Am I eligible to apply for a 2 Year Canada Working Holiday Visa? Please check the eligibility requirements:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 35 inclusive on the date your application is submitted. Your application must be received on or after your 18th birthday, and before your 36th birthday.
• Be a citizen of Ireland.
• Programme is open to students & non-students
• Be holding an Irish passport that remains valid throughout your intended period of stay in Canada. When the work permit is issued on arrival in Canada, it will not be longer than the validity of the passport.
• Be in possession of a departure ticket leaving Canada at the end of your authorised period of stay or sufficient financial resources to purchase such a ticket.
• Have the equivalent of a minimum C$2,500 to help cover expenses at the beginning of your stay, for the first 3 months of the stay.
• Accept to purchase, prior to entering Canada, insurance for medical and health care, including hospitalisation and repatriation, for the entire authorised period of stay. Proof of this insurance coverage must be presented to Immigration officials upon arrival in Canada.
• Your family can come to Canada with you. However, each of your dependants (spouse/common-law partner/child/children) will have to obtain his/her own immigration status. Please see further information in our FAQ section.
• You must not have participated in the 2 Year IEC Working Holiday or Young Professional category before. If you participated in the IEC for one year prior to 2013 you may apply.
• You must pay the IEC application fee when prompted to do so by immigration. The current CIC fees are CAD $250 work permit fee and $85 bio-metric fee.
• Biometric data (fingerprints and photo) will be required to be submitted in person in the VAC in Dublin when requested by immigration.

FAQs

Q. Do I have to pay at the time of applying?

Yes, to register with Go4Less you must pay a €79 deposit. This deposit can be used toward your flights and insurance if you book both at the same time with an agent through Go4Less. You must pay the IEC application fee when prompted to do so by immigration. The current CIC fees are CAD $250 work permit fee and $85 bio-metric fee.

Q. Will it affect my application if I have a criminal or immigration offence?

Yes this may have an effect on your application. All applicants that have an offence may be subject to extra processing and may have to submit extra documentation. Each case is taken individually and timeframes will vary.

Q. I would like to apply for the Canada Visa. Can my family come with me?

Yes, your family can come to Canada with you. However, each of your dependants (spouse/common-law partner/child/children) will have to obtain his/her own status. Please see the scenarios below.

Q. What does "accompany" mean within the framework of the Canada Visa?

Within the framework of the Canada Visa, the verb "accompany" means "to be dependent on" or "to be reliant on". On the Declaration Form, when you tick that you will not be "accompanied" to Canada, you acknowledge that no individual will be reliant on you. In other words, you declare knowing that no other individual may benefit from a status, visa or permit (i.e. work or study) based on the simple fact of going to Canada with you. In this sense, you cannot be "accompanied" to Canada as each of your dependants is responsible for obtaining his/her own status in Canada. Your dependants can go with you to Canada but each person is responsible for his/her own application and/or his/her own status (please see the explanations below).

Q. I would like to apply to the IEC initiative. May my child come with me? What will his/her status be?

Yes, your child may come to Canada with you. However, each of your dependants (spouse/common-law partner/child/children) will have to obtain his/her own status.

NOTE: If you are going to Canada under the IEC initiative, without the other parent, and your child is a minor, you must read the information provided by the Visas and Immigration Service of the Embassy of Canada in the UK carefully, you will have to prove that you are authorized to travel alone with your child.

Q. I would like to do an internship as a requirement for my studies in Ireland. Is this possible?

Yes, you can apply for the International Co-op category when available.

Q. Is it possible to enroll in courses during my stay in Canada?

Yes. However, the courses must be part-time and be considered as personal development/growth. The course cannot be part of a university degree. If you are in Canada under the IEC Working Holiday Program, you may enroll in language courses over a short period of time, i.e. less than six months.

Q. Do I need a machine readable and/or a biometric passport to enter Canada?

No, a machine readable and/or a biometric passport is not required to enter Canada.

Q. I am a citizen of Northern Ireland. Which IEC scheme should I apply to?

Citizens of Northern Ireland who hold a valid Irish passport should apply to the Ireland IEC initiative. Citizens of Northern Ireland who hold a valid U.K. passport should apply to the U.K. IEC scheme.

Q. What kinds of jobs can I do with an IEC visa? Are there restrictions on the duration of the employment contracts, the language of the workplace, the location or the number of employers I may have?

The work permit issued under the Working Holiday category is an 'open' work permit which is valid for any type of job. There are no restrictions on the duration of the contract, the language or the location. There are also no restrictions on the number of employers you work for within the 24 month period. If you wish to work in certain fields- clinical laboratory workers, patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes, teachers of primary or secondary schools or other teachers of small children, domestic work, workers who give in-home care to children/elderly/disabled persons, or day nursery workers- you will be required to have a medical examination and submit a medical report as part of your application.

Q. How long does my passport have to be valid for in order to apply?

You must hold a valid passport at the time you submit your application. If you have been accepted as a participant and you are preparing to enter Canada through IEC, the validity period of your passport should cover the whole time you plan to stay in Canada. The validity period of your work permit may not extend beyond the validity period of your passport.

