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Jenza Work Canada

Working holidays in Canada

Want to live in Canada for up to two years with visa support, a pre-arranged seasonal job and five nights' accommodation when you land? Do Canadian bears *beep* in the woods?

Fancy a yarn? 

Let’s talk

The IEC Canada pools are open and summer resort hiring is happening now!

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Head for the hills

Why do a working holiday visa Canada?

Home to chilled locals, cool cities and wilderness scenery that will happily blow your ski socks off – Canada is one of the most liveable countries in the world. And thanks to a flexible two-year working holiday visa, one of the most workable. With hills that are alive with the sound of seasonal workers, hit the ground/slopes/trails running with a pre-arranged 4-6 month summer or ski season job. Or carve your own path doing casual or career work in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal or Edmonton.

The Jenza difference

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Roadtested experiences

We use our roadtesters’ experience to shape yours. Which is how we know JENZA Work Canada sets you up with everything you need to live and work in Canada.

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4-6 month job included

The worst part of job hunting? All of it. Which is why we source and vet hundreds of jobs. Interview before you go, when you land and for your whole visa.

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Yes to no stress

From guiding you through the working holiday visa process to bed nights, job workshops and bank account support when you land – we help work out all the details.

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Hiring news

Come snow or shine, Canada is the ultimate year-rounder. Our resorts in Whistler, Banff, Jasper, Panorama and more are now interviewing for 4-6 month summer jobs with April-June start dates. Waiting for winter? Get in touch with our Canada Ski team to ask all your job related questions.

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18-30/35 years

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24-month visa

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Visa applications now open

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Ski or summer job before you go

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Earn CAD $16-$24/hour

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5 nights when you land

€909

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What she said

"I wouldn’t take anything back, this has been the best experience of my life.”

Mia, JENZA roadtester

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Get on board

Work Canada | €909

We provide the visa application help, pre-arranged job and arrival support you need to spend up to two years living and working overseas in Canada.

Starting in Vancouver or Toronto, spend the first six days of your Canada working holiday with people like you. With five nights’ hostel accommodation, job workshops, and help sorting all your bank and tax whatnot – it’s the best way to settle into Canadian life before starting work.

Working holiday visa Canada update The IEC Canada visa pools for 2024 visa applications are now open. The earlier you enter the pools, the more draws your name will be exposed to – increasing your chances of getting a visa. So get your skates on!

To work in Canada, you must have a work permit from International Experience Canada (the IEC). The IEC visa allows you to work for up to 24 months in any industry, other than the sex industry. You’re only allowed one visa per lifetime, so it’s designed to grab life by the snowballs and make it count.

There are only a limited number of IEC Canada visas each year, and so applications work via a pool system. (Not the fun pina colada kind, the kind where if your name is drawn out, you’ll be sent an ‘Invitation to Apply’ for your work permit).

Fast forward some more forms and a biometrics appointment, and you'll receive your ‘Port of Entry’ letter to work in Canada. You then have 12 months to enter the country.

The IEC visa pool opens in Dec/Jan each year, and usually stays open until Sep/Oct. Applying early ensures your profile is exposed to the maximum number of name draws.

  • You must hold one of these European passports
  • Check the link above to find out whether you need to have your ‘Invitation to Apply’ letter before your 31st or 36th birthday
  • Have proof of CAD $2,500 in support funds
  • No criminal convictions from the last five years
  • Most applicants are required to have a police background check

    Confused? Scroll the page to watch Jessie explain the visa process.

Your visa allows you to do casual or career work. Typical backpacker and gap year jobs include working in tourism, hospitality, sales, labouring, childcare, retail and seasonal work in ski and summer resorts.

Seasonal jobs are the most popular options for travellers when they first arrive – working as a housekeeper, server, barista, chef, lift attendant, rental technician, driver or ski instructor. The minimum wage differs per state or province, with Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia all around the CAD $15 mark. Most of our pre-arranged ski and summer season employers pay between $16-24 an hour, plus tips where applicable.

You can also work in industries related to your career, education or trade – such as nursing, beauty, marketing, finance, recruitment and everything between. Here your earning potential will be higher, especially with a two-year visa to build up your experience.

