Eligibility

So you want to work and travel in Canada!

Work Canada Job Fair jobs are for the North American winter ski season, start anywhere between October to December and last for around 5 months. To be eligible you need to be able to leave Australia in November or December and employers usually only hire applicants who can commit to 5 months of work.

You also need to be eligible for the Australian Working Holiday Program (AUWHP) to Canada. To be eligible you must satisfy in full the criteria listed below:

• Hold an Australian passport valid for at least two years at time of application (contact IEP for advice if your passport will expire within 2 years)
• Be aged between 18 to 30 years inclusive. (Your application must be stamped as received at the Canadian High Commission prior to or on your 31st birthday)
• Have no criminal convictions, including serious traffic offences. Minor offences may be admissible. If you have any convictions please contact the IEP office prior to application.
• Be travelling on a return/onward passage ticket, or have additional proof of funds to show you can purchase such a ticket
• Provide documentary evidence on arrival in Canada of access to approximately CA$2,500 (i.e. traveller’s cheques, cash, current bank statements or term deposit certificates) to cover your initial support costs
• Have an insurance policy for the duration of your stay

IMPORTANT: Please note that the allocation of working holiday visas for Canada has been filled for 2015. You can still apply and plan to depart in 2016. If you have any questions please call 03 9329 3866 or contact us here.)

Application timeframe: You can apply for the Work Canada Job Fair program before you apply for the Canadian Working Holiday Visa. The employers want you to start work at the end of November or early December, so you have lots of time to apply for the working holiday visa after your job interview has been completed.

You should allow at least 8-12 weeks for the complete process from submitting your initial application to having your visa issued; however it can take longer depending on if you have to attend an interview, have criminality, medical or background issues or if the processing time increases.

The Canadian High Commission require a criminal record form to be included with every visa application. This means all participants on the Work Canada and Work Canada Job Fair Program will have to submit this form with their visa application. The criminal record can take a month to get (officially 20 working days) and effectively adds 4- 6 weeks onto the application process. Please take this into consideration when selecting your desired departure date.