Working Holiday Visa: 2020 Season
February 19, 2021
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If you recently graduated and want to gain significant international work experience while exploring the spectacular Canadian wilderness and popular metropolitan cities, then a Working Holiday Visa in Canada is the perfect choice to kickstart your career. Fortunately, a Working Holiday Visa in Canada is not exclusive to graduates - young people between the ages of 18 and 35 looking for a flexible pass into Canada, can apply. Working Holiday Visas provide temporary work permits to young people from over 30 countries, so they can legally live and work in Canada. The permits are valid for either 12 or 24 months, depending on your country of citizenship. Applicants must create an International Experience Canada (IEC) profile. Thereafter, regular draws will take place which issues eligible candidates with invitations to apply for work permits, until all places are filled for the year. Applying early in the year will increase your chances of receiving an ITA since your profile will be in the pool right from the start. The 2019 IEC season closed on the 4th of October. All profiles have been removed from the pools. If you didn't receive an invitation or want to apply for the 2020 season, it will open around December 2019. ![Young people partying in Canada]()
![Girl backpacking through Canada]()
To be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, candidates must:
2. Be between the ages of 18 and 30. Some countries allow an upper age limit of 35. 3. Have a valid passport for the duration of your stay. 4. Have at least $2,500 on arrival in Canada to help cover initial expenses.
![Barista pouring coffee art]()
Young people with Working Holiday Visas are free to work anywhere in Canada. This provides the perfect opportunity for backpacking across Canada and picking up temporary jobs to fund your stay. Alternatively, you can settle in a city, find a job and take weekend trips to explore Canada. There are plenty of employment opportunities across the country. Here are some of the top jobs sought after by Working Holiday Visa holders: ![Jobs in Canada for Working Holiday Visa]()
Different Work Visas in Canada
| Work Permit | Working Holiday Visa |
| Employer specific | It can work for anyone, anywhere in Canada. |
| Most employers must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment before they can hire you. | An employer does not need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment to hire you on a non-permanent basis. |
| Work permit valid for 6 months. | Work permit valid for 12-24 months. |
4 Important Criteria to Be Eligible for a Working Holiday Visa
To be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, candidates must:
- Be a citizen of one of the 35 countries that have a “bilateral youth agreement” with Canada. The participating countries are:
| Australia | Austria | Belgium |
| Chile | Costa Rica | Croatia |
| Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia |
| France | Germany | Greece |
| Hong Kong | Ireland | Italy |
| Japan | Latvia | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Mexico | Netherlands |
| New Zealand | Norway | Poland |
| Portugal | San Marino | Slovakia |
| Slovenia | South Korea | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | Taiwan |
| Ukraine | UK |
Did you know?
16.8% of Millennials evaluate career opportunities by good work-life balance.
Types of Working Holiday Jobs in Canada
Young people with Working Holiday Visas are free to work anywhere in Canada. This provides the perfect opportunity for backpacking across Canada and picking up temporary jobs to fund your stay. Alternatively, you can settle in a city, find a job and take weekend trips to explore Canada. There are plenty of employment opportunities across the country. Here are some of the top jobs sought after by Working Holiday Visa holders: 