Jenza Work Canada
Working holidays in Canada
Want to live in Canada for up to a year with visa support, a pre-arranged seasonal job and five nights' accommodation when you land? Do Canadian bears *beep* in the woods?
Fancy a yarn?
Let’s talk
The Canada visa pools close in Sep, so apply now ready for summer '24!
Head for the hills
Why do a working holiday visa Canada?
Home to chilled locals, cool cities and wilderness scenery that will happily blow your ski socks off – Canada is one of the most liveable countries in the world. And thanks to a flexible two-year working holiday visa, one of the most workable. Hit the ground/slopes/trails running with a pre-arranged 4-6 month summer or ski season job. Or carve your own path doing casual or career work in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal or Edmonton.
The Jenza difference
Roadtested experiences
Hear from travellers who’ve been there and worn the ‘I heart Ryan Reynolds’ tee. Our roadtesters trial every JENZA experience to ensure it serves our travel community first.
Unlimited Job Hub access
The worst part of job hunting? All of it. Which is why we source and vet hundreds of jobs. Interview before you go, when you land and for your whole visa.
Yes to no stress
From guiding you through the working holiday visa process to bed nights, job workshops and bank account support when you land – we help work out all the details.
18-35 years
12-month visa
Visa applications open Dec/Jan
Ski or summer job before you go
Earn CAD $15-$20 ph
5 nights when you land
$800
What she said
"I wouldn’t take anything back, this has been the best experience of my life.”
Mia, JENZA roadtester
Get on board
Work Canada | $800
We provide the visa application help, pre-arranged job and arrival support you need to spend up to a year living and working in Canada.
Starting in Vancouver or Toronto, our optional group start dates allow you to spend the first six days of your Canada working holiday with people like you. With five nights’ hostel accommodation, arrival orientations and job workshops – it’s the best way to settle into Canadian life before starting work.
Sure, getting your working holiday visa for Canada can be a bit of a hill to climb, but that’s where yours truly comes in.
About the visa
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Who and for how long
To work in Canada, you must have a work permit from International Experience Canada (the IEC). The IEC visa allows you to work for up to 12 months in any industry, other than the sex industry.
There are only a limited number of IEC Canada visas each year, and so applications work via a pool system. (Not the fun pina colada kind, the kind where if your name is drawn out, you’ll be sent an ‘Invitation to Apply’ for your work permit).
Fast forward some more forms and a biometrics appointment, and you'll receive your ‘Port of Entry’ letter to work in Canada. You then have 12 months to enter the country.
The IEC visa pool opens in Dec/Jan each year, and usually stays open until Sep/Oct. Applying early ensures your profile is exposed to the maximum number of name draws.
- US passport holders must have their ‘Invitation to Apply’ letter before their 36th birthday
- Have proof of CAD $2,500 in support funds
- No criminal convictions from the last five years
Most applicants are required to have a police background check
Confused? Scroll the page to watch Jessie explain the visa process.
Make it work
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Where and what you can do
Your visa allows you to do casual or career work. Typical backpacker and gap year jobs include working in tourism, hospitality, sales, labouring, childcare, retail and seasonal work in ski and summer resorts.
Seasonal jobs are the most popular options for travellers when they first arrive – working as a housekeeper, server, barista, chef, lift attendant, rental technician, driver or ski instructor. The minimum wage differs per state or province, with Alberta, Ontario and British Colombia all around the CAD $15 mark. Most of our pre-arranged ski and summer season employers pay between $15-21 an hour, plus tips where applicable.
You can also work in industries related to your career, education or trade – such as nursing, beauty, marketing, finance, recruitment and everything between. Here your earning potential will be higher, especially with a two-year visa to build up your experience
Departure dates
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Start Toronto or Vancouver
While numbers are not guaranteed (especially outside of the ski season), we suggest timing your flights with our group arrival dates and monthly social:
- 10 Jan 23
- 14 Feb 23
- 14 Mar 23
- 11 Apr 23
- 9 May 23
- 13 Jun 23
- 11 Jul 23
- 8 Aug 23
- 12 Sep 23
- 10 Oct 23
- 14 Nov 23
- 12 Dec 23 However, SWAP (our in-country partners) run an in-person arrival orientation every Wednesday, so you can arrive at any time and we'll book your hostel accommodation around your flights.
What's included
Visa inclusions
IEC visa pool and application support
The IEC doesn't allow us to apply for your visa on your behalf, but we're with you the whole way – with the correct forms, one-on-one calls and visa webinars to ensure your application is submitted correctly.