SWAP (our in-country partners) run your in-person arrival orientation every Wednesday in Vancouver and Toronto, but you can arrive at any time and we can book your 5 nights' hostel accommodation around your flights. Virtual arrival orientations for Banff and Calgary are every Thursday.

SWAP run monthly events such as hockey games, baseball games, outdoor movie nights and walking tours - which usually run on the third and fourth weeks of the month (although not guaranteed as it relies on game timetables etc). If your arrival doesn't coincide with an event but you're still in Toronto or Vancouver, you're welcome to head along!

What's included

Everything you need to get your visa, get hired and get on the plane – with one-on-one support from people who’ve been. 

Free (or close to free) stuff Our favourite F word. Score hundreds of overseas discounts with our virtual JENZA X IYTC card.

Earn extra cash Shot it? Share it. We pay for blogs, vlogs, images and videos. DM us on Insta and send us a pitch.

Ask an alumni  Hear from people who've been. We try to have an alumni on every pre-departure call to answer all your questions.

Find a friend Meet people like you. Connect with travellers arriving at the same time on our JENZA Discord group chats.

The IEC doesn't allow us to apply for your visa on your behalf, but we're with you the whole way – with the correct forms, one-on-one calls, visa webinars and Canada Clinics to ensure your application is submitted correctly.

Your visa fee (currently CAD $272) is paid directly to the Canadian government, and you must also attend a biometrics appointment at a designated biometrics centre to have your photo and fingerprints taken.

The whole visa process from entering the IEC visa pool to receiving your ‘Port of Entry’ letter can take between 2-3 months. We suggest booking as soon as the pool opens for the best chance of securing a visa.

You can interview with our summer or winter employers before you go, plus access unlimited working holiday jobs on the road.

Our Dream Jobs team scour the planet finding seasonal employers who are looking to take on working holidaymakers. They’re pre-vetted to make sure everything is legit, and once you get your ‘Invitation to Apply’, you can start searching and applying for positions on our JENZA Job Hub.

If you want to sort a job before you go, we work with some of the top resorts in Canada, including in Banff and Whistler, to help you secure a 4-6 month ski season or summer job. Depending on the resort, you’ll need to commit to the full job season, whether its during winter (Nov-Mar) or summer (May-Sep). Although subject to availability, many of our seasonal employers include subsidised staff housing (around CAD $400-600 per month) and great perks such as discounted lift passes, gear hire, and ski or snowboard lessons.

If you’d rather wait until you land, a job workshop is included in your arrival orientation. You’ll also have access to our JENZA Job Hub for your whole visa.

Your Work Canada ride or die, all our JENZA Support Squad have worked the world, so can give you firsthand advice on moving overseas. As well as being a geeky bunch of travel nerds and visa whisperers, we're also mental health awareness trained. Which means we know how to connect like humans – not customer service bots.

On top of one-on-one video calls, visa webinars and pre-departure handbooks, there’s a group call with the team in Canada every Tuesday to answer all your questions before you go.

  • 5 nights at the Samesun hostel in either Toronto, Vancouver or Banff; or the HI hostel in Calgary
  • Weekly in-person arrival orientation every Wednesday (remote if starting in Banff or Calgary)
  • Job workshops to find available positions and get your CV Canada-ready (remote if starting in Banff or Calgary)
  • Long-term accommodation support
  • Monthly social events in Vancouver and Toronto
  • Access to SWAP’s resource centres in Vancouver or Toronto for your whole visa

If you’re heading straight for the mountains or don’t want to go via Vancouver or Toronto, you can use your accommodation in Banff or Calgary at any point in your trip.

This is all the un-sexy stuff, but essential and legal stuff you need to start working in Canada. When you arrive, the SWAP team will help you to set up:

  • SIN (Social Insurance Number)
  • Canada bank account
  • SIM card

Book now pay later

  • Secure your spot with a €115 deposit to get started with the IEC visa application, with support from the JENZA team.
  • Final payment of €794 to gain access to the jobs hub, once your ITA is secured.

