Working Holiday Visa in Canada: 15 Things You Need to Know (2026/2027)

Moving to Canada on a working holiday visa? How exciting! The whole process can feel overwhelming, just like it did for us.

We spent over a year on working holiday visas in Canada and loved it, but there are things we wish we had known earlier. Here are the 15 things that would have made our life easier, updated with the current rules.

Jump to:

• 1. Working holiday visa application facts
• 2. Got your Canadian visa? Time to prepare and pack
• 3. Know exactly how much money you need
• 4. Get the right travel insurance for your working holiday visa
• 5. You’ve finally arrived. Now what?
• 6. Finding long-term accommodation can be a nightmare
• 7. Long-term accommodation facts in Canada
• 8. What to consider before getting a SIM card
• 9. Open a bank account as soon as you can
• 10. Transfer your money the cheapest way
• 11. You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• 12. Find your dream job quickly
• 13. Planning to travel around Canada?
• 14. What to do with your driving licence
• 15. Everyone needs to do their taxes

1. Working holiday visa application facts

There are several ways to move to Canada. We went with International Experience Canada (IEC), which is what most people mean by the working holiday visa in Canada.

• For us, the whole thing took about three months, from entering the pool to getting selected, sending our papers and finally being approved. Times vary a lot, so check the current IRCC processing times rather than relying on our experience.
• Age limits depend on your country. For Ireland, the UK and Australia it is 18 to 35, with permits of up to 24 months. Check your own country on the IEC “who can apply” page.
• Once invited, you have 10 days to accept and 20 days to submit your application. Then you pay the fees (CAD $369.75 in total for a Working Holiday) and give your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre, usually within 30 days.
• Our IEC Canada visa FAQ answers 24 of the questions we get asked most.

Canada gives you an open work permit

That means you can work for almost any employer, anywhere in Canada, and you can stay with the same employer for your whole permit if you want to.

• Print your POE (port of entry) letter or save it somewhere easy to reach. Trust me, people forget passwords all the time.
• Your work permit can’t be valid for longer than your passport, so check your passport’s expiry date before you go.
• If you get a new passport after your visa is approved, don’t panic. Tell the officer at the border.
• Make sure your new passport number is on your work permit before you leave the desk.
• You will also need a new eTA for the new passport, so apply for it on the official eTA page (CAD $7) as soon as you have it.

Activate your permit when you first arrive if you can. If you enter as a visitor first, you can no longer activate it by popping down to the US and back. You would have to leave and re-enter from another country.

Our tip: join moving to Canada Facebook groups. We set up Moving to Vancouver, Moving to Toronto and IEC Canada Visa for everyone on a working holiday visa in Canada.

We entered Canada in Vancouver, and the process couldn’t have been more straightforward.

After we handed over our passports and POE letters, our work permits were issued within minutes. Some people say it took them hours.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to have all your documents with you at the border in case you are asked for them.

2. Got your Canadian visa? Time to prepare and pack

No matter how often we travel, we always make the terrible mistake of overpacking.

Moving to Vancouver was no different. We had a 23 kg luggage allowance and used every inch of the suitcase.

Big mistake!

You don’t realise how quickly you collect stuff after a move.

Canada’s weather can be tricky to pack for, but don’t bring too much. You can easily pick up cheap clothes and shoes in Winners, Mark’s and thrift shops.

Our tip: bring a power adapter and, ideally, an extension cable. It’s so much easier to plug everything into one cable and use a single socket. See our top travel gadgets for more ideas.

Make sure your devices are dual voltage. Canada uses 120V.

Don’t bring a hairdryer or hair straightener unless you are 100% sure they will work. A plug adapter won’t fix the voltage for these.

If you need more than your baggage allowance, read our guide to shipping to Canada.

3. Know exactly how much money you need

The Canadian government requires proof of at least CAD $2,500 to support yourself for your first three months. Bring a bank statement dated no more than a week before you fly.

