Would you like to travel to Canada and work to fund your trip? This article should interest you. Here are some guidelines on the terms of the Working Holiday Visa (WHV).
The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is reserved for citizens of countries that have signed a mobility agreement with Canada. Here is the list:
Germany, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
You can check your eligibility for the program . WHV holders can work anywhere in Canada, for any employer, for a maximum duration of one or two years. The authorized duration varies according to the applicant's nationality. For example, French citizens can have a WHV for a maximum of 24 months, while Belgians are limited to 12 months.
If you benefit from the WHV, you are free to find full-time work or take on various small jobs across Canada. You can also choose not to work if you can afford it, or enroll in a training program lasting less than six months. This could, for example, allow you to take English courses.
How to Obtain the WHV for Canada?
Certain conditions are required toÌýaccessÌýthe WHV in Canada. Here they are:
1. Your age
To be eligible for the WHV, you must be betweenÌý18 to 35 years old if you are French and 18 to 30 years old if you are Belgian. Therefore, you must not have turned 36 (for French citizens) or 31 (for Belgians) at the time of applying for the WHV. If you are of another nationality, check the age-related conditions .
2. Your Passport Must Be Valid
Your passport must cover the entire duration of your stay in Canada: consider renewing it before applying for your work permit if it is about to expire. Your passport must also have at least one blank page for your permit to be affixed – butÌýit should not be the last page of the passport.
It is also important to note that when you go through immigration in Canada, your passport may be different from the one used during your WHV application if it has been 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
Additionally, you must have at least CAD 2,500 in your bank account before departure. You will also need to purchase a one-way plane ticket (or a return ticket if you have already planned your exact return date) or prove that you have the means to buy one.
It is common that upon arrival in Canada, proof of funds dated less than seven days may be requested. In addition to these funds, you will also need to prove that you can purchase a return plane ticket (in case you only bought a one-way ticket).
We recommend buying your plane ticket after obtaining your letter of introduction to .
4. Subscription to Health Insurance
To obtain the permit, it is essential to subscribe to health, hospitalization, and repatriation insurance that will be valid for the entire duration of your stay. The insurance is very popular and well-established among WHV travelers.
The medical costs in Canada are more expensive than in Belgium, Luxembourg, or France. Traveling insured is therefore of utmost importance. Plan approximately 350 euros for one year of insurance and a bit more than double for two years.
Please note that your WHV duration will depend on the number of months you subscribe to insurance. That is, if is taken for three or six months, the authorities will not grant you a permit beyond that number of months. This is a crucial consideration since you will not have the opportunity to renew your WHV afterward.
5. A First-Time Participation
Only one WHV is allowed per person in Canada. However, there are exceptions, such as cases of dual nationals who can benefit from two WHVs under two different nationalities. For instance, a Franco-Belgian person is eligible to obtain a WHV for two years as a French citizen and another for one year as a Belgian.
However, this condition does not apply if you have completed a WHV in one or more other countries.
6. Admissibility to Canada
To be admitted to Canada, you mustn't pose any threat to the country's internal or health security. Individuals with criminal records may be prohibited from entering Canada – this includes arrests for drug use or driving under the influence.
7. Availability of Slots
Unfortunately, applying for the permit does not automatically mean you will be accepted. You must be drawn at random and invited to apply for an open work permit. A specific number of slots is available for each country – the quota for the 2025 season is:
- 6,615 slots for French citizens;
- 750 slots for Belgians.
Other Formalities for Applying for the WHV Canada
Once the application is completed, the system will create a personalized list of documents to provide. It will indicate all the documents to upload, such as a police certificate, a digital photo, or a medical exam. The required documents depend on your country of origin and personal situation. Use this list to gather everything you need.
Upon your arrival in Canada, airport immigration officers may ask you to prove that you meet the program's conditions. Keep your proof of funds, insurance certificate, and plane ticket documents with you in the cabin, so you can show them if needed. The officers will also ask you to present the letter of introduction you will receive if you obtain the WHV.
