WHV Canada: Permit to go to Canada

For a stay of less than 6 months in Canada : You can carry out the formalities for entering Canada directly via the Internet by clicking on the online form. It is not necessary to obtain an appointment at the Canadian embassy or consulate.

Do you dream of discovering Canada while having the possibility of doing odd jobs to finance your exploration? The Working Holiday Program (WHV Canada) is for you.

Also called the Working Holiday Visa (WHV), this program allows thousands of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 to take the plunge each year and fly to the country of poutine for an unforgettable professional and human experience. We are going to explain to you the essentials to know about the Canadian PVT.

What is PVT Canada?

The PVT Canada is a program for young people aged 18 to 35 wishing to reside in Canada for a period of up to 24 months maximum. Canada is not the only country to offer a PVT, but it is certainly one of the most requested with the PVT Australia.

In concrete terms, people holding a working holiday visa can generally stay up to one year in a country, two years for Canada (the period of validity depends on bilateral agreements between each country) and work there with the aim of fund their trip. Finding a job is not an obligation in itself, but it can be a welcome help to finance your trip.

Neither is it necessary to find a job before leaving, but it is necessary to have sufficient financial resources to support oneself, at least at the start of the journey ($2,500 CAN).

The PVT Canada has for some time been a victim of its own success and the number of requests exceeds the quotas put in place by the Canadian government. Allocation is now done by lottery in a series of invitation rounds.

The PVTists must therefore arm themselves with patience and hope to be drawn by lot to be able to leave for a stay in Canada within the framework of the Canadian PVT.

How to get a Canadian PVT?

Eligibility conditions

The working holiday program offered by the Canadian government only concerns nationals aged 18 to 35 from a country that has signed an agreement with Canada under the IEC program (International Experience Canada).

A passport valid for the entire duration of the PVT Canada is of course required.

You must also have the necessary funds to support yourself during the first months of your stay (CAN$2,500). A round-trip (or out-of-territory) plane ticket is mandatory unless you can prove you have additional funds.

Procedure to follow to obtain a PVT Canada

Once certain that you meet the admission criteria, you must create an IEC candidate profile by completing a questionnaire. The answers given determine in which “pool” your application is placed among:

• the PVT basin;
• the young professional pool;
• the Coop internship pool.

The profiles are then studied and the candidates selected by drawing lots during rounds of invitations. In each round, several people are drawn until the established quota is reached, which amounts to 7,150 French participants for the year 2019.

If you are lucky enough to be selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for a work permit. You have 10 days to accept this invitation. Once the invitation has been accepted, you have 20 days to finalize your process.

Several documents must be attached to your application, including:

• a copy of your passport;
• An identity photo ;
• your CV ;
• an extract from the criminal record (in certain cases);
• a medical certificate (in certain cases).

You must then pay the fees for managing your file (CAN$150) and for issuing your “open” work permit (CAN$100).

Once the fees have been paid, you are asked to provide your biometrics within 30 days. To do this, you must go to an official collection point called a “visa application center (VAC)”. You will be told where the nearest VAC is located.

As soon as your application is approved, a letter of introduction at the port of entry is sent to you. This letter must be presented to the Canadian customs officer upon your arrival.

Obligations to respect

A certificate of insurance covering your entire stay must be provided. Taking out travel insurance is mandatory, because medical costs and repatriation costs can quickly become pharaonic across the Atlantic. Please note, if your insurance does not cover the entire validity period of your PVT Canada, it will be reduced accordingly.

Recently, Canada introduced an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for travelers traveling by air to Canada. This authorization will be compulsory for the travelers concerned, for example the pvtistes. For the latter, the eTA is normally automatically linked to the passport without an application being made. We still recommend that you check whether or not you need to apply for an eTA before your departure.

Find work in Canada

Once in Canada, you can start looking for work in any field. Indeed, WHP Canada has almost no job type or time restrictions, unlike other countries.

You will surely have to open a bank account on site to be able to receive your salary in Canadian dollars and complete some formalities.

You also have the possibility of turning to international volunteering by joining programs such as Helpx or Wwoofing, in order to discover the world of organic farming, while being fed and housed.

Canada is seen as an Eldorado by young professionals. Although the job market there is dynamic, you will still have to make some effort to find a job in Canada and adapt to a new environment, because competition is fierce between pvtistes. Don’t forget to change your curriculum vitae to Canadian standards for more efficiency.

Testimonials from people who have taken advantage of this program are mostly positive. Discovering a new culture and getting out of your comfort zone can only be beneficial to a person’s development.

Such an experience can even lead you to reconsider certain choices and why not become a permanent resident in Canada or elsewhere. Have a good trip !