    About our pricing | Our mission is to make working abroad more accessible. Meaning we do everything we can pay our team, support our partners and make a profit – without screwing over the people who matter. Find out how our pricing works and the people involved in making your JENZA happen.

We also walk the walk, donating 5% of profits to our overseas scholarship fund.

What’s not included

Support funds (CAD $)

You are required to show proof that you can access CAD $2,500.

Travel insurance for Canada

You may be asked for your policy documents at immigration, so you must take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for your whole stay. For example, if you book a six-month policy to save money, you run the risk of your visa being stamped for that duration – not the full duration of your visa.

In-person biometrics appointment

This is a condition of your visa and currently costs CAD $85.

Visa fee Canada

This is paid directly to the Canada Embassy and currently costs CAD $272.

Canada police background check

You need to provide a police check for every country you have continuously lived in for 6+ months since the age of 18. The process and cost varies per country.

Flights

We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.

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Purple design on left, kayak on lake in Canada with blue sky and mountains in background
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Fancy another?

Already used your IEC working holiday visa?

JENZA is also allocated RO letters (Recognised Organisation) and Young Professional visas that could still allow you to work in Canada. Call us to check eligibility. Plus, UK passport holders who had an IEC after 2015 can now enter the pools for a second 12-month visa!

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What the squad say

#Team talk

Stories from the Slopes

What's it like to work in Canada?

Fresh off the mountain, here are some of our winter '23/'24 working holidaymakers on what it's like to work a season in Canada. We'll let the video do the talking on this one. Standing by for your call...

Canada visas explained

The IEC Canada visa process can be a bewildering one. A pool without togs is confusing for a start. Especially for Jessie (an Aussie) and one of our JENZA Support Squad. The IEC pools open for visa applications each year in Dec/Jan and usually stay open until Sep/Oct. The earlier you enter the pools to apply for a working holiday visa, the more draws your name will be exposed to – increasing your chances of getting a visa from that year's allocation. Confused? Here's Jessie to explain how it works.

Canada jobs explained

Your Canada visa allows you to do pretty much any job in Canada. However, doing a ski or summer season resort job when you arrive is a great way to find your feet, meet other travellers, and live on the mountain. Plus, many resort jobs include subsidised staff accommodation - which is a total win when you've just moved over. You also don’t need to be able to ski or board to work a season. In fact, snow angels can be just as impressive as switch backside 180s. Plus, après ski is universal, right?

The JENZA blog

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All the inspo and intel on life in Canada

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Need to know / Canada

Everything you need to know about the IEC Canada working holiday visa

Hannah Jeffery

The IEC pools for 2024 visas are open! Here's the ultimate guide.

You shaped travel

What our Canada roadtesters had to say

Before you’re even let loose on one of our JENZA experiences, it’s trialled by either a JENZA roadtester or member of our Youth Advisory Panel. Because if it didn’t fly with them, it’s sure as heck not going to fly with you. Meet Mia and Laura, and their 2-4-1 advice on moving from Oz to Canada. It will give you chills.

Who you gonna call?

Let's talk Canada

Get some facetime with our amazing JENZA Support Squad. When they’re not posing for pool pics, they’re making your work aboard adventures happen with their endless enthusiasm and mad traveller skills. These include: parent whispering, visa geekery and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.

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Got a question? We've got answers.

Not found what you're looking for? Hit 'Ask a question' on this page and one of our JENZA Support Squad will come back to you.

You can book onto the Work Canada program year-round. However, working holiday Canada visas operate on a visa pool system – where the quota of working holiday visas (otherwise known as the IEC visa) are released each year. The number of visas available changes for each country - with some countries, including Australia, not having a visa quota. You can check the current quota for your country here.

The visa pools usually open in Dec/Jan, and close around Oct, although Canadian immigration make the decision on when to open and close the pools, so exact dates can change from year to year. Due to the competition for Canada visas and Canada jobs, we recommend booking Work Canada as soon as the IEC pools open

You can find the list of nationalities eligible for the IEC working holiday visa here. To find out a bit more about the IEC working holiday visa, check out our blog post.

