09 · Youth & Reciprocal Mobility
Working Holiday Support
Application support for reciprocal working holiday programs — available only between specific destination and passport-country pairs.
Learn More
A working holiday visa lets eligible young travellers live, travel, and work in a partner country for an extended period, usually without needing a job offer first. Unlike most visa categories, these run on bilateral agreements — a destination only opens its program to specific passport-holding countries, and your own nationality determines whether you can apply at all, regardless of the destination's general rules. There is no universal 'working holiday visa.' Select a destination below to see which passport countries currently qualify, or start with a free assessment to check your own eligibility.
Select your destination
Requirements and visa categories vary by country. Choose a destination to see what applies.
International Experience Canada (IEC) — Working Holiday
Canada's International Experience Canada (IEC) program runs bilateral youth mobility agreements with dozens of partner countries. Its Working Holiday category is an open work permit — work for any employer, in any sector, without needing a job offer first — while the Young Professionals and International Co-op categories require an employer or internship arrangement. Each partner country has its own age range and annual quota; not every nationality is included.
Who this may be relevant for
- —Applicants aged 18–30 or 18–35, depending on the specific partner-country agreement
- —Applicants holding a passport from one of Canada's current IEC partner countries
Important application areas
- —Confirming your passport country's IEC pool and quota status
- —Proof of funds (commonly CAD 2,500) and health insurance
- —Timing of the IEC profile and invitation-to-apply process
Process
Free Assessment
Share your passport country, age, and destination of interest.
Partner-Country Check
We confirm whether a working holiday agreement currently exists between your passport country and that destination.
Application Preparation
Your working holiday application is organized against that program's specific requirements.
Submission Support
You submit with a coherent, well-documented application, including any quota or ballot step.
Common questions
Can anyone apply for a working holiday visa?
No — these programs only exist between specific pairs of countries. Your passport country has to be one of the destination's current partners, separate from any general visitor eligibility that country offers.
Is a working holiday visa the same as a work visa?
No. A working holiday visa is typically open work authorization for a fixed period without needing an employer sponsor first, while most work visas require a specific job offer or category — see our Work Visa service for that comparison.
Does every destination on this site offer a working holiday program?
No. Among the destinations we cover, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea currently run working holiday programs with specific partner countries. The United States, Vietnam, and Thailand do not currently offer one.
Working holiday eligibility is determined by the relevant destination's immigration authority and its bilateral agreements, which change over time. Covalyn Migration does not guarantee entry or approval. Where regulated advice or representation is required, it must be provided by an appropriately authorized professional.
Start Working Holiday Assessment