A Guide To Working Holidays In Canada For Australians

If you’re one of them (or if you’re hoping to be) this guide is for you! We outline what you need to know to apply for your work permit and what happens at the border, and beyond. Let’s dive in. 

• If you need a primer on the IEC program and what the working holiday visa is, check out this guide before reading the rest fof this page.

Key Takeaways

• For the working holiday program, Australians receive an open work permit. This means you can work for (almost) any employer – including yourself, if you want to start or continue running your own business. 
• The application process is reasonably straightforward and fast for Australians. 
• Once you land in Canada, you will need to show an immigration officer all required documents. The one that causes the most issues is the requirement for adequate health insurance. It’s crucial to get this right. 
• With some exceptions, Australians can only participate in the IEC working holiday program once for up to 24 months.
• Fun Fact: Australia is one of the very few countries that receives an unlimited quota from Canada for IEC participants each year. This means that Australians are usually able to secure a coveted IEC working holiday invitation in the lottery – even when odds are low for citizens of other countries. 

How Long Can Australians Stay In Canada On A Working Holiday Visa?

Australians can participate in the working holiday category of the International Experience Canada program only once, for up to 24 months. But this doesn’t mean you can only stay in Canada for 24 months through the IEC program, you have other options: 

• If you’re Australian and you participated in IEC before 2015, you may be eligible for another participation of up to 24 months in any category (working holiday, young professional, or international co-op).
• If this is your first participation in the working holiday program, you can participate in either the international co-op or recognized organization program for a second time. You can’t choose young professionals for your second participation if your first one was through the working holiday program.

Whether you’re looking to complete your first participation or you need to get in the pool for your second, a Moving2Canada account can help. We provide real-time updates on your chances of receiving an invitation, as well as helpful tips for your IEC program participation to run smoothly.

Register for free here

How to apply for a Canadian Working Holiday Visa As An Australian

Check Eligibility

Citizenship and Passport Requirements

• Must be an Australian citizen.
• Must have a valid Australian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada.
• Note: Your work permit in Canada cannot be valid longer than your passport. So if your passport expires within the next 2-3 years, it’s worthwhile renewing before applying for your IEC work permit. 

Age

• Must be between the ages of 18 and 35.

Financial Requirements

• Minimum of CAN$2,500 to help cover expenses during your stay.
• Must either have a round-trip ticket before departure or demonstrate the financial means to purchase an outbound ticket at the end of your stay.

Health Insurance

• Must have valid IEC-eligible health insurance for the entire duration of the stay. More on this below. 

Admissibility and Dependants

• Must not be inadmissible to Canada.
• Cannot be accompanied by dependents.

Note that in addition to the working holiday category, Australians have two other IEC program options too: Young Professionals and International Co-op. Click the links to learn more about those programs.

Unsure if you’re eligible? Take our immigration quiz.

Create an IEC Profile

Visit the official IRCC website and create a profile. You will have to provide some personal details and select the Working Holiday Visa category.

The checklist in your Moving2Canada account includes a video run-through of how to create and submit your IEC profile — sign up here for free.

Enter the Pool

Once your profile is created, you’ll be entered into a pool of candidates. The selection from this pool is usually done randomly almost every week during the opening season for applications.

Note that while Australia has an unlimited quota for IEC, this does not mean you will receive an invitation in the week you enter the pool. Based on the data we’ve seen tracking IEC rounds this year, Australian candidates are regularly left in the pool – and the pool size often grows. Since the draws are random, you may stay in the pool for a while before receiving an invitation to apply (ITA). 

In other words, it’s wise to enter the pool early if you want to come to Canada. 

Note: You can only submit one profile. You can’t submit more to get a better shot at receiving an invitation. You also can’t submit multiple profiles targeting different programs (ie. working holiday and young professional) at the same time. 

Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If you are selected from the pool, you will receive an ITA. Note that this is NOT your visa but an invitation to submit your formal application.

You’ll have to move quickly once invited, as deadlines start right away. More on that below.

If you’re a visual learner, check out our video guide to applying for Canada’s IEC: 

Prepare Your Application

Gather all your documents:

• Your valid passport
• Proof of funds (CAD 2,500)
• A return travel ticket (or additional funds to cover one)
• Police certificates
• If you’re from Queensland or Victoria (or you have ever lived there), you’ll also need to provide a driving history alongside your police certificate. Learn more here.
• Biometrics, if required. If so, you’ll need to visit a biometrics centre in Melbourne, Sydney, or Perth to submit your fingerprints. You will receive a letter about this after you submit your application and pay your fees, so you won’t need to submit this with your initial application. 

It’s worth noting that you only have ten days to decide if you’re going to accept your invitation to apply and, if so, you will have twenty days to apply online for your permit. So it’s helpful to gather as many of these documents in advance. 

Submit Your Application and Pay the Fees

Complete the application form, attach all required documents, and pay the applicable fees.

Wait for Processing and Decision

After submission, your application will be processed. The processing time can vary.

Receive Work Permit

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a Port of Entry (PoE) Letter of Introduction.

Read more: You will find all the answers to your IEC related questions on our FAQ page.

Travel To Canada

With your PoE in hand, grab the rest of your IEC documents, including your health insurance policy, and travel to Canada to receive your work permit.

IEC Health Insurance For Australians

Remember: an IEC health insurance policy is not the same as travel insurance. Your working holiday in Canada will require a specific type of IEC-eligible insurance. More on the specifics here, if you’re interested. 

