Introduction to the Canada Working Holiday permit

How to complete a Canadian Working Holiday permit application

To apply for a Working Holiday permit, you have to use the “My immigration application” section of the Government of Canada website. This is the only way to apply for an IEC work permit.

Step 1 – Create your GCKey and your account on Canada.ca

GCKey is a Government of Canada service that uses credentials so that you can securely sign into your online account. Getting your GCKey user ID is easy—you just need to choose a username, a password and four security questions/answers. Continue with GCKey to create your account.

To learn more about this first step, read chapter 3 of our Step-by-step guide to the IEC application process.

Step 2 – Create an IEC profile and submit it to a pool

Keep your passport handy, you’ll need it for this step—it’s the only document you need at this stage.

In the “What would you like to do today?” section on the homepage, click on “International Experience Canada.” Answer a few questions to see if you’re eligible for one or more IEC categories.

If you are eligible, you’ll have to fill out a 10-minute online questionnaire to see if you meet the criteria to enter the Working Holiday pool. There are four different sections:

• Personal details (marital status, citizenship[s], immigration history in Canada)
• Contact details (email address, preferred official language of correspondence [English or French])
• Work and education details (fields are prefilled with the answers you provided in the previous sections)
• Application details (the pool you want to be added to)

Answer all the questions and submit the questionnaire. Usually, several minutes later, you’ll receive a message stating that your profile was submitted to one or several pools.

At this stage, you don’t have to pay the fees yet—entering the pool is free.

Step 3 – Wait to see if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Once your profile has been placed into a pool, no further action is required from you—just keep your fingers crossed and hope for an ITA.

• Your profile stays in the pool during the entire IEC season, so you’re eligible for every round of invitations. You don’t have to submit your profile again during the ongoing season. Keep in mind that the system randomly picks a number of candidates, so there is no guarantee you will receive an ITA. At the end of the IEC season, if your profile wasn’t selected, you have to submit it again when the next IEC season begins, if you’re interested in trying again.
• If you do receive an ITA, you have 10 days to accept the ITA and start your application or decline the ITA. When you click on “Start Application,” you will have 20 days to complete your application (with all required documents), pay the fees and submit it. You will receive an biometrics instruction letter (BIL) a day or two after submitting your IEC work permit application. After receiving your BIL, you have up to 30 days to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre (VAC).

Step 4 – Complete your Working Holiday application

The first step after you accept the ITA is to answer a series of questions related to:

• your personal details (marital status, former and current country of residence, immigration history in Canada)
• your contact information (email and phone number)
• your work and education details (your complete work and education history from your 18th birthday)
• your application details
• your background (with questions regarding your medical history, past visits to Canada and public safety)

Step 5 – Provide all required documents

Once you’re done filling out your application, you must upload and send several required supporting documents, e.g. police certificate(s) and/or proof of a medical exam performed by a panel physician. See chapter 6 for more information on the supporting documents you will need to provide.

Step 6 – Submit your application and pay the fees

For this step, you will need a debit/credit card.

Once you’re done uploading all the required documents, you can submit your application. The next page will be a summary of the fees to pay. You will have to enter your payment information online. After you pay, your application will be automatically transmitted.

Step 7 – Wait for your application to be processed

Official application processing times for IEC permit approval is eight weeks, during which immigration officers will review your application to make sure it’s complete, decide if you are allowed to come to or stay in Canada, and decide if you are eligible for the Working Holiday permit.

• If you meet all the requirements (eligibility, complete application, no security or health issues), you will receive a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction. With your POE Letter of Introduction in hand, you can start planning your trip to Canada. You have to activate your permit by going through immigration (at a Canadian land border or airport) before the date in the “Permit validity” box on your POE Letter of Introduction. Your Letter of Introduction will normally be valid for 12 months.
• If your application is denied—which is fairly rare if you have followed all the steps properly—you will receive a letter explaining why you can’t be issued the Working Holiday permit.

Step 8 – Enter Canada

You usually have 12 months to travel to Canada and meet with a border officer who will issue the work permit. You will need to show your passport (which must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Canada), your POE Letter of Introduction, proof of funds (CA$2,500) and proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay.

The border officer will staple the work permit document to a page in your passport. Normally, if you provide all the documents required, it will be valid for 12 or 24 months from the date it was issued (depending on citizenship). You can now work anywhere in Canada until it expires!

Remember: you have 12 months to enter Canada with your POE Letter of Introduction. Past the deadline, the permit is void. Your fees can’t be refunded and you will have to start the process from scratch.

Step 9 – Apply for a SIN to work legally in Canada

Your last step to be able to work legally in Canada is to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). It’s a quick and easy process—just go to the nearest Service Canada office with the required documents. You’ll be issued a number right away. You’ll keep the same number for the entire duration of your stay, for as long as your permit is valid for.

Your SIN identifies you and is used for tax reporting purposes. Your employer will ask for it within three days of starting work.