Your visa fee (currently CAD $261) is paid directly to the Canadian government, and you must also attend a biometrics appointment at a designated biometrics centre to have your photo and fingerprints taken.
The whole visa process from entering the IEC visa pool to receiving your ‘Port of Entry’ letter can take between 2-3 months. We suggest booking as soon as the pool opens for the best chance of securing a visa.
Job inclusions
Unlimited pre-vetted working holiday jobs
You can interview with our summer or winter employers before you go, plus access unlimited working holiday jobs on the road.
Our Dream Jobs team scour the planet finding seasonal employers who are looking to take on working holidaymakers. They’re pre-vetted to make sure everything is legit, and once you get your ‘Invitation to Apply’, you can start searching and applying for positions on our JENZA Job Hub.
If you want to sort a job before you go, we work with some of the top resorts in Canada, including in Banff and Whistler, to help you secure a 4-6 month ski season or summer job. Depending on the resort, you’ll need to commit to the full winter season (Nov-Mar) or summer season (May-Sep). Almost all our seasonal employers include subsidised staff housing (around $400-600 per month) and great perks such as discounted lift passes, gear hire, and ski or snowboard lessons.
If you’d rather wait until you land, a job workshop is included in your arrival orientation. You’ll also have access to our JENZA Job Hub for your whole visa.
Pre-departure inclusions
Expert advice from people who’ve been
Your Work Canada ride or die, all our JENZA Support Squad have worked the world, so can give you firsthand advice on moving overseas. As well as being a geeky bunch of travel nerds and visa whisperers, we're also mental health awareness trained. Which means we know how to connect like humans – not customer service bots.
On top of one-on-one video calls, visa webinars and pre-departure handbooks, there’s a group call with the team in Canada every Tuesday to answer all your questions before you go.
In-country inclusions
Arrival orientation with 5 nights' accommodation
- 5 nights at the Samesun hostel in either Toronto, Vancouver or Banff; or the HI hostel in Calgary
- Weekly in-person arrival orientation every Wednesday (remote if starting in Banff or Calgary)
- Job workshops to find available positions and get your CV Canada-ready (remote if starting in Banff or Calgary)
- Long-term accommodation support
- Monthly social events in Vancouver and Toronto
- Access to SWAP’s resource centres in Vancouver or Toronto for your whole visa
If you’re heading straight for the mountains or don’t want to go via Vancouver or Toronto, you can use your accommodation in Banff or Calgary at any point in your trip.
Work essentials
SIN, bank account and more
This is all the un-sexy stuff, but essential and legal stuff you need to start working in Canada. When you arrive, the SWAP team will help you to set up:
- SIN (Social Insurance Number)
- Canada bank account
- SIM card
Jen-setter benefits
Plus, these JENZA community perks
Free (or close to free) stuff Our favourite F word. Score hundreds of overseas discounts with our virtual JENZA X IYTC card.
Earn extra cash Shot it? Share it. We pay for blogs, vlogs, images and videos. DM us on Insta and send us a pitch.
Ask an alumni Hear from people who've been. We try to have an alumni on every pre-departure call to answer all your questions.
Find a friend Meet people like you. Connect with travellers arriving at the same time on our JENZA Discord group chats.
Book now pay later
- Secure your spot with a $115 deposit to get started with the IEC visa application, with support from the JENZA team.
Final payment of $685 to gain access to the jobs hub, once your ITA is secured.
About our pricing | Our mission is to make working abroad more accessible. Meaning we do everything we can pay our team, support our partners and make a profit – without screwing over the people who matter. Find out how our pricing works and the people involved in making your JENZA happen.
We also walk the walk, donating 5% of profits to our overseas scholarship fund.
What’s not included
Support funds (CAD $)
You are required to show proof that you can access CAD $2,500.
Travel insurance for Canada
You may be asked for your policy documents at immigration, so you must take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for your whole stay. For example, if you book a six-month policy to save money, you run the risk of your visa being stamped for that duration – not the full duration of your visa.
In-person biometrics appointment
This is a condition of your visa and currently costs CAD $85.
Visa fee Canada
This is paid directly to the Canada Embassy and currently costs CAD $261.
Canada police background check
You need to provide a police check for every country you have continuously lived in for 6+ months since the age of 18. The process and cost varies per country.
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.
The great returners
Already used your IEC working holiday visa?
All is not lost! JENZA is also allocated RO letters (Recognised Organisation) and Young Professional visas that could still allow you to work in Canada. Call us to check what allocation is left and to see if you qualify.
