How to get a Working Holiday Visa in Canada

The WHP is reserved for nationals of countries that have signed a mobility agreement with Canada: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and United Kingdom. You can check your eligibility for the program here. WHP holders can work anywhere in Canada, for any employer, for up to one or 2 years. The authorized duration varies according to the applicant's nationality.

If you receive a WHP, you have the flexibility to secure full-time employment or pick up various temporary jobs throughout Canada. Alternatively, you can decide not to work if you have the means to support yourself, or you can opt for a training program that lasts less than 6 months. This option could, for instance, allow you to enroll in English courses.

How do I obtain a WHP for Canada?

Certain conditions must be met before you can apply for a WHP in Canada. They are as follows.

1. Your age

To apply for a PVT, you must be aged between 18 and 35 if you're French and between 18 and 30 if you're Belgian. In other words, you must not have turned 36 (for French nationals) or 31 (for Belgians) at the time of your application. If you are of another nationality, check the age requirements here.

2. Your passport must be valid

Your passport must cover your entire stay in Canada: remember to renew it before applying for your work permit if it's due to expire soon. Your passport must also have at least one blank page for your permit to be affixed – but be careful, it must not be the last page of the passport.

It's also important to note that when you go through immigration in Canada, your passport may be different from the one you used when applying for the WHP if it was ever lost or stolen, as long as the new one you present is valid for the full duration of your stay in Canada.

3.Mandatory savings

In addition, you'll need to have at least CAD$2,500 in your bank account before departure. You'll also need to purchase a one-way airline ticket (or a round-trip ticket if you've already scheduled a specific return date) or prove that you can afford to buy one.

When you arrive in Canada, you'll often be asked for proof of funds less than 7 days old. In addition to these funds, you will also need to prove that you can purchase a return air ticket (in the event that you have only purchased a one-way ticket).

We recommend that you buy your plane ticket after obtaining your letter of introduction to activate your WHP.

4.Taking out health insurance

To obtain your permit, it is essential to take out health, hospitalization, and repatriation insurance, valid for the entire duration of your stay.

In Canada, medical expenses are much more expensive than in Belgium, Luxembourg or France. That's why it's so important to be insured when you leave. Expect to pay approximately 350 euros for one year's insurance and a little more than double that for 2 years.

Please note that your WHP will depend on the number of months you take out insurance. In other words, if your insurance was taken out for 3 or 6 months, the authorities won't give you a permit beyond that number of months. This is something you really need to consider, as you won't be able to renew your WHP afterward.

5.A first participation

Only one WHP is authorized per person in Canada. However, there are exceptions, such as bi-nationals who can benefit from two WHPs under two different nationalities. For example, a French-Belgian person is eligible to obtain a WHP for 2 years as a French national and another for 1 year as a Belgian national.

On the other hand, this condition does not apply if you have completed a WHP in one or more other countries.

6.Acceptability in Canada

To be admitted to Canada, it is important that you pose no risk to the country's internal security or health. People with criminal records may be barred from entering Canada – this includes arrests for drug use or drunk driving.

7.Space availability

Unfortunately, an application for the permit does not mean that you will be automatically accepted. You must be selected at random and invited to apply for an open work permit. A specific number of places is available for each country – the quota is:

• 12,000 places for the French;
• 750 places for the Belgians;
• 80 places for Luxembourg.

Other formalities to apply for a WHP Canada

You will also need to attach a CV and covering letter to your permit application. Some of these conditions may vary depending on your country of origin.

Consult the Canadian Immigration Services website to find out what applies to your situation.

When you arrive in Canada, immigration officials at the airport may ask you to prove that you meet the program's conditions. Keep your proof of funds, insurance certificate and airline ticket with you in the cabin, so you can show them if necessary. The agents will also ask you to show the letter of introduction you will receive if you are granted the WHP.

Read also Working in Canada

What documents do I need to apply for a WHP?

To submit your application for a WHP Canada, you will need to provide the following documents:

• A digital photo in passport format;
• Your passport;
• An up-to-date CV;
• An IMM 5707 form: for information about your family;
• Medical proof: to demonstrate your state of health;

Police certificate(s): if you have ever been arrested, detained or charged with a misdemeanor or felony. A certificate will also be required if you have lived in a foreign country for more than 6 months; you'll need to have a certificate from the country in question to hand.

Fees for your WHP Canada application

A fee of $346 CDN (in August 2023) is applicable to a WHP application and is broken down as follows:

• 100 open WHP application fee;
• 161 for International Experience Canada (IEC);
• 85 biometric fee (during your application, you will be required to have your biometric data collected at a Canadian government-approved center).

How to apply for a WHP in Canada

The first step is to register in the EIC applicant pool, of which the WHP is a part. Registration in this pool is free of charge. Canada's immigration services, which manage these programs, regularly hold invitation rounds during which candidates are invited to apply for the permit of their choice. You can consult the schedule of these invitation rounds on the Government of Canada website.

For the WHP, the first round of invitations usually takes place around October. Since all EIC permits are limited to a certain number of beneficiaries per year, you may never obtain a WHP, even if you meet the required conditions. In fact, every year, the number of registrations in the WHP pool exceeds the quotas offered by Canada. What's more, invitations are distributed at random, so there's nothing you can do to improve your file.

If you find an employer in Canada from your country of residence, it will be easier for you to obtain one of the two other permits offered by EIC: the Jeunes Professionnels permit and the Stage Coop International permit. You could also study in Canada. French students in Quebec can benefit from reduced tuition fees normally charged to international students.

Read also Working in Canada

Good to know:

If you want to come to Canada as a couple, you'll both need your own WHP. However, holders of a Study Permit or Young Professionals Permit can allow their spouse to obtain an open work permit in Canada. To do so, you must prove that you have been together for at least 12 months.

If you obtain a WHP and would like to bring your children with you, they can obtain a visitor's permit or a study permit. For more information, visit the Canadian government website.

How much will it cost to live in Canada?

Here are the costs of living in Canada (source Numbeo; as of August 2023):

3-bedroom apartment (downtown)	2 729,61
3-bedroom apartment (outside city center)	2 364,26
Expenses
Water, electricity, air conditioning, heating, garbage for an 85m² apartment	199,69
Internet (60 Mbps or more, ADSL/cable, unlimited data)	85,72
Transport
1 one-way ticket on local transport	3,25
Monthly pass for local transport	100,00
Groceries
Rice (1 kg)	4,43
Milk (1 L)	2,77
12 eggs (normal)	4,31
Bread (500 g)	3,29
Chicken (1 kg)	14,92
Red meat (1 kg)	18,23