Canadian's Guide to Working Holiday Visas
Here are the basics (varies by country and exceptions do occur as listed under "Jen's Notes"):
The details is scattered across all the different embassy websites. These are pretty difficult to navigate sometimes and not all the information is there. I've consolidated as much of the information as I could find into this centralized source. I hope this helps you out and encourages you to take advantage of this awesome opportunity!
Last updated: December 8, 2016
Information presented here may not be accurate or is subject to change at any time so please only use this as the starting ground and conduct your own due dilligence.
| Australia |
| From the embassy websiteThis visa is for
young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.
It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties
between Australia and eligible countries. Jen's notesYou are able to apply for this visa if you are already in Australia. Also, the only tedious thing about the application is it states that you 'may have to obtain a "character and police certificate" from every country you have lived in for > 12 months since age 16'. |
| Belgium |
| From the embassy websiteSimply put, the
Working Holiday Program is mainly for young Canadian travelers who wish
to work on-and off during their stay in Belgium, with a perfect home
base at the heart of Europe with excellent travel opportunities to the
rest of Europe. Jen's notesTo apply, you must mail your application to the consulate in Montreal. No requirements what type of occupation you take up. This application also requires a bit more documentation than others (criminal record, medical certificate). |
| Chile |
| Jen's notesTo apply, you must either e-mail or call your closest Chilean embassy(located in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver). An interview is required, but they note that an online interview may be conducted. Processing time is 30 days. |
| Costa Rica |
| From the embassy websiteThis category is
designed for young Canadian citizens, including registered students, who
intend to travel to Costa Rica and work to supplement their financial
resources. Jen's notesThe application processs is a bit lengthy. You must mail in your application and once approved, you'll be summoned for an appointment in person. |
| Croatia |
| From the embassy websiteThis 'First
Temporary Residence' requires: 1. proof of school or university
admission in the Republic of Croatia, 2. medical treatment in the
Republic of Croatia, 3. letter from authorized institution regarding
scientific research, 4. humanitarian reasons (family reunification or
similar), or 5. work permit. Jen's notesAlthough touted by some as a 'working holiday visa', there is nothing 'holiday' about this. You'll need prior arrangements with an organization, employer, or school before applying for this visa. Alternatively, you can enter on a tourist visa for 90 days every 6 months. At the time of writing, the link to the application was down. |
| Czech Republic |
| Canadian nationals may apply for a special kind of visa to facilitate
their foreign experience. [..] The agreement allows young Canadians to
travel, study and work in the Czech Republic for up to one year. Jen's notesThe processing time is 60 days with no option to expedite, so start this one early. The only way to apply is through the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa, in person or by mail– in the latter case the Embassy may still insist on a personal attendance of the applicant. |
| Denmark |
| From the embassy websiteThe permit
allows you to travel and work in Denmark for one full year, giving you a
chance to explore the country and its culture. [..] The primary purpose
of your stay must be a holiday, but you may work during your stay in
Denmark to earn extra funds to support yourself. You are allowed to
study for a maximum of 6 months, and work part time or full time for a
maximum of 6 months during the 12-month period. Jen's notesTo apply, you must make an appointment and apply in person at VFS Global. They have offices in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto only. Application must be submitted within 3 months of entry date. |
| Estonia |
| From the embassy websiteThe Youth
Mobility Visa is for: 1. young citizens, including post-secondary
graduates, who intend to obtain further training in Estonia under a
pre-arranged contract of employment in support of their career
development; 2. registered students of a post-secondary institution in
Canada who intend to complete part of their academic curriculum in
Estonia by undertaking a pre-arranged internship or work placement,
including in the context of an arrangement between post-secondary
institutions; 3. young citizens, including registered students, who
intend to travel in Estonia and who intend to obtain remunerated
employment in order to supplement their financial resources. Jen's notesIt seems like their visa requires a contract of employment, an internship, or the intent to get a job. No 'holiday' aspect to this one. |
| France |
| From the embassy websiteThis type of
visa is meant for young Canadians who wish to explore the culture of
France as tourists and to find temporary paid employment to help pay for
their stay. As holders of a temporary long-stay visa, these individuals
are only subject to one particular requirement: they must present
themselves at the prefecture of their place of residence, two months
before the expiry date of their visa, to request an extension for their
stay, if they wish. Jen's notesTo apply, it says to consult the consulate in Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. The Toronto embassy website says they only accept applications by mail. This one has one of the more straightforward applications (not much additional documentation required). (Ontario only) However, active OHIP is required. If you've been living out of the country, this means you need to be residing in Ontario for at least 3 months before you apply for this visa. |
| Germany |
| From the embassy websiteYoung Canadians
who wish to stay in Germany for tourism and cultural discovery purposes
while being authorized to work to supplement their financial resources.