Q. I am currently renewing my passport. May I submit my application with a photocopy of my previous passport and a letter stating that my passport is being renewed?

No. You must submit a scan of the appropriate pages of your new passport, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete.

Q. Do I need to have a job lined up in Canada before I apply?

Under the working holiday programme you do not need to have a job arranged before you go to Canada.

Police Certificate (Garda Clearance form)

Police certificates are needed from the Gardai for all applicants. If you have lived abroad you may also need one from that country's police force.

Go4less will provide you with information on how to obtain a Police Certificate from Ireland and from other countries if required. You will also receive an official Go4less letter which will help you to obtain your Police Certificate.

Medicals

Applicants who wish to work in certain fields of work or who have spent time in certain countries may be asked to complete a medical as part of the application process. Go4less will help guide you through this process.

Discounted flights - Book one-way or return flights

Go4Less have special negotiated air-fares to Canada. We are part of the Club Travel group which is the largest Travel Agent in Ireland. We offer both one-way and return flights. Ask about our "Book Now & Pay Later" offer - this means we can reserve your seats and the balance only has to be paid 6 weeks before you fly!

• Toronto from €305 one way - €550 return
• Vancouver from €375 one way - €635 return
• Calgary from €395 one way - €670 return

Note: Prices include taxes and are subject to availability.

Please email [email protected] your intended date and destination.

Hostel & Hotel Accommodation

Check out our great rates here for Hostel Accommodation. Please click here to book.

Check out our great rates here for Hotel Accommodation. Please click here to book.

Jobs in Canada

This Job database will also show jobs in all the major cities and towns in Canada, such as

• Jobs in Ontario
• Jobs in Toronto
• Jobs in Quebec
• Jobs in Montreal
• Jobs in Nova Scotia
• Jobs in Halifax
• Jobs in New Brunswick
• Jobs in Saint John
• Jobs in Manitoba
• Jobs in Winnipeg
• Jobs in British Columbia
• Jobs in Vancouver
• Jobs in Prince Edward Island
• Jobs in Charlottetown
• Jobs in Saskatchewan
• Jobs in Saskatoon
• Jobs in Alberta
• Jobs in Edmonton
• Jobs in Calgary
• Jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Go4Less Job database is constantly updated with different job types. Example of jobs:

• Accounting jobs
• Accountant assistant jobs
• Accountant bookkeeper
• Accountant clerk jobs
• Advertising jobs
• Banking jobs
• Beauty treatment operator
• Carpenter jobs
• Child and youth worker jobs
• Clerk jobs
• Community workers
• Construction jobs
• Cooks
• Delivery jobs
• Door to door jobs
• Early childcare educator
• Electrician jobs
• Engineer jobs
• Farming jobs
• Finance jobs
• Food counter attendant
• Front desk agent jobs
• Guest service agent jobs
• Hair Stylist
• Journeyman/woman plumber
• Kitchen helper
• Labourer
• Licensed practical nurse
• Live-in caregiver (Child care)
• Manager trainee – retail jobs
• Mining jobs
• Palliative care nurse
• Pastry chef
• Plasterer
• Plumber
• Registered nurse
• Retail salesperson
• Salesperson
• Security guard
• Security guard supervisor
• Ski jobs
• Strucco plasterer
• Truck driver jobs
• Warehouse jobs

Go4less can provide you with everything you will require for your Canada working holiday.

You will find everything from negotiated low cost flight options, visa processing assistance, a tailored travel insurance policy that meets IEC requirements, jobs board and much more!

For many years Canada has been rated as the number one destination for immigrants and it has remained in pole position to this day. Known for its majestic landscape, its amazingly rich history and cultural heritage, it’s no wonder why Canada is a major draw for so many Irish workers.

Where to go in Canada?

The most popular Canadian destinations for young people are Toronto and Vancouver but with the relatively high cost of living and the increasingly competitive employment markets in both cities, workers are now choosing to move to smaller cities in Canada’s Western Provinces.

The Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are where the Irish will find some of the best opportunities around, particularly for skilled tradesmen such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Over the last few years, due to the rich natural resources located here, these Provinces have witnessed a major rise in the number of Irish arriving to work in the Regina and Saskatoon mines or the Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Calgary oil fields.

Irish workers who have experience in the construction and engineering sector are almost guaranteed employment as Canada is facing a huge shortage of construction and engineering professionals with experience. Canadian companies tend to hire Irish workers as they have quality people skills, a good work ethic and a good technical ability.

Click here to view a map of Canada.

Irish Social Scene in Canada

The social scene in Canada for Irish immigrants is only getting stronger. Many Canadian cities have witnessed a staggering number of GAA Clubs springing up left, right and centre, which is giving a sense of home for the large numbers of Irish who are arriving each year. See the destination guides for more information in each area.

Irish Embassy in Canada

If you need any consular assistance when you are in Canada, it’s a good idea to have the contact details of the Irish Embassy on hand.

Irish Embassy,
Suite 1105,
130 Albert Street,
Ottawa K1P 5G4, Ontario.
Canada.
[email protected]