Canada Working Holiday Visa - For Spanish Citizens
If you’re a Spanish national and want to work in Canada (trabajar en Canadá) for up to 12 months without restrictions, you may be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa.
To learn more about a Working Holiday Visa to Canada from Spain, call Total Law on +1 844 290 6312 or use our live chat.
Introduction to Working Holiday Visa Canada from Spain
The International Experience Canada (IEC) allows nationals from countries or territories with a Youth Mobility Agreement (Acuerdo de Movilidad de Jóvenes) with the Canadian government (Gobierno Canadiense) to participate in the program and gain international work experience, improve language skills, and explore Canada. With IEC, some countries only allow you to participate once, while others (including Spain) will enable you to participate twice, but in different categories.
The IEC (el programa International Experience Canadá) categories available in Spain are Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship). The only Spanish-speaking countries (países de habla Hispana) with access to this visa are Chile, Spain and Costa Rica.
Spanish nationals between 18 and 35 can work in Canada for up to 12 months (but they may also choose to stay for a shorter period) and are not required to have a job offer (oferta de trabajo) before arriving.
The Working Holiday (Visado de Vacaciones y Trabajo) is a temporary work permit with which eligible applicants can work in various jobs with the freedom to change roles (puesto de trabajo) and locations, such as Ontario, British Columbia, or Quebec.
Page Contents
- Introduction to Working Holiday Visa Canada from Spain
- Eligibility Criteria for Spanish Citizens Applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada
- Supporting Documents Required for the International Experience Canada
- Application Process for the Working Holiday Visa from Spain
- Working Holiday Visa Application Cost and Processing Time
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Criteria for Spanish Citizens Applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada
To apply for the Canadian holiday work authorisation (permiso de trabajo) for Spaniards, you must meet the following eligibility criteria (las condiciones de acceso migratorio):
- Be a Spanish citizen between 18 and 35 years old (inclusive)
- Have a valid Spanish passport (pasaporte español)
- Show proof of residential address in Spain
- Have health insurance (seguro médico) covering the duration of your stay (durante toda tu estancia)
- Access to funds to cover your stay in Canada – a minimum of CAN$2,500
- Pay the application fees
- Not be accompanied by dependants
- A return ticket or funds to purchase one
If you’re still unsure whether you meet the eligibility requirements, Total Law advisers can work with you to assess your eligibility and advise you throughout the application process.
Supporting Documents Required for the International Experience Canada
To apply for this program, you must prove your eligibility and submit documents including:
- Valid passport
- Digital passport photograph
- Copy of your CV or resume
- Proof of residency – bank statements, bills or any document that will prove your residential or mailing address in Spain
- Proof of health insurance (seguro médico) covering your stay in Canada
- Bank account statement, issued within the last week, showing access to money (CAN$2,500) to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada.
- Completed Family Information form (IMM 5707)
- A police clearance certificate for countries where you’ve spent 6 months or more as an adult.
- Proof of a round-trip or onward travel ticket.
Application Process for the Working Holiday Visa from Spain
Overview
The application process for the work and travel permit from Spain starts with ensuring that you meet the required eligibility criteria. Once you have gathered documents supporting your visa application, you can create an IEC profile on the IEC website to enter the pool.
The pool system randomly selects applicants and invites them to apply. Each year, there is a quota on the number of visas offered. The government of Canada holds multiple rounds of invitations throughout the year. The candidate selection process for the 2024 season is still open and updated on Fridays.
Get an IEC Invitation
If selected, you will get invited to apply for the program. You might not be invited in the first round, but your profile will remain in the pool for future rounds. If you’re not invited to apply at all, you will remain in the pool until all profiles are removed at the end of the season or until you are no longer eligible for the program.
If you decline an invitation and you continue to be eligible, you will stay in the IEC selection system to be considered in future rounds of invitations. If you ignore the invitation and you do not respond to it, it will expire, and you must submit a new IEC profile to be considered again.
Complete the Visa Application
When you accept your invitation, you will be provided with access to the work permit application form. You must make sure that you fill out all the mandatory fields and submit colour scans of all the required supporting documents.
Next, you will be invited to the nearest Embassy of Canada in Spain to provide your biometric information. Canadian consular assistance is available in Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga.
Working Holiday Visa Application Cost and Processing Time
The application cost for the holiday work authorisation in 2024 includes:
- IEC Participation Fee – CAN$172
- Open Work Permit Holder Fee – CAN$100
- Biometrics Fee – CAN$85
The processing time of the Working Holiday Canadá Viss depends on demand. For the 2024 season, it could take up to five weeks.
How Can Total Law Help?
Applying for a work permit from Spain can be challenging if you’re uncertain about supporting evidence or completing the application correctly.
Total Law has supported many Spanish citizens in obtaining their visas to Canada by assessing their eligibility, helping them gather the required documents, and assisting them throughout the application process. This includes completing an accurate IEC profile to guarantee the highest chance of visa approval and avoid errors or omissions that can result in disqualification.
To learn more about this program and other immigration services we offer, call Total Law on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.
Advice Package
Get clear, expert advice on your visa options, eligibility and application before you commit to applying.
Application Package
Let our immigration lawyers prepare, check and manage your application so you can apply with confidence.
Fast Track Package
Need to apply quickly? Get priority handling by our immigration lawyers from preparation to submission.
Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Spanish citizens, this opportunity is considered achievable but challenging due to the limited spots available and no guarantee that an applicant will get an invitation. Additionally, the waiting time for an ITA can be unpredictable and is considered the biggest challenge for most applicants.
No, you do not need to be fluent in English to come to Canada on a Working Holiday Visa.
Your chances of being selected for the holiday work authorisation (permiso de trabajo) are somewhat uncertain due to the random selection process.