What Documents Are Needed to Apply for the WHV?
To submit your WHV Canada application, you will need to provide the :
- A digital passport photo;
- Your passport;
- An up-to-date resume;
- A form : concerning your family information;
- A medical certificate: to demonstrate your health status;
- One or more police certificates: in case you have ever been arrested, detained, or charged with an offense or crime. A certificate will also be required if you have lived in a foreign country for more than six months; you will need to have a certificate from that country on hand.
Fees for Your WHV Canada Application
A fee of CAD 364.75 (as of December 1, 2024) applies to a WHV application and is distributed as follows:
- CAD 100 for the open work permit fee;
- CAD 179.75 for the IEC fee;
- CAD 85 for the biometrics fee (You will be required to have your collected, and this process must be done at a center authorized by the Canadian government).
Steps to Follow to Participate in the WHV Canada
The first step to take is registering in the pool of candidates for the (IEC) program, which includes the WHV. Registration in this pool is free. The immigration services of Canada, which manage these programs, regularly conduct rounds of invitations during which candidates are invited to apply for the permit of their choice. You can check the .
For the WHV, the first round of invitations for the 2025 season took place the week of January 13. Draws generally occur weekly, from Monday night to Tuesday, and results are communicated from Friday night to Saturday. Thus, following this weekly rhythm, a new round was held during the week of April 14, 2025. All permits under the IEC program are limited to a certain number of beneficiaries per year, so you might never obtain the WHV, even if you meet the required conditions. Indeed, the number of registrations in the pool for the WHV exceeds the quotas offered by Canada each year. Moreover, since invitations are distributed randomly, nothing will allow you to improve your application.
If you find an employer in Canada from your country of residence, it will be easier for you to obtain one of the other two permits offered by IEC: the Young Professionals permit and the International Co-op Internship permit. You could also study in Canada. Note that French students in Quebec can benefit from a reductionÌýin the tuition fees normally charged to international students.
Study in Quebec /fr/guide/amerique-du-nord/canada/quebec/300-etudier-au-quebec.html
Good to know:
If you wish to go to Canada as a couple, you will both need to obtain your own WHV. If your partner is not eligible for the WHV Canada or is still waiting to be drawn, they could consider obtaining another type of work permit or a study permit.
As of January 21, 2025, only spouses or common-law partners of certain students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family open work permit (FOWP). Moreover, dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be eligible..
What Budget Should You Plan for Living in Canada?
Here are the costs to plan for living in Canada (source ; January 2025).
*Note that these are average prices, and it is much more expensive in major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver. To see the estimated cost of living in a specific city, click on "Select a city in Canada" on the site.
Ìý
| Ìý | Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD) |
Rent | Ìý |
1-bedroom apartment (in the city center) | 1,866.76 |
1-bedroom apartment (outside the city center) | 1,646.49 |
3-bedroom apartment (in the city center) | 2,968.48 |
3-bedroom apartment (outside the city center) | 2,555.95 |
Utilities | Ìý |
Water, electricity, air conditioning, heating, and garbage for an 85m² apartment | 203.99 |
Internet (60 Mbps or more, ADSL/cable, unlimited data) | 84.69 |
Transport | Ìý |
1 ticket (one-way) on local transport | 3.50 |
Monthly pass for local transport | 104.90 |
Groceries | Ìý |
Rice (1 kg) | 4.99 |
Milk (1 L) | 3.06 |
12 eggs (normal) | 4.83 |
Bread (500 g) | 3.69 |
Chicken (1 kg) | 16.86 |
Red meat (1 kg) | 20.44 |
Oranges (1 kg) | 5.24 |
Bananas (1 kg) | 1.97 |
Apples (1 kg) | 5.71 |
Potatoes (1 kg) | 3.65 |
Onions (1 kg) | 3.65 |
Water (1.5 L) | 2.46 |
Wine (mid-range bottle) | 18.00 |
Local beer (0.5 L) | 4.07 |
Imported beer (0.33 L) | 4.56 |
Cigarettes (pack of 20) | 20.00 |
Leisure | Ìý |
Cinema - 1 ticket | 15.00 |
Gym - monthly fee for 1 person | 58.11 |
Work and Salary in Canada
When you start looking for a job in Canada, it is good to know that the minimum wage varies depending on the provinces and territories. In British Columbia, for a small job, you can earn around CAD 17.40 per hour in 2025, while in Saskatchewan, you can only expect CAD 15 per hour.
