Eligibility

So you want to work and travel in Canada!

To be eligible for the New Zealand Working Holiday Program (NZWHP) to Canada you must satisfy in full the criteria listed below:

• Hold a New Zealand passport valid for at least two years at time of application (contact IEP for advice if your passport is not valid for the next two years)
• Be aged between 18 to 35 years inclusive. (Your application must be stamped as received at the Canadian High Commission, Wellington prior to or on your 36th birthday)
• Have no criminal convictions, including serious traffic convictions. Minor offences may be admissible. If you have any convictions please contact the IEP office prior to application.
• Be travelling on a return or onward passage ticket
• Not have activated a Letter of Introduction for a previous NZWHP from the Canadian High Commission
• 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: 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 with an Embassy, have criminality, medical or background issues or if the processing time increases. It is possible for a faster processing time but that depends on the situation, please contact us and we will be able to give you a more accurate timeline.

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.