The Youth Mobility visa is ONLY available at the German Consulate
General in Toronto. Jen's notesYou can apply within 6 months of your visit, and the processing time is between 2 and 3 weeks. This is one of the quickest turnarounds as well as longest buffer time among all working holiday visas. If you apply by mail, you can only get the visa for 90 days; you have to request extension when you arrive in Germany and a 100EUR fee will apply. |
| Greece |
| From the embassy websiteYoung Greek and
Canadian citizens, between 18 and 35, may have the opportunity to
travel, reside and work in each other's countries for up to twelve
months, under the condition that [..] they want to travel for a long
vacation with the option of working temporarily to supplement their
funds. Jen's notesYouth mobility. "Penal certificate for general purposes" and a health certificate from a doctor |
| Hong Kong |
| From the embassy websiteThe purpose of
the Scheme is to facilitate cultural and educational exchange between
Hong Kong and [Canada] with a view to strengthening the bilateral
relationship between the two places. National passport holders aged
between 18 and 30 of [Canada], who are ordinarily residing in their home
country and whose main intention to Hong Kong is to holiday, are welcome
to join the Scheme. Under the arrangements of the Scheme, they may take
up short-term employment and/or enrol in a short study or training
course while they are on holiday in Hong Kong. Jen's notesIf obtaining temporary employment, you are not allowed to work for the same employer for more than three months. If taking a training course, you can take any number, but the duration of one cannot exceed 6 months. |
| Ireland |
| From the embassy websiteThe Working
Holiday Authorisation, valid for two years, is open to Canadian
citizens aged 18-35. This open work visa allows young Canadians to
travel and work in Ireland, or to progress their chosen careers through
employment in Ireland that is related to their degree and/or
professional experience. Jen's notesYou can apply from within Ireland and outside of Canada. Within Canada, all applications are processed through the embassy in Ottawa. |
| Italy |
| Jen's notesVery difficult to navigate and decipher the website. The visa application is 100% in Italian. |
| Japan |
| From the embassy websiteWith this visa,
Canadian citizens need not obtain further permission to engage in
remunerative activities while in Japan. However, this programme is not
designed for persons who mainly intend to work. The applicants' primary
purpose of stay should be to "holiday" in Japan. Therefore, applicants
who intend primarily to work cannot apply for this visa. [..] Working
Holiday participants are strictly prohibited from working at places
affecting public morals such as bars, cabarets, and nightclubs, etc. Jen's notesThey ask you to give a rough outline of your first 6 months in Japan. Furthermore, this is a single-entry visa! So if you intend to travel outside of Japan, you'll need to do a bit more logistically to make this work. |
| Latvia |
| From the embassy websiteThe Youth
Exchange Programme [is for] young citizens, including registered
students in their home country, who intend to travel in the host country
and who wish to obtain paid employment on an occasional basis in order
to supplement their financial resources. Jen's notesFor the application, you'll need to mail it into the Embassy of Latvia in Ottawa. Decision will be made within 30 days. |
| Mexico |
| Jen's notesUnder Canada's website, Mexico is listed as one of the partnered countries. However, the Mexico-Canada Embassy website doesn't contain any information (links are broken). To pursue this, you should contact the embassy directly for more information. |
| Netherlands |
| From the embassy websiteYou wish to come
to the Netherlands for a working holiday. The purpose of your stay is to
get to know Dutch society and culture. Jen's notesYou'll need to submit passport photos, TB test, fingerprints and signature after submitting application. You can apply for this visa while you are in the Netherlands. |
| New Zealand |
| From the embassy websiteThis visa is for
you if your main reason for coming to New Zealand is to holiday, but you