For British passport holders, you can work in Canada under the IEC working holiday scheme twice:

  • A first duration of 24 months under any category
  • A second duration of 12 months under any category

If you used your IEC visa before 2015 for a period of up to 12 months, you are eligible for a second visa of up to 24 months in any category. Those who already participated in IEC twice are no longer eligible to apply. Check out this Canada blog for the new rules for British passport holders. Confused? Call us and we’ll talk you through it.

For Australia and New Zealand passport holders, check out JENZA Work Canada Returner for information on applying for an RO Letter (Recognised Organisation) to return to Canada for a second time.

Yes! The resorts we work with in Canada use JENZA, BUNAC and USIT (our sibling brands in the UK and Ireland) to recruit their seasonal staff – so hire for multiple positions each summer and winter. If you’re travelling solo and are looking for a backpacker community, we suggest applying for jobs that include staff accommodation. The in-person arrival orientations in Toronto and Vancouver are also a great way to meet travellers like you.
For up-to-date Work Canada experience and visa costs, visit our information page.
  • Step-by-step guidance entering the visa pool and applying for your Canada visa
  • A pre-arranged 4-6 month summer or winter seasonal job in Canada
  • 5 nights’ arrival orientation in Toronto, Vancouver or Banff
  • SIN (Social Insurance Number), Canada bank account and SIM set-up
  • 12 months’ access to vetted working holiday jobs on the JENZA Job Hub
  • Weekly pre-departure group calls to answer all your questions
  • Access to SWAP’s resource centres in Vancouver or Toronto for your whole visa
Some of our Canada employers include subsidised staff subsidised accommodation or give assistance on finding accommodation. These positions are sought after, so we advise booking Work Canada to get your ITA (the Invitation to Apply for your visa) ready for when hiring opens. After your pre-arranged job, SWAP (our in-country partners) can support with finding long-term accommodation.
You’ll get access to our online JENZA Job Hub of vetted employers where you can search, apply and interview for a 4-6 month seasonal job before you go. We work with Canada’s leading summer and winter resorts in Whistler, Banff, Jasper, Blue Mountain, Cypress Mountain and more. You’ll need to be available to work for the full resort season (summer is around May-Sep, and winter is October-Mar/Apr, but will depend on the employer).
No, you don’t need to have a pre-arranged job on the Canada working holiday visa. However, it's a great way to start earning as soon as you land and get set up for the rest of your visa. 
You can do almost any type of work on an IEC visa. A lot of travellers opt to do casual work, e.g. working in retail, restaurants, hotels or resorts. However, it is also possible to find a more career-related job, e.g. if you are a qualified teacher, tradesperson or professional. Ski resorts are popular destinations to work during the winter season, with most employers offering perks such as lift passes and rental.
The Canadian IEC visa is very flexible and allows you to work anywhere in Canada for up to 24 months (depending on your nationality). There are no restrictions on how long you can work for any one company - so you can stay in the same job for the full 24 months or move on to another employer whenever you want.
We hundreds of jobs each season on our job hub, but ultimately the decision if you are hired is down to the employer, so please be aware that your first choice of location is not guaranteed.
No, you must arrange your own insurance. It is a visa requirement to have comprehensive travel insurance valid for the entire duration of your trip - and you may be asked for these documents at immigration. For example, if you book a six-month policy to save money, you run the risk of your visa being stamped for that duration – rather than the full duration of your visa.
For UK and Australia passport holders, you can stay for 24 months. For New Zealand passport holders, 23 months. For other nationalities, check here.
Canada immigration require you to have at least CAD $2,500 in your bank account when you enter the country. The IEC visa fee, which is paid directly to the Canadian Government, is currently CAD $272. You will also need to attend an in-person biometrics appointment for them to record your fingerprints and retain a photograph of you - this is currently around CAD $82.
For UK, Australia and New Zealand passport holders, you must be 18-35. For other passport holders, check here.

More ways to work the world

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Did someone say ‘gap decade?' 

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JENZA Travel International Ltd is a company registered in Dublin, Ireland with Registered Company No. 707281 and registered address at 29-31 South William St, Dublin, Ireland, D02 EY96.