You also need a ticket out of Canada or enough money to buy one. This applies to everyone, whatever passport you hold and however long your permit is.

We quickly found out that money doesn’t go far in Canada, especially in Vancouver.

In our opinion, the required amount is the bare minimum. You will spend more than you budget for, and you will realise that within a week or two of arriving in Vancouver.

If you are carrying CAD $10,000 or more in cash or similar, you must declare it at the border.

Our tip: open a bank account as soon as you land. It’s usually straightforward.

We compare the newcomer offers in our best bank in Canada guide, so read it before you decide.

Then move your money into the account, because ATM and card fees on a foreign card add up fast.

If you’re not sure where to start, read our 6 essential things to do on day 1.

We cover the cheapest ways to move your savings in point 10 and in our guide to sending money to Canada.

4. Get the right travel insurance for your working holiday visa

The Canadian government requires health insurance for your entire stay, covering medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.

If your insurance is shorter than the time you are eligible for, your work permit will be cut to end on the day your insurance does. IRCC says you won’t be able to extend the permit later, so buy cover for the full time you plan to stay.

Bring both your insurance certificate and the document that explains what the policy covers.

We use True Traveller, and Steve’s policy covered his two years in Canada. If you are an Australian resident, have a look at Fast Cover. To compare IEC policies whatever your nationality, try BestQuote.

Our best travel insurance for Canada guide goes into much more detail.

For me, finding insurance wasn’t easy at all.

As a dual citizen who travels a lot, many companies just wouldn’t cover me. Some didn’t include the care the Canadian government requires, and others had strange rules.

Don’t just go for the cheapest option, as the cover might not suit you.

I found that some policies covered you for a year but had a hidden rule that you could only spend 30 days in a row outside your home country. The sales rep never mentioned it.

Other policies didn’t let you go home at all!

Please take the time to read your cover before you pay for anything!

I paid a lot for my first-year insurance and it didn’t cover winter sports, which I had no idea about. How bad is that!? No snowboarding for me 🙁

Steve, on the other hand, snowboarded every weekend!

So if you plan to ski or snowboard, check that winter sports are included before you buy.

Imagine a hospital bill ruining your entire experience. It isn’t worth the risk.

What about Canadian public health care?

Each province runs its own health plan, and rules for work permit holders differ.

In British Columbia, the Medical Services Plan (MSP) is free (premiums were scrapped in 2020). You can usually join if your work permit is valid for six months or more, but there is a wait period of the rest of the month you arrive plus two months. You need private insurance until then, and the IEC rules require it for your whole stay anyway. See how to enrol in MSP.

In Ontario, work permit holders who work full-time for an Ontario employer may qualify for OHIP. Check the conditions on ontario.ca.

5. You’ve finally arrived. Now what?

• A bank account, a Social Insurance Number and a SIM card can all be sorted in a day or two.
• Accommodation is harder.
• Whatever city you are moving to, book somewhere for your first few weeks before you go.
• We booked six weeks of accommodation in Vancouver as soon as we had our flights.
• We arrived in March and rented a one-bedroom apartment on Airbnb for about $2,000 a month. That was years ago, so don’t use it as a guide to today’s prices.
• It can be hard to find something, depending on your budget and the time of year.

Heads up for Vancouver: since 2024, British Columbia has limited most short-term rentals to the host’s own home, so there are fewer short stays than when we arrived. Monthly stays of 30 nights or more are a different market, so search for those too.

When you message hosts, always ask for a discount for a longer stay. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Hotels in Vancouver are expensive, but for your first few nights Booking.com is our go-to, and it lists hostels too. Book a couple of nights and look for something longer once you’re there.

Our tip: if you feel confused and don’t know where to start, read our day 1 guide for your working holiday in Canada.

6. Finding long-term accommodation can be a nightmare

Once you are a bit settled, you can start the house hunt.