want to work or study while you’re here. Jen's notesTo apply, you'll need to send in an online application form. You can apply for a 12-month visa and extend it up to 23-months while you're in New Zealand. |
| Norway |
| From the embassy websiteYou are going on
holiday in Norway, but you also wish to work during your stay. You
cannot enter Norway until your application has been decided. You can
work while visiting Norway. If you have been granted a permit as a
tourist, you can only work for six months for the same employer. Jen's notesThe application requires a criminal background check issued within recent 3 months, a complete physical examination perfomed by a physcian within recent 3 months including a chest X-ray, urinalysis, blood test and HIV test. You must also hand in the application and documents in person at the Embassy of Denmark in Ottawa, which represents Norway. |
| Poland |
| From the embassy websiteFund your
vacation with temporary work in Poland. This program is designed for
young citizens, including registered students in their home country, who
intend to travel in the host country and who wish to obtain paid
employment on an occasional basis in order to supplement their financial
resources Jen's notesApplications will only be accepted by mail or in person in Ottawa. The link to the application goes to the Polish Embassy website so you'll have to hunt that down yourself. |
| Slovenia |
| From the embassy websiteYoung citizens, including registered students in their home country, who intend to travel in the host country and who wish to obtain remunerated employment in order to supplement their financial resources. |
| South Korea |
| From the embassy websiteThose whose main
purpose is tourism for a definite amount of time fully understand that
this program is primarily intended as a travel vacation and employment
is only intended to supplement expenses. Jen's notesAll Korea Working Holiday Visa applications must be made in your home country and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a quota of 4000 Canadian visas issued every year. |
| Spain |
| From the embassy websiteUnder the “Youth
Mobility Program” Agreement, signed in 2009 between Spain and Canada, up
to 1000 Canadian youth can to travel to Spain to gain work experience
related to their area of expertise; to complement their post-secondary
training with an internship; or to improve their knowledge of the
Spanish language, culture and society. Jen's notesIf intending to stay over 6 months, a police check with fingerprints by the RCMP must be submitted. You can apply via the Spanish Embassies in Ottawa, Montreal, or Toronto. |
| Sweden |
| From the embassy websiteHave you dreamed
of spending a year living and working in Sweden? Sweden has an agreement
with Canada that lets you do just that. The program is aimed at Canadian
citizens between 18 and 30 years old. Jen's notesYou can file an application online. Processing time is up to 3 months. |
| Switzerland |
| Jen's notesThe Youth Mobility Program allows you to complete an internship in Switzerland, thus you must be employed full-time in your field of studies during your stay and the employment must be authorized at the time of application. |
| Taiwan |
| From the embassy websiteIntend to travel
in Taiwan and work to supplement their financial resources. However,
work should be an incidental rather than the primary reason for their
visit to Taiwan. Jen's notesInitial duration is 180 days, after which you must apply for an extension of 180 days. Health check certificate/immunization record required. |
| Ukraine |
| From the embassy websiteCitizens, intent
to travel along hosting country and temporary obtain a job to earn some
more money for living. Jen's notesMust apply in person at the local embassy (Toronto, Pickering, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa) |
| United Kingdom |
| From the embassy websiteYou can be
self-employed and set up a company - as long as your premises are
rented, your equipment isn't worth more than 5,000GBP and you don't have
any employees Jen's notesThe earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you travel. Online application available. |
