Working Holiday Visa Canada from Australia

Canada’s Working Holiday Visa is a Temporary Work Permit designed for foreign citizens who want to live, work and travel in Canada for up to 12 or 24 months.

There is a Working Holiday visa Canada age limit of 18 to 35-year-old for young professionals from Australia.

As a form of International Experience Canada (IEC) Visa, this visa program helps young people to enjoy life in Canada through work experience with one or multiple Canadian employers.

There are no strict criteria for the type of job that can be pursued, but some jobs require medical tests.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Working Holiday Visa Canada 2024
• Eligibility Criteria for Australian Citizens Applying for the Working Holiday Visa 2024
• Benefits of the Working Holiday Visa Experience in Canada
• Application Process for the Working Holiday Visa from Australia 2024
• What are the Required Documents for the Working Visa Canada from Australia 2024?
• International Experience Canada Working Culture & Opportunities 2024
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Working Holiday Visa Canada requirements for Australian nationals are:

• Be aged 18-35 years old
• Have Australian citizenship
• Not have a job offer in Canada
• Expect to work in Canada and travel around the country
• Lack of specialisation in any industry
• Have a desire to work in Canada to fund their travel expenses
• Be in good health and have no criminal records
• Possess a return ticket, a valid passport, health insurance, at least CAD$2,500, and enough funds to pay the application fees

One of the most compelling aspects of the IEC program is the ability to travel within Canada while earning an income. It is designed for people who want to explore the country but remain employed.

The prospect of working in Canada is exciting not only in terms of travel. Gaining valuable work experience in such a successful country is a great way to hone skills and progress, particularly in a key Canadian industry such as oil drilling, IT consulting, or commercial banking.

As a multilingual nation, Canada provides Australian citizens with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new language and culture. For example, undertaking work experience in Quebec, where French is the official language, could be an excellent way to improve one’s resume.

Finally, the work-life balance on offer in Canada is exceptional. One in five Canadians works from home, and Working Holiday Visa holders may be able to secure remote working that removes commuting time, allowing them to explore as much of Canada as possible.

Australians should navigate to the Canadian government website to file an application for a Working Holiday Visa. There is an option to ‘register with a GCKey’ or ‘register with a partner’. After selecting the appropriate option, applicants can create their account.

Once the account has been set up, applicants should select ‘International Experience Canada’, which will lead them to the ‘Come to Canada’ questionnaire.

At this stage, basic details must be submitted, such as the candidate’s age, nationality, income and net worth, work experience, family members, student status, education credentials, language proficiency, and job offer details (if applicable).

Total Law immigration officers can advise applicants on how to fill out these forms, as it is essential that all information provided is accurate. The Canadian government can refuse or reject the visa application if there are any inaccuracies.

At the end of the questionnaire, applicants will receive a personal reference code, as well as being added to the IEC pool and being invited to apply for a Working Holiday Permit. Invitations must be accepted within 10 days.

To apply for the Working Holiday Visa Canada permit itself, candidates must:

• Submit all the documents required by the government
• Provide details on their background and educational achievements
• State their employment history and target work in Canada
• Give proof of their IEC profile information
• Pay the IEC Working Holiday Visa fees of CAD $172 (IEC participation fee) and CAD $100 (Canada Open Work Permit fee).

The Canadian government will then contact applicants to verify their eligibility, admissibility to the country, and all other information they have provided in relation to the Working Holiday program.

Following this, an appointment must be made at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to give biometrics (a photograph, biographic data, and fingerprints). This costs CAD $170 for a family of 2+ people and CAD $255 for a group of 3+ people.

Processing times are around 56 days but this can be increased, especially if the Canadian immigration services need to request additional information.

When a final decision has been made, Australian nationals will either be given a Port of Entry letter or an explanatory letter outlining why their application was rejected.

Australians must provide:

• Valid passport
• Digital photograph
• Evidence of medical exams
• CV/Resume
• Police certificates
• Family details

As most Australians obtain this visa with the aim of travelling as much as possible in Canada, it’s common to gravitate towards jobs in tourism and hospitality. These jobs tend to be easier to secure, offer flexible hours, and do not necessarily keep the employee in one place for a long time.

However, there are plenty of great job opportunities for Australians with skills and experience in fields such as education, STEM, law, and communications.

In terms of working culture, Australians have to adapt to a different style of employment, which is of course the case wherever you go. Some key differences include no weekend pay increases and no equivalent to the Australian ‘Super’ (Canadians must save for retirement on their own).

Working hours and holidays are similar, though they vary depending on the job. Generally, Canadians work 40 hours per week with a lunch break of 30 minutes to one hour. Holidays tend to start at either 10 days or 2 weeks.

Certain visa restrictions are in place, such as the inability to apply for the Working Holiday Visa program more than twice and the inability to extend the visa.

However, it may be possible to apply for other permits if you are looking at moving to Canada from Australia such as a Work Permit, Study Permit, or Permanent Residence. Reach out to Total Law for more advice on your options.