Hired for winter '23 / Summer jobs coming soon
Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia
Jobs available: Activities and events. Pay is CAD $17/hour + free season pass for unlimited mountain access. Plus discounted food, rental and use of the pool and facilities. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Jobs available: Activities and events. Pay is CAD $17/hour + free season pass for unlimited mountain access. Plus discounted food, rental and use of the pool and facilities. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Hired for winter '23 / Summer jobs coming soon
Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario
Jobs available: Base Lodge Food & Beverage Assistant. Pay is CAD $17/hour. Subsidised staff housing, free skiing and riding, discounted retail. Plus, in-house training and development. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Jobs available: Base Lodge Food & Beverage Assistant. Pay is CAD $17/hour. Subsidised staff housing, free skiing and riding, discounted retail. Plus, in-house training and development. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Work in Canada / Year-round / Hiring now
Hiring: A Few Good Lads, Vancouver, BC
Jobs available: General Labourer. Pay is CAD $20.50/hour. Apprenticeship is a plus, but not a requirement. Monthly social mixers, discounts at local restaurants/bars, progression pathways to improve skills and increase salary.
Jobs available: General Labourer. Pay is CAD $20.50/hour. Apprenticeship is a plus, but not a requirement. Monthly social mixers, discounts at local restaurants/bars, progression pathways to improve skills and increase salary.
Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Asessippi Ski Area & Resort, Inglis
Jobs available: Various. Pay is CAD $14.15+/hour. Always our favourite 'F' word, perks include FREE STAFF HOUSING, free ski pass and free rental. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Jobs available: Various. Pay is CAD $14.15+/hour. Always our favourite 'F' word, perks include FREE STAFF HOUSING, free ski pass and free rental. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Hired for winter '23 / Summer jobs coming soon
Cypress Mountain, near Vancouver
Jobs available: Various from Guest Service to Mountain Operations. Pay is CAD $16.75+/hour. 30-minutes from Vancouver, get the best of both worlds living in the city and working on the mountain. Perks include: free shuttle, free season pass, food, beverage and rental discounts. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Jobs available: Various from Guest Service to Mountain Operations. Pay is CAD $16.75+/hour. 30-minutes from Vancouver, get the best of both worlds living in the city and working on the mountain. Perks include: free shuttle, free season pass, food, beverage and rental discounts. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Hired for winter '23 / Summer jobs coming soon
Banff Lodging Company, Alberta
Jobs available: Kitchen Helper. Pay is CAD $19/hour. Subsidised staff housing ($14/night), discounted lift pass, food and drink discounts, free yoga. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
Jobs available: Kitchen Helper. Pay is CAD $19/hour. Subsidised staff housing ($14/night), discounted lift pass, food and drink discounts, free yoga. Check back soon for summer '24 positions.
What the squad say
#Team talk
Canada visas explained
The IEC Canada visa process can be a bewildering one. A pool without togs is confusing for a start. Especially for Jessie (an Aussie) and one of our JENZA Support Squad. Here’s the need to know on who can apply for a working holiday visa Canada, how the visa pool works and when to apply.
Canada jobs explained
Your visa allows you to do pretty much any job in Canada. But doing a ski season when you arrive is an epic way to find your feet, meet other travellers and live on the mountain. And you don’t need to be able to ski or board. In fact, snow angels can be just as impressive as switch backside 180s. Plus, après ski is universal, right?
The JENZA blog
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All the inspo and intel on life in Canada
You shaped travel
What our Canada roadtesters had to say
Before you’re even let loose on one of our JENZA experiences, it’s trialled by either a JENZA roadtester or member of our Youth Advisory Panel. Because if it didn’t fly with them, it’s sure as heck not going to fly with you. Meet Mia and Laura, and their 2-4-1 advice on moving from Oz to Canada. It will give you chills.
Travel you can trust
Our Extra Mile Promise
Every JENZA experience has been shaped by our Youth Advisory Panel, roadtested by our travellers, and backed by 60+ years of work abroad expertise. But if we still don’t rock your world, we’ll refund the part of your JENZA program you’re not happy with. T&Cs apply
Who you gonna call?
Let's talk Canada
Get some facetime with our amazing JENZA Support Squad. When they’re not posing for pool pics, they’re making your work aboard adventures happen with their endless enthusiasm and mad traveller skills. These include: parent whispering, visa geekery and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.
More ways to work the world
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Did someone say ‘gap decade?'
BUNAC Travel Services Ltd trading as “JENZA” is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 01391030 and registered address at 5 Richbell Place, London, UK, WC1N 3LA.