Working Holiday in Canada (1) Eligibility & How to Apply

The Working Holiday visa for Canada is one of the few visas available for individuals to apply for until the age of 35. Because of this, many people wait until after turning 30 to apply, aiming to seize this opportunity before reaching the age limit. I was no exception. After my experiences in Ireland and the UK, I began researching the Canadian visa process and quickly realized it wasn’t easy to obtain.

The process starts with a pool system, which can be a lengthy ordeal. The pool period lasts up to a year, and the application window is also open for a year. However, as the number of applicants continues to skyrocket each year, the quota remains limited to just 2,500 spots. Securing a place truly depends on luck! 😆

Eligibility Criteria

The following information is for Taiwanese passport holders. For eligibility details regarding other nationalities, please refer to International Experience Canada: Who can apply.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must hold a valid Taiwanese passport with a national ID number. The passport must remain valid for the entire duration of the work permit.
• Age: 18 to 35 (inclusive).
• Provide proof of funds (CAD 2,500) to demonstrate financial capacity for living expenses in Canada.
• Agree to purchase health insurance for the entire stay. Proof of insurance may be required upon entry.
• Pay the application fee of CAD 338, which includes: IEC program fee (CAD 153), Open work permit fee (CAD 100), Biometrics fee (CAD 85). Fees must be paid online via credit card.
• Must not have previously participated in the IEC program.
• Provide proof of round-trip tickets or financial capacity to purchase a return ticket.

Quota for Taiwan

Limited to 2,500 spots annually.

Duration of Stay

12 months

How can apply

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in the Canadian working holiday program, you can follow these steps to enter the pool:

Create a GCKey Account

Before completing the application form, visit the Government of Canada to create a GCKey account. If you already have an account, skip this step and sign in directly.

Once you enter the website, select the area indicated by the arrow.

Scroll down and click Sign in or create an account.

Keep scroll down and click Continue to GCkey.

Next, you’ll arrive at the login screen. If you have previously applied for the IEC (but were not selected), simply enter your username and password on the left to log in.

If this is your first time creating an account, select Sign Up on the right.

First Time Sign in

Then, return to the login page and enter your username and password. Upon logging in for the first time, you’ll need to set up your account details. Enter your name and email address, and make sure to double-check for any errors before proceeding.

Set up four security questions and answers. Make sure to remember both the questions and answers, as forgetting them will prevent you from sign in. Once completed, click Continue to access the dashboard. With this, your account setup is complete!

Select the IEC Application Form

If you already have an account or have previously created one, sign in to the dashboard to start your application.

Sign in to your GCKey account and navigate to Apply to come to Canada.

Select International Experience Canada(IEC). If this option doesn’t appear, it means you’ve already applied.

Answer the questions below based on your circumstances.

Based on your responses, you’ll see the Internation Experience Canada (IEC) option.

Click Continue to proceed.

You will see a list of all the forms that need to be completed. Simply ensure that all the highlighted sections turn green and are marked as Complete to finish the process.

Complete the IEC Application Form

The form consists of 4 sections: personal details of applicant, contact information, work and education details and application details.

Personal Details of Applicant

First, click on the area indicated by the arrow, and then proceed to fill in your personal information. Below is how I filled it out, but please make sure to enter your details according to your own situation. Once completed, click Save and exit to finish.

Contact Information

Click on the area indicated by the arrow.

Remember to double-check that your email address is correct to ensure you don’t miss any important notifications.

Application details

Click on the last option to fill it out.

Declaration and Signature

At this stage, it’s just the lottery application, so there aren’t many forms to fill out, and the process is relatively straightforward.

Once all 4 statuses turn green and show Complete, you can click Continue to proceed to the next page.

1. Remember to click I agree.
2. Enter your first and last name, making sure not to reverse them.
3. For the electronic contract declaration, if everything looks correct, simply write your name and click Sign.

Double-check your information, and if everything looks correct, click Transmit to submit your application.

Once this screen appears, it means your information has been successfully submitted!

To check if you have entered the pool

After completing the application, you should receive an email within about an hour, provided there are no issues.

Click Sign in to your account.

After logging into your account and entering the dashboard, scroll down to find the application form you just completed. Click on the option indicated by the arrow.

Scroll down and click IEC Welcome to pool letter.

The downloaded PDF will indicate that you have entered the lottery pool.

That concludes the first stage of the lottery application tutorial. Best of luck with your application, and may you successfully move on to the second stage! 👏👏👏

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