Through International Experience Canada (IEC), the Government of Canada facilitates work and travel opportunities of up to two years for Canadian youth in more than 35 partner countries and territories. Working holidays give Canadians the unique opportunity to experience living like a local in a foreign country. The work permit that allows you to stay longer than a tourist, called a Working Holiday Visa, also gives you permission to get a job. This helps you to fund your trip and travel for longer!
Forget draining your savings like you would on a backpacking trip. Working during your trip helps you pay for your rent, food and travel adventures! This also means you can leave for your trip sooner because you will be making money as soon as you start working – no need to save for an extended period of unemployment. This opportunity is limited to Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35 – so do it while you still can! At Stepabroad we provide Canadians with personalized support and helpful resources for a safe, seamless, and fun transition abroad.
1 - 36 months
From C$299
Beaches for days, friendly culture, relaxed vibes and jaw-dropping scenery? There's nowhere like Australia. Travel securely knowing that you will have a team by your side to help you find a job and accommodation.
1 - 12 months
From C$499
Japan offers a mesmerizing blend of ancient tradition and modern technology, awe-inspiring landscapes, delicious food, and friendly people. There is so much to experience you really do need a year to soak it all in.
1 - 23 months
From C$299
Live in a place where you can learn to surf one weekend and hike a volcano the next. With exhilarating adventure activities, breathtaking landscapes, and easy-going vibes, New Zealand is a remarkable place to call home.
1 - 24 months
From C$499
Energetic cities, outstanding festivals, fairy-tale castles, vibrant culture and the arts. What’s not to love? Choose to live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (or all four!), and spend casual weekends exploring the rest of Europe.
1 - 36 months
From C$599
Spain: land of the bright, bold, and extremely delicious. Famous for welcoming people, exceptional weather, and incredible cuisine, Spain is a dream destination for any Canadian looking for a culturally immersive work abroad experience.
1 - 24 Months
From $499
With exciting cuisines such as Yangnyeom Chicken, Korean BBQ and Kimchi, this East Asian gem is a foodie’s paradise. Learn the lingo, embrace the culture & immerse yourself in a full year on a South Korea Working Holiday. Getting a Korean visa has never been easier with the help of Stepabroad.
4-24 Months
C$499
Sip exquisite wines in quaint vineyards, or savour croissants and coffee at charming cafes in the morning sun. Our France Working Holiday Visa Program is designed to make this dream come true.
The Canadian Government has an agreement with over 35 different countries allowing Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30 or 35 years old (depending on the country) to live and work abroad. This agreement is run through the Government’s International Experience Canada (IEC) Program. The program originated in 1956 with France, and today has partner countries and territories across Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Similarly, this bilateral agreement also allows international youth or IEC participants to work and travel in Canada from their home country on a working holiday. This is arranged by our inbound department Stepwest!
Through international work and travel, International Experience Canada (IEC) helps young Canadians grow personally and professionally, broaden their perspectives of the world and their place in it, and increase awareness of and sensitivity to other cultures and languages. Many Canadians have returned to Canada with life-changing experiences valuable to both their personal and professional lives! Are you ready to experience the same?
We are a Recognized Organization (RO) by the Government of Canada through its International Experience Canada Program, so we know exactly how the visa application process works. Our team has also travelled the world on working holidays, and we are passionate about helping you experience those life-changing moments that come from living abroad. Curious? Ask us about our own experiences!
Take a look to this video for an overview of the International Experience Canada application process for Canadians, but don’t stress! We are here to help you make you working holiday experience a reality!
Feel free to check out our program destinations for more details on our Working Holiday Programs. Not sure where to start? Connect with us today to book a Free Meeting with our team and let’s start planning the adventure of a lifetime!
Canadian citizens across Canada that are between the ages of 18 and 35 inclusively are eligible to apply to our Working Holiday Programs. Please note that some countries might have an age limitation of 30 years, such as Japan.
Nope! Our participants reside across Canada from coast to coast. All of our services are conducted online via email and video call. We also use video calls and emails, social media, for check-ins and to answer quick questions from our participants. So no worries, it does not matter where you are located now!
If you do live in Vancouver, or happen to be passing through, we’d be happy to set up a time for you to pop into our office. We’d love to meet you!
No, you do not have to be a student to participate in any of our programs. Our programs are for all Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 (30), no matter if you are working, studying or doing both!
This is completely up to you! We typically recommend going on a working holiday for at least six months and up to three years (depending on the destination) to make the most of your time living, working and traveling in your destination country. You only get one Working Holiday Visa for each country, so it’s worth it to make the most of it!
For some our programs, absolutely! In some of our programs, we will arrange your job before you leave Canada so you arrive with a job guaranteed, such us our Japan Ski Resort program
We also offer a guaranteed job trough our local team upon arrival for our Australia and New Zealand programs, check them out here!
In other programs, we will help you in your job search after you have landed in your destination country. Let us know how much support you are looking for and we will recommend the right program for you!
We currently offer Working Holiday Programs for Canadians in Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France and Spain.
Check out the full list of countries offering the Working Holiday Visa for Canadians.
Each country has a different agreement with Canada, however, generally, you can expect the following general requirements:
You can find the individual visa application requirement details on our Working Holiday Program pages, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France and Spain; still have questions! Connect with us today!