Introduction to the Canada Working Holiday permit

Eligibility requirements

The Government of Canada details the eligibility requirements on their page. Make sure to check what applies to your country of citizenship, as there are minor exceptions and additional requirements for some countries.

In total, over 35 countries have signed a bilateral agreement with Canada.

You must have a valid passport issued by a country that has a Working Holiday agreement with Canada. In a few cases, applicants must be residents of their country of citizenship at the time of completing their application.

If you have dual citizenship and if both countries signed an agreement with Canada, you can participate in a Working Holiday under each citizenship, as long as you also have a valid passport issued by the country you’re applying under.

You must provide proof of financial resources for the amount of CA$2,500 to cover your first living expenses in Canada. You may be asked to show proof of funds (e.g. a recent bank statement showing the equivalent of CA$2,500 in your home currency) upon arriving in Canada.

You must purchase a medical insurance policy with coverage valid for the full duration of your authorised stay in Canada. You don’t have to buy it when you apply for your Working Holiday but you must do so before leaving for Canada, as you will need to show proof of insurance upon landing. If your insurance policy isn’t valid for the full length of permit you were entitled to (12 or 24 months), your Working Holiday permit issued at the border will only be valid for the duration of the policy term. Previously, Working Holiday permit holders have reported getting work permits valid for only two weeks, three months or six months, and the permit cannot be extended once this mistake of not purchasing the right insurance has been made!

You must not be “inadmissible” under Canada’s immigration law. A person may be refused entry to Canada for security reasons or on health grounds. Note that if you have been convicted of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, you will probably be found criminally inadmissible to Canada.

You must have a return ticket or show additional funds to prove you will be able to buy your ticket back home at the end of your stay in Canada. If you fly to Canada on a one-way ticket, be prepared to prove that you have enough money saved to leave the country at the end of your Working Holiday.

Your partner, spouse or dependents accompanying you can’t benefit from your permit status. They must submit their own separate application for a work permit, study permit or visitor visa.

You have to pay the IEC participation fee (CA$172), the open work permit holder fee (CA$100) and the biometrics fee (CA$85) – Total fee of CA$357. Note that there are no fees to submit a profile to an IEC pool—you only pay the fees when you submit a completed application form, if you receive and accept an ITA. The fees can be refunded if your work permit application is refused (unless you submitted false information) or if you withdraw your work permit application before the Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction is issued.