Working Holiday in Canada (5) Arrive Canada and Collect Open Work Permit

Due to the impact of the pandemic and as I got older, I found that my enthusiasm for working holiday in Canada had diminished. However, after a few years of quiet, I couldn’t resist the urge to go again. So, in 2019, I began preparing to apply for the pools. To my surprise, I was actually selected! Through persistent effort, I gradually completed all the necessary documents for the visa.

Table of Contents Hide

Recived POE

Preparing Luggage Before Arriving in Canada

Arriving in Canada: Collecting Open Work Permit

How to Enter Vancouver Airport and Obtain an Open Work Permit

Timeline

Recived POE

After completing all the visa application procedures, during the 2022 Lunar New Year back in Taiwan, I discovered an email from IRCC.

At first, I thought it might be a request for additional documents or something similar, but to my surprise, it turned out to be the POE (Port of Entry Letter)!?!?!?!!

It had been almost 2 years since I started working on the paperwork after getting selected. I thought my chances were slim, but to my surprise, I actually succeeded in securing the visa. Feeling a bit incredulous, I even sent it to my friend for confirmation—and it was real. 🥺

The letter stated that I must enter Canada by February 2, 2023, to exchange for the official visa. However, it also mentioned that my medical exam would expire on November 17, 2022, meaning I would need to redo the medical exam if it expired by then.

Preparing Luggage Before Arriving in Canada

After getting the POE, the next challenge is packing luggage. Since everyone has their way of packing, here’s a list of items for reference:

Passport: Ensure it’s valid. If it’s a new passport, bring the old one as well.
POE: Print it out! It’s crucial as the immigration officer mainly checks this document.
eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization): The POE letter will include the eTA validity period.
IME (Medical Exam Report, for reference): If your medical exam has expired, bring documents for any reexaminations.
Health Insurance (for reference): Ensure you have coverage for medical expenses during your stay in Canada.
Proof of Funds (for reference): Issued within one week before departure. Ensure your account balance is over CAD 2,500.
Credit or Debit Cards: Bring multiple cards in case one gets lost. Activate international withdrawal and transaction features.
Cash: Carry a reasonable amount to avoid issues at customs, as undeclared large sums may be confiscated.
Flight Ticket: Both one-way and round-trip tickets are acceptable. If it’s a one-way ticket, airline check-in may require your POE.

Arriving in Canada: Collecting Open Work Permit

After receiving the POE, the validity period for obtaining the visa is usually one year from the issue date. I received my POE on February 2, 2022, but my medical exam was set to expire earlier on November 17, 2022. To avoid complications, I underwent a re-exam before departure.

On January 31, 2023, just before my POE expiration date, I flew directly from Taiwan to Vancouver. Upon entry, I successfully obtained my Open Work Permit, ensuring everything was in place before the deadline.

How to Enter Vancouver Airport and Obtain an Open Work Permit

Canada’s entry requirements have been constantly changing due to the pandemic. It’s recommended to check the latest entry rules before your departure. Fortunately, by the time I traveled, almost all pandemic-related entry requirements had been lifted, including quarantine, ArriveCAN, PCR tests, and vaccination mandates.

However, if you are entering Canada from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, you will still need to provide a nucleic acid test (PCR) certificate. Luckily, I returned to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year beforehand, avoiding the need to do an extra PCR test if entering from Hong Kong. These requirements might change, so always refer to the latest entry rules for Canada.

Within 72 hours before your flight, you can download ArriveCAN and pre-submit your CBSA Declaration to speed up the entry process. If you don’t pre-submit it, no worries—there are self-service kiosks at customs where you can complete the declaration on-site.

After a 10-hour flight, I finally arrived safely in Vancouver. The plane landed at 6:30 PM Vancouver time. I quickly made my way to the immigration area and saw the hall packed with people from a distance. Fortunately, there were plenty of self-service declaration kiosks available. I walked up to one of the machines and entered the data I had pre-submitted through ArriveCAN. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the self-service kiosks even offered Chinese language support—so convenient!

After completing the declaration, the machine will print out a paper. This paper will be checked by the immigration officer when verifying your passport, reviewed again when obtaining your open work permit at the immigration, and collected at the final entry point. So, make sure to keep it safe. 😃

Next, I handed over my passport and the declaration slip to the immigration officer. The officer only asked, “What are you coming to Canada for?”

Me: “Work”.

Then the officer told me to take my luggage and head to the immigration office to get my open work permit. After that, I was free to go.

Before heading to the immigration office, make sure to first collect your luggage at the baggage carousel. After retrieving your luggage, remember not to proceed with entering Canada yet—you must go to the immigration office to obtain your open work permit first!!!

The immigration office is easy to find—just follow the signs. It’s located near baggage carousel 22.

When I arrived at the immigration office, a staff at the entrance instructed me to place my luggage at the designated drop-off area. Then, I was asked to take a seat and wait while holding my passport, the declaration slip, and my POE.

There weren’t too many people in the waiting area, but I still waited for a while. Eventually, a officer came over to collect my passport, the declaration slip, and the POE. He told us to remain seated and continue waiting.

At first, I thought I’d be called in for an interview or further questioning. However, to my surprise, it didn’t take long before I was called up to collect my open work permit! 😳

I noticed that many people sitting in front of me were being called for interviews, so I assumed everyone would be. It turns out that only those with more specialized visa types are subject to additional questioning. For those like me, holding a working holiday visa, the process is usually straightforward without much hassle.

This is the dazzling OWP! ✨

Make sure to keep this document safe—it’s essential for opening a bank account, applying for a SIN, and getting a phone plan in Canada.

Timeline

2018/12/5 – First pool application for the draw
2019/12/21 – Second pool application for the draw
2020/1/27 – Notification of selection
2020/2/3 – Received Taiwan Police Certificate (NT$100)
2020/2/5 – Confirmed application process in the system
2020/2/5 – First medical examination in Taichung (NT$4,000)
2020/2/14 – Received United Kingdom Police Certificate (£55)
2020/2/18 – Received Ireland Police Certificate
2020/2/24 – Completed application process and paid CAD$338
2020/2/26 – Notified of abnormal medical results
2020/2/26 – Received biometrics collection letter
2020/3/20 – Completed biometrics at Canadian Visa Application Center (Guangzhou, China)
2020/9/30 – Received China Police Certificate + translation and notarization (200 RMB)
2020/11/28 – IRCC emailed to inquire about continuing the visa application due to the pandemic
2021/10/8 – Submitted a progress inquiry via IRCC Webform
2021/11/4 – Received a notice for the second medical examination
2021/11/13 – Second medical examination in Guangzhou (1,200 RMB)
2022/2/2 – Received POE
2022/11/17 – Medical exam expired
2023/1/13 – Third medical examination in Taichung (NT$4,090)
2023/1/31 – Flew to Canada and successfully obtained the Open Work Permit in Vancouver

Due to the pandemic, the process from applying for the visa to finally arriving in Canada took nearly 3 years. It was a long and challenging journey, costing quite a bit of money. However, with a visa duration of only 1 year, I’m determined to make the most of this time and fully enjoy the final stretch of my youth. No matter what the future holds, I can proudly say I took this leap. ✌️ Working Holiday in Canada!!