--- title: "Canada Working Holiday requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/iec-working-holiday/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Canada · Working holiday # Canada Working Holiday **Age limit and funds needed:** Ages vary by passport · CAD 2,500 ≈ $1,750 International Experience Canada: Working Holiday First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Savings needed:** CAD 2,500 ≈ $1,750 (Savings of at least CAD 2,500 (≈ $1,750) · Minimum funds to help cover expenses in Canada, stated on the country eligibility pages. A fee of CAD 184.75 (≈ $130) · International Experience Canada participation fee. A fee of CAD 100 (≈ $70) · Open work permit holder fee.) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Open work permit for 12, 23 or 24 months depending on country; cannot exceed passport validity.) - **Renewal:** Not renewable - **Who can apply:** 37 nationalities (Citizens of the 35 partner countries and territories with a Working Holiday category (Channel Islands passports count for the United Kingdom).) - **Work:** Casual jobs (Open work permit: work for almost any employer.) - **Family:** Family can't join (Dependants cannot accompany the participant.) ## Key facts Working Holiday is a working holiday route for Canada. Conditions: ages vary by passport · funds needed CAD 2,500 ≈ $1,750. Local work: casual jobs. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** CAD 185 ≈ $130 · CAD 100 ≈ $70 - **Processing:** Up to 56 days - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fees CAD 285 ≈ $200 in total (2 fees); decision: up to 56 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: CAD 185 ≈ $130 · CAD 100 ≈ $70** - CAD 184.75 (≈ $130) International Experience Canada participation fee. - CAD 100 (≈ $70) Open work permit holder fee. **Shown, not spent: CAD 2,500+ ≈ $1,750** - CAD 2,500 (≈ $1,750) Minimum funds to help cover expenses in Canada, stated on the country eligibility pages. **Citizenship: After 3 years as a permanent resident** Each day as a temporary resident counts as half a day (maximum 365 days of credit), and you still need at least 730 days as a permanent resident within the 5 years before applying, for 1,095 days in total. [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html) **Processing: Up to 56 days** The service standard for International Experience Canada work permits is 56 days or less. [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards.html) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Can't be renewed - Family members can't join on this route - Only for passports from 37 countries - Only for ages 18–35 ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a citizen of a partner country with a valid passport for the stay. - Age 18 to 30 for Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands and Sweden; 18 to 35 for the other partner countries. - No dependants may accompany the applicant. - Switzerland offers only Young Professionals and International Co-op, so it is not in the working-holiday list. #### What you must show and pay - **Savings of at least CAD 2,500 (≈ $1,750)** · Minimum funds to help cover expenses in Canada, stated on the country eligibility pages. - **A fee of CAD 184.75 (≈ $130)** · International Experience Canada participation fee. - **A fee of CAD 100 (≈ $70)** · Open work permit holder fee. #### Documents - Health insurance for the whole stay is required. - A round-trip ticket, or funds to buy one, is required. #### Steps 1. The applicant needs a profile in the pool with an invitation to apply. #### After you arrive - Maximum stay: 24 months for Australia, France, Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (up to two participations) and United Kingdom (first participation 24 months). - Maximum stay: 23 months for New Zealand; 12 months for the other partners. - Participation limits vary by country. ## What happens at day 183 How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a calendar year** Day count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it. - **At least 183 days in a tax year** A person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a)) - **Foreign-source income:** Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents [All tax rules for Canada](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** Health insurance for the whole stay is required - **Money to show** This route asks for savings of CAD 2,500+ ≈ $1,750. Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Open work permit for young citizens of partner countries to travel and work in Canada, allocated by profile pool and invitation; the 2026 season pools are open. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - Savings of at least CAD 2,500 (≈ $1,750) · Minimum funds to help cover expenses in Canada, stated on the country eligibility pages. (source 2) - A fee of CAD 184.75 (≈ $130) · International Experience Canada participation fee. (source 4) - A fee of CAD 100 (≈ $70) · Open work permit holder fee. (source 4) #### Requirements - The applicant is a citizen of a partner country with a valid passport for the stay. (source 2) - Age 18 to 30 for Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands and Sweden; 18 to 35 for the other partner countries. (source 2) - No dependants may accompany the applicant. (sources 2, 1) - Switzerland offers only Young Professionals and International Co-op, so it is not in the working-holiday list. (source 2) - Health insurance for the whole stay is required. (sources 2, 1) - A round-trip ticket, or funds to buy one, is required. (sources 2, 1) - The applicant needs a profile in the pool with an invitation to apply. (sources 2, 1) - Maximum stay: 24 months for Australia, France, Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (up to two participations) and United Kingdom (first participation 24 months). (source 2) - Maximum stay: 23 months for New Zealand; 12 months for the other partners. (source 2) - Participation limits vary by country. (source 2) #### Stay - Open work permit for 12, 23 or 24 months depending on country; cannot exceed passport validity. - First stay: 12 to 24 months, decided case by case. - Not renewable according to our source. #### Nationality Citizens of the 35 partner countries and territories with a Working Holiday category (Channel Islands passports count for the United Kingdom). Open to: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, GG, Greece, Hong Kong, Croatia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, JE, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Taiwan. #### Work Open work permit: work for almost any employer. #### Family Dependants cannot accompany the participant. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [International Experience Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 2. [International Experience Canada: eligibility by country and category](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility/eligibility-by-country.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Open work permits](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/open-work-permit.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 4. [Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 6. [IRCC service standards](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 ## Working Holiday and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Working Holiday | – | 2 yr | Casual jobs | | [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/v-working-holiday/) Colombia | Ages 18–30 · funds needed COP 8.8M/mo ≈ $2,740 | 1 yr | Casual jobs | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Working Holiday? Savings of at least CAD 2,500 (≈ $1,750). Minimum funds to help cover expenses in Canada, stated on the country eligibility pages. A fee of CAD 184.75 (≈ $130). International Experience Canada participation fee. A fee of CAD 100 (≈ $70). Open work permit holder fee. ### How long can I stay on the Working Holiday? Open work permit for 12, 23 or 24 months depending on country; cannot exceed passport validity. ### How long does the Working Holiday take to process? The service standard for International Experience Canada work permits is 56 days or less. ### Can I work on the Working Holiday? Casual jobs. Open work permit: work for almost any employer. ### Can I bring my family on the Working Holiday? Dependants cannot accompany the participant. ### Who can apply for the Working Holiday? Citizens of the 35 partner countries and territories with a Working Holiday category (Channel Islands passports count for the United Kingdom). Open to: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, GG, Greece, Hong Kong, Croatia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, JE, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Taiwan. ### How are Working Holiday holders taxed in Canada? No special regime in our records is tied to the Working Holiday. The standard rules apply: Tax obligations follow residency status decided on all facts, mainly significant residential ties; residents report world income from all sources. ## More in Canada [BC Entrepreneur · Base](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/pnp-bc-entrepreneur-base/) [BC Entrepreneur · Regional](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/pnp-bc-entrepreneur-regional/) [Atlantic Immigration](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/atlantic-immigration-program/) [BC PNP Skills Immigration](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/pnp-bc-skills-immigration/) [Employer work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/work-permit/) [Express Entry · Trades](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/express-entry-fst/) [Express Entry · Skilled Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/express-entry-pr/) [Global Talent Stream](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/global-talent-stream/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [International Experience Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 2. [International Experience Canada: eligibility by country and category](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility/eligibility-by-country.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Open work permits](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/open-work-permit.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 4. [Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 6. [IRCC service standards](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.