A very useful tool is available to help you make the right employment decisions. , a resource created by the Canadian government, will allow you to see the wages offered across Canada for each profession.
Once you have chosen where in the country you want to settle, you can start your job search online! Several websites are dedicated to job hunting in Canada, notably , ,Ìý, , , , etc.
Informal networking is also often practiced in Canada, so do not hesitate to contact the company or companies you are interested in directly to offer your services.Ìý
Studying During your WHV in Canada
Since June 27, 2023, temporary expatriate workers can study more easily, without a study permit, until the expiration date of their work permit. This official announcement was made by the Minister of Immigration. The study authorization has been extended for work permit holders, with immediate effect. This new measure cancels the previous one, which imposed a limit on the duration of study programs accessible to foreign workers without a study permit (maximum 6 months). This new measure is set to last 3 years. Check your eligibility on .
Finding Temporary Accommodation in Canada
Have you thought about the accommodation you plan to take during your stay in Canada?
When you settle in Canada for your WHV, one of the biggest challenges you will face is finding suitable accommodation, a place where you can finally return to rest at the end of a long day of work and/or exploration.
Ideally, you should find accommodation before arriving in Canada. Thus, upon your arrival, you can enjoy temporary accommodation - such as a hotel, youth hostel, or Airbnb - while you search for a more permanent solution.
Networks such as Facebook Marketplace,Ìý, , or can help you find - but don't forget to mention the region you want to go to and your budget!
Must-See Places during Your Stay in Canada
Here you are in Canada. Maybe you've finished the work part of your WHV. Maybe you've decided to take breaks between small jobs to explore the country.
Here is a top 5 list of places you absolutely should visit:
Niagara Falls - Ontario
A true classic that you will undoubtedly find on all lists of things to see in Canada during the summer. Many describe this experience as magical – you won't soon forget it. The best time to visit Niagara Falls is between June and August.
Whistler – British Columbia
Winter and winter sports enthusiasts will be charmed by Whistler and its snowy landscape. Fully enjoy skiing and snowmobile rides, not to mention the cultural side this town offers with its many art museums and cultural centers. Visit Whistler between December and March or between June and August.
3. Quebec City – Quebec
Considered one of the most beautiful cities in North America, Quebec City is a must-visit location. On the agenda – historical attractions like La Citadelle, magnificent parks where you can sunbathe in summer, and romantic walks on the Dufferin Terrace. To be discovered all year round.
4. Banff National Park - Alberta
Nature lovers will be enchanted by Banff and its turquoise lakes, spectacular glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and captivating landscapes. Indeed, all these natural beauties can be seen in this breathtaking park. The best times to visit Banff during the year are between June and August and between December and March.
5. Tofino Beach – Vancouver Island
Those who can't imagine a vacation without seeing a beach will be delighted to learn that they can visit this true paradise that is Tofino Beach. You'll quickly forget you're in Canada and not on an island, so exotic is the setting! To visit Tofino, we recommend going between March and May or between September and November.
What to Do after the WHV Canada?
If you wish to stay in Canada after your WHV expires and you are French, know that you can register in the IEC pool to return with an International Co-op Internship permit. However, you cannot combine the WHV with a Young Professionals permit. Belgians do not have access to the Young Professionals permit and can only obtain the WHV once.
If you have worked full-time in Canada, your experience could allow you to obtain permanent residency. However, duration and job type criteria are imposed. Take the to find out which category is most suitable for your profile.
Useful link:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
