Work in Canada

You can find the list of nationalities eligible for the working holiday visa here.

If you participated in IEC before 2015 for a period of up to 12 months, you are eligible for a second participation of up to 24 months. Those who participated in IEC more than once before 2015 are no longer eligible to apply but you could be eligible for another visa. Check out our visa page  for more info.

Yes! On the Essential and Ultimate, you'll have access to our offices in Toronto and Vancouver, which are a great place to meet like-minded travellers. The team in our offices run regular social events to help you to settle in, make new friends and get the most out of your experience. For Ultimate travellers you will be guaranteed a job with other BUNACers so there is plenty of opportunity to make friends.

For up-to-date Work Canada program and visa costs, visit our cost and inclusions page. 

We offer a full range of travel and support packages that include pre-departure support, job listings, guaranteed interviews, accommodation and assistance with your visa application. Depending on your eligibility, nationality and whether you have done a Canada working holiday before, BUNAC can support you with applying for three types of visas (IEC visa, Recognised Organisation Letter and Young Professionals visa). Please check out the program inclusions for each here.

On our main Work Canada program for those applying for a Canada working holiday visa for the first time, the main difference between the Essential Canada and Ultimate Canada is that the Ultimate Canada includes a 4-6 month pre-arranged seasonal job, which you’ll interview for before you leave your home country.

Essential travellers. Our partner organisation advertise properties with rooms available and are on hand to help you find somewhere to live once you get to Canada.
Ultimate travellers. All our Ultimate employers include either subsidised accommodation or accommodation assistance, and you will be living with other BUNACers on the program.

The level of job support you receive depends on the Work Canada package you choose.

Essential travellers. We’re here to offer advice and support. Once you are on the program, you’ll have access to a BUNAC Work Canada Handbook which has useful advice on job hunting and lists the best websites to use for your search. The team in Canada are on hand to help with every aspect of your working holiday, including helping you obtain your SIN (Social Insurance Number) which you will need before you begin working.

Ultimate travellers. We’ll secure a pre-arranged 4-6 month seasonal job for you before you go, which you’ll interview for whilst you’re at home. You’ll need to be available to work for the full summer or winter resort season (summer is Jun-Sep, and winter is Nov-Mar/Apr). You can find out more about our employers here. 

No, from 2022 you don’t need to have a pre-arranged job. However, we would recommend using our work support resources to find a job or at least start putting out some feelers before you go. A 4-6 month pre-arranged seasonal job on our Ultimate Canada option is a great way to get settled in, start earning money and get set up for the rest of your visa. 

You can do almost any work on an IEC visa. A lot of people tend to do casual work as this is relatively easy to find, e.g. working in a shop, restaurant or hotel. However, as the visa is for 24 months, it is possible to find a more career related job, e.g. if you are a qualified teacher, tradesperson or professional. Ski resorts are popular destinations for skiing enthusiasts to work during the winter season and many of the employers in these resorts offer a ski pass as a perk of the job. Get a feel for jobs in Canada here.

The Canadian IEC visa is very flexible. It allows you to work anywhere in Canada. You can go for three months or up to 24 months – it’s up to you. 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 guarantee up to three interviews with our Canadian employers. 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 can arrange your own insurance but you are required to have comprehensive health care and repatriation insurance valid for the entire duration of your trip. Once on the program, we can email you information on what an insurance policy should cover. BUNAC is proud to work with some of the best insurance providers in the business, designed especially for an extended working holiday overseas. Get a quote here.