We have partnered with two different providers for IEC-eligible health insurance for Australians, and we recommend getting quotes from each of them. These two partners, in our opinion, offer IEC budget-friendly policies that are IEC-eligible and offer good value. They also each have a stellar reputation, with 4.7 (out of 5) on TrustPilot in True Traveller’s case (on Aug 20, 2024) and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating for Best Quote. 

BestQuote Travel Insurance

Best Quote Travel Insurance is a full-service Canadian travel insurance broker offering the widest selection of travel insurance plans for visitors to Canada. Available plans may include health coverage, coverage for up to 24 months, and coverage related to pre-existing medical conditions. Plans are available before or after leaving home. Get your quote from BestQuote today!

Best Quote Travel Insurance is available to travellers currently in:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• The UK
• Europe
• The rest of the world. 

FastCover

Fast Cover provide 12 or 24 month coverage to Australian IEC candidates. They offer several products ranging from affordable medical only to fully comprehensive solutions.

Get your free quote from FastCover

IEC Permit Tips For Australians

Create a free Moving2Canada account

Your free Moving2Canada account contains tons of helpful checklists, video how-tos, guides, and resources to help your move to Canada run as smoothly as possible. 

This account shares real-time information about the state of the IEC candidate pool and your odds of receiving an invitation in the next round. It also has a checklist of items you need to complete to receive your IEC permit, and more information about each step in the process. 

Basically, a free Moving2Canada account will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it. It’s convenient, relevant, and did we mention that it’s totally free?

Apply for your police certificate early (especially if you’re in a rush)

The police certificate requirements, particularly for those who live in or have ever lived in Queensland and Victoria, can take some time. Since your Australian police certificate is valid for 6 months (if you currently live in Australia), you don’t want to apply too early – but generally it’s a good idea to apply for your police certificate two weeks before you put your profile into the pool for IEC if you want to come to Canada very quickly. 

If you receive an ITA and you haven’t received your police certificate back from the AFP, you can submit either a copy of the receipt or screenshot of the confirmation page or email to prove you’ve applied for one. An IRCC officer will then send you a request letter in your online account, so you can submit it later. 

Save More Than The Minimum Fund Requirement

Keen to live the ‘van life’ in Canada? Well, the required minimum $2,500 won’t be enough for purchasing a reliable van – nor will it get you much more than one month’s rent and living costs in many places. In other words, the minimum amount won’t take you very far, especially in the more expensive and sought-after areas like Vancouver, Toronto, Whistler, and Big White.

By saving more than the minimum, you’ll be able to settle in without immediately worrying about finding a job to cover basic living expenses. This can help reduce stress and allow you to explore Canada before diving into work.

Prepare for Your Application in Advance

Although the paperwork for the IEC program isn’t overly complicated, it’s smart to gather your necessary documents before you receive an invitation to apply. You’ll only have ten days to accept the invitation and twenty days to submit your online permit application.

Since this timeline is pretty tight, being well-prepared will save you from unnecessary stress. The best way to stay on track is by signing up for a Moving2Canada account and using the IEC checklist.

Join Online Communities for Practical Advice

There are several active online communities and forums focused on IEC-related discussions that provide a wealth of useful tips and information.

We recommend this IEC Forum on Facebook, which has an extensive collection of frequently asked questions. Feel free to browse the archives or ask your own questions to tap into the collective experience of others in the same boat.

Do not overlook health insurance requirements

We repeat – IEC health insurance is mandatory. This is such a tricky requirement and it’s honestly the one that’s most likely to derail your working holiday plans after you receive your POE letter. 

You need to have IEC-specific insurance that meets the exact requirements. These are set by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and they are non-negotiable. If you don’t meet the requirements, you won’t get your work permit. Period. 

Beyond the technical requirements: The reality is if you can’t afford IEC insurance, you can’t afford to come to Canada on an IEC permit. The costs associated with anything going wrong are likely to be astronomical. So, you really can’t afford to not be insured. 

You can buy 24 months of IEC insurance for as little as $1,000 – or $1,800 if you want to include snow sports coverage. In the scheme of things, this could be just one or two more pay checks or a month’s worth of side hustle for two years of financial peace of mind.

You can learn more and explore your IEC health insurance options here. 

Explore housing options early 

It’s no secret that Canada is experiencing a housing crisis that is particularly acute in some rental markets, notably Vancouver. Rents can be expensive, even if you’re sharing housing. So it’s best to start putting out feelers as early as possible for accommodation – especially if you’re planning on working at a ski hill. 

Prepare for your job search

Canada’s youth and immigrant job markets can be a little, well, gruelling. At times, youth workers and temporary workers fill labour gaps. However, these populations are usually the first ones to suffer when the labour market tightens up. 

It’s worth keeping an eye on the labour market reporting in Canada before you arrive. There’s also plenty you can do before you land in Canada to start your job search, like checking out our jobs board. 

Other Entry Pathways For Australians

There are other pathways for Australian citizens to immigrate to Canada.

• Express Entry, is ideal for skilled workers with professional qualifications and work experience in in-demand sectors,
• The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canada’s provinces to select candidates who meet specific local labor market needs.
• Business Immigration programs, that allow entrepreneurs to start or invest in Canadian businesses,
• Student Visas,
• Family Sponsorship Programs, that allow citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their family members.

Create A Free Moving2Canada Account

We’ve helped thousands of IEC participants work through the application process and settle successfully in Canada. 

Get job hunting resources, IEC application checklists, exclusive offers from our partners, and more with your free Moving2Canada account.