Introduction to the Canada Working Holiday permit

Your Working Holiday permit will authorise you to stay in Canada for a maximum of 12 or 24 months, depending on your country of citizenship.

• Australia: 24 months
• Germany: 12 months
• Ireland: 24 months
• New Zealand: 23 months
• The UK: 24 months

For all other nationalities, check your eligibility here.

Depending on your citizenship, you may also be able to apply for multiple participations, extending your total stay in Canada. We cover the number of participations you are allowed in Chapter 1.

You will need to have insurance for the planned duration of your stay, otherwise you will receive a shortened permit. Learn more.

The Working Holiday is an open work permit, which means you are not tied to a specific job/employer. Closed work permits tie you to a specific role and employer. For more info, read Open and closed work permits in Canada – The fine print explaining the difference.

You don’t need to have a job offer in advance for a Working Holiday permit because it is an open work permit.

Some applicants do start contacting potential employers from abroad, but this is not a requirement. You may find it harder to secure a job from abroad anyway, as employers often want to see proof you’re already set up in the country (with a Canadian phone number, address, SIN, etc.).

Your Working Holiday permit is an open work permit, which means you can work for any employer in any location during the validity period of your permit. If you want to, you can even work multiple jobs at the same time.

Yes. Your Working Holiday permit is an open work permit, so it does not tie you to living and working in a specific city or province/territory. Feel free to explore Canada from coast to coast, as you can roam around as much as you want.

If you find your dream job, you can stay and work for the same employer for the entire duration of your Working Holiday. But if you prefer to move around and pick up work along the way, that’s totally fine!

If you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay, you don’t even have to work. Working is an option but not a legal requirement for Working Holiday permit holders. Feel free to spend your time travelling around Canada! You can also volunteer if you’re looking for a different kind of experience.

You can study while on a Working Holiday permit as long as the course does not exceed a period of six months. Learn more.

If you want to complete a course that lasts longer than six months, you need to apply for a study permit. Note that if you want to complete an internship (paid or unpaid) in Canada related to your field of study, you should apply for an International Co-op permit instead of a Working Holiday permit.

Your spouse, partner or children won’t automatically get a permit to come to Canada with you. Each individual has to apply for their own immigration status (visitor, study, or work permit) to be able to accompany you.

For more information, see Working Holiday permit to Canada: Travelling as a couple and/or with kids.

No, there are no specific requirements for the Working Holiday permit. Any applicant who meets the basic eligibility requirements listed in Chapter 1 of this guide can apply. Your application won’t be assessed based on your work experience, language skills, or education level.

We cover the application process in full in our step-by-step guide.