Introduction to the Canada Working Holiday permit

Documents required during the application process

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you’ll need to provide the following documents:

• A digital copy of your passport identification pages and copies of all pages with stamps and visas.
• A standard up-to-date IEC resume.
• A passport-sized digital photo of yourself.
• Form IMM 5707 “Family information.”

Additional supporting documents that could be required, depending on your situation:

• Police certificate(s).
• Proof of medical exam performed by a doctor that has been approved by IRCC.

Not all candidates must provide police certificate(s) and/or proof of medical exam.

Here are more details on these supporting documents:

Your passport

You have to provide a digital copy of your passport identification pages (pages 2 and 3) as well as copies of any pages with stamps and visas. All these pages must be combined into a single document. Note: you must have at least one blank page for the work permit to be stapled to and it cannot be the last page of your passport.

If you’re a dual citizen with two valid passports, you must use the passport matching the citizenship under which you’re applying. For instance, if you’re a British and an Australian citizen and have applied as an Australian citizen, you must provide the copy of your Australian passport.

Your resume

You must provide an up-to-date resume with detailed information about your education and work history (including internship and volunteer experience, if applicable). Include start and end dates and location (city, state, country). Do not leave any gaps!

Your digital picture

You must provide a recent (within the last six months) digital picture. Keep in mind the requirements.

Form IMM5707 “Family information”

Download the Family Information Form (IMM 5707), fill it out and upload it with all the other supporting documents. The digital signature you add to the overall application form will count as a signature for the IMM 5707 form as well. This two-page form requires you to provide information about your parents, partner/spouse and children, if applicable.

Having trouble opening and viewing your IMM 5707 form? See How to open Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada PDF forms for guidance.

Police certificate(s)

This requirement doesn’t apply to all candidates. You may have to provide police certificate(s) if you have a criminal record (criminal offence or arrest), if your home citizenship requires you provide a police certificate, or if you lived in a foreign country for more than six months. If you have previously lived in Canada, a Canadian criminal record check will be conducted, if needed—you may be asked to provide fingerprints or additional information later.

Proof of medical exam

You may be required to undergo a medical exam if:

• You have any physical or mental disorder that requires social or health services (other than medication) during your stay in Canada.
• If you or a family member had tuberculosis within the past two years or have been in contact with a person who has tuberculosis.
• If you recently lived in Canada and were determined as having risk factors for tuberculosis.
• If you plan to work in a job where it’s important to protect public health (including health services, child care or primary or secondary education).
• If you have recently lived or travelled in certain countries or territories for six months or more and there may be a risk of importation of tuberculosis.

If you plan to work in health services, child care, education or apply for a job where you will give in-home care to children, the elderly and the disabled, you may have to take a medical exam. Otherwise, all Working Holiday permits are issued with the following mention: “Not authorised to work in 1) child care 2) primary or secondary school teaching 3) health services field occupations.” You can apply for a medical exam to have this condition removed, but doing this after the work permit has been issued will be a costly and lengthy process.

The medical exam must be performed by a Government of Canada-approved “panel physician.”

To learn more about the required documents, read chapter 11 of our Step-by-step guide to the IEC application process.