 months.

For more money-saving strategies, read the chapter on buying a plane ticket.

2. Temporary accommodation

You should book temporary accommodation for the first couple of weeks. We recommend against signing a long term lease without visiting the home in person.

Try to pick accommodation that is well located, since you will need to spend your first few days running around and setting up your new life.

Hostels are the cheapest, and traditional hotels are typically the most expensive, with Airbnb somewhere in between.

Read the chapter on booking housing for your arrival for more info.

3. Working Holiday insurance: starting at CA$600 for twelve months

You must have adequate health insurance for the duration of your IEC permit when entering Canada. To understand the requirements, read IEC Working Holiday Permit: the Insurance Requirement Explained.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV by ACS since 2005. For 12 months of coverage, the premium is approximately:

• CA$600 for participants from Europe.
• CA$1,100 for participants from elsewhere.

Get a quote.

4. Minimum savings of CA$2,500 or CA$3,500

Canada requires you to have at least CA$2,500 in savings. Proof of funds must be shown when entering Canada.

If you don’t already have an onward flight leaving Canada, which is the case for many participants, then you should have at least CA$3,500 to show that you can afford a return or onward flight later on.

Make sure to not drop below the minimum after paying for your flight and health insurance!

Cost of living in Canada

The cost of living can be high in Canada but it varies by province and even city.

The amount that you should save depends on how soon you plan to start working after your arrival. Be conservative in your estimate, because job seeking in a new country often takes more time.

For specific numbers about cost of living by province and city, read:

• Renting in Canada: A Guide for Working Holiday Participants
• How expensive is life in Canada? A cost of living review by province and territory
• Finding Work in Canada as an IEC Working Holiday Permit Holder