• In Vancouver, most rentals start on the 1st or 15th of the month, so lots of listings appear mid-month.
• We found our place on Craigslist, but be careful, as there are plenty of scams. Never send money for a place you haven’t seen.
• Most places want the first month’s rent upfront plus a deposit.
• We were asked for a deposit equal to a full month’s rent. In British Columbia the legal maximum security deposit is half of one month’s rent, so know your rights. The BC government page on deposits and fees explains the rules.

Walk around the neighbourhood you like, as some places just put a sign in the window.

And again, join groups for people looking for a place.

7. Long-term accommodation facts in Canada

• Most places come unfurnished.
• If you plan to settle for a while, you can furnish it from IKEA or buy second-hand.
• People are always moving on, so it isn’t hard to furnish a place for a reasonable price.

Fully furnished places with bills included do exist, but they are rarer and cost more. You just need patience to find them.

8. What to consider before getting a SIM card

Getting a phone plan is much easier and better value than when we arrived.

• Canadian plans now cover the whole country, so you’re not on roaming when you leave your home province.
• Prepaid SIMs are easy to buy with very little ID.
• You can choose a contract or prepaid. Prepaid is usually the best fit for a working holiday.
• In 2026, prepaid plans cost roughly $30 to $40 a month for 50GB or more of data with brands such as Public Mobile, Fizz and Freedom Mobile. Prices change often, so compare before you buy.
• During our travels around Canada we found Rogers had the best coverage, but it was expensive.

To put that in perspective: back then we paid $45 plus $10 for the SIM for just three gigs of data!

Our tip: if you want data from the moment you land, set up an Airalo eSIM before you fly, then switch to a Canadian plan once you are settled.

If you are bringing your own phone, make sure it is unlocked and works on Canadian networks. Back then, my old iPhone 5c didn’t work on Freedom Mobile (true, it was an ancient phone).

9. Open a bank account as soon as you can

It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a day to open a bank account, depending on how busy the branch is and whether you need an appointment.

You’ll need your passport and work permit, and the bank may ask for a Canadian address and phone number.

We first went with TD, but after a few months switched to CIBC. Back then CIBC offered us no monthly fees for a year and gave me a $500 credit card very easily.

• The main differences between banks are the services and fees.
• Newcomer offers are better now. In 2026, CIBC offers up to 24 months with no monthly fee to newcomers whose work permit is valid for 12 months or more, and TD and RBC offer a year. Offers have end dates, so compare a few before you decide.
• You’ll quickly see that Canadians pay each other by Interac e-Transfer (sending money by email or phone number). It comes with a Canadian bank account and you’ll use it for everything, from rent to splitting a dinner bill.

Our tip: apply for a credit card as soon as you can. TD, CIBC, RBC and Scotiabank all now offer unsecured cards to newcomers without a Canadian credit history.

You might hate the idea, but we found that many hotels, car rental companies and even dentists expect a credit card

You can get by without one on a working holiday visa in Canada, but we can’t tell you how many times we needed one.

Imagine checking into a hotel after a long flight and being refused because they can’t pre-authorise your stay without a credit card.

If you plan to stay in Canada long term, you might want a loan or mortgage one day, and no bank will give you one without a credit history.

My Irish card worked as a credit card in some places, but other times it didn’t.

10. Transfer your money the cheapest way

Don’t make the mistake so many people make on a working holiday visa in Canada.

You’ve set up your account and got a shiny new card. You’re ready to start your working holiday.

But are you? Probably not, because your account is empty.

We learned this the hard way when we moved to Australia. Thankfully we didn’t make the same mistake in Canada and used a reputable money transfer company.

Banks usually build a bigger margin into their exchange rate than specialist transfer services, so compare the amount that will actually land in your Canadian account.

• Wise is easy for everyday amounts, and it also offers a CAD account and card in Canada, which is handy before your bank account is open.
• For larger amounts, TorFX has no transfer fees; their margin is built into the exchange rate.
• Revolut works in Canada as a card for spending, but it isn’t a full Canadian bank account, so you will still want a local account for your wages and Interac e-Transfers.

Read our guide to sending money to Canada from abroad for a full comparison, or our international money transfer guide.

Our tip: instead of transferring money every so often, we did one bulk transfer and didn’t have to worry about having enough for the weeks ahead.

11. You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

• You need this nine-digit number to work in Canada.
• You can apply online (the fastest option, about five business days), at any Service Canada office, or at a SIN@Landing desk at some major airports such as Toronto Pearson and Vancouver when they are open.
• You’ll need your work permit and your passport.
• You can start working as soon as you have applied, even before the number arrives.
• Your SIN will start with a 9 and expires on the same day as your work permit. If your permit changes, you need to update your SIN.

Our tip: don’t wait, as your employer will need it as soon as you start work.

Everything you need is on the SIN page for temporary residents.

12. Find your dream job quickly

This one is a bit vague, as everyone has different skills, experience and education.

Getting “a” job shouldn’t be hard if you are open-minded and willing to take anything at first.

Vancouver was very good to us, and getting a job couldn’t have been easier.

The government’s own Job Bank, Indeed and Craigslist have new listings every day.

It’s easy to settle into a comfortable job and stop looking. But we urge you to keep following your passion and find something you love.

Our tip: when you are job hunting, check social media too and update your LinkedIn profile.

13. Planning to travel around Canada?

Canada is beautiful, and there is so much to see.

We settled in Vancouver for the year but still took weekend trips whenever we could.

We usually hired a car and took the ferry to Vancouver Island or the Sunshine Coast. Discover Cars compares car hire companies.

If you don’t drive, VIA Rail runs long-distance trains. Note that Greyhound no longer runs buses within Canada (it ended its Canadian routes in 2021), so check regional bus companies for your route.

We also did an epic road trip from Vancouver to Yellowknife. You can read all about it in our Canadian Rockies road trip guide.

14. What to do with your driving licence

• You can drive in Canada on your home licence for a short time after you arrive.
• Rules depend on the province.
• In British Columbia, for example, you have 90 days to switch to a BC driver’s licence.
• Your licence and driving record must show at least two years of driving experience.
• Ireland, the UK and Australia are on BC’s list of countries whose licences can be exchanged.
• If your licence is in another language, you might need a translation, just like I did.

All the details and how to apply in BC are on the ICBC website. Other provinces have their own licensing offices, so check theirs if you’re moving elsewhere.

We found it straightforward to convert an Irish driving licence: you hand it over and your new BC licence is posted out to you.

Keep in mind that you hand in your Irish licence, so you won’t have it any more (unless you go home and switch it back).

15. Everyone needs to do their taxes

In Canada, unlike some other countries, you file your own tax return.

• The tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
• Early in the new year your employer gives you a T4 slip with your income and tax details.
• You must file by 30 April. For the 2026 tax year, the deadline is 30 April 2027.
• Option 1 (and cheapest) is to do it yourself. Once you have a SIN you can file online with CRA-certified tax software, and some of it is free. The CRA guide for newcomers explains what to include.
• Option 2 is a service such as TurboTax or H&R Block. This may involve a fee depending on your claim.
• Option 3 is a local registered tax preparer, again for a fee. If you only had one or two employers, it might not be worth it, but if you’re totally confused it could be your best bet.

Read our guide to managing tax as a backpacker in Canada for more, including whether you might get a refund.

Your working holiday in Canada will be unforgettable

If you want to stay after your working holiday visa ends, read how to stay in Canada after IEC.

We hope this guide has made your working holiday visa in Canada (also called IEC or a work permit) a bit clearer.

Whether you are moving to Toronto or Vancouver, embrace it and enjoy the experience.

We know there’s a lot to take in, and the “before you get here” part is stressful enough, never mind everything after you land.

If you are travelling on your own, join a few groups before you get on the plane, so you already have people to meet when you arrive.

We would love to hear about your own experience, so please comment and share.

Safe travels and good luck with your working holiday in Canada! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on our travels.

Steve and Sabina

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