Working Holiday Visas for Canadians: Countries and Ages

Key takeaways

Only Canadian citizens can use these agreements; permanent residents cannot
Age limits are 18–35 for most countries, but 18–30 for Andorra, Belgium, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden
The UK allows up to 3 years in total; Ireland, France, Iceland, Korea and New Zealand allow up to about 2 years
Australia lets Canadians use its Working Holiday visa up to 3 times, to age 35
You apply to the other country’s government, not to IRCC; fees, funds and quotas are set by each country

Who this guide is for

Who this page is for: Canadian citizens aged 18 to 35 who want to live and work abroad for a year or two, including newcomers who have recently become citizens. Permanent residents who are not yet citizens cannot use Canada’s youth mobility agreements; they would need a visa based on their own citizenship.

Most people who go on a working holiday stay Canadian tax residents if they keep a home or family here, but some become non-residents. Check with the tax residency checker before you go.

How Canada’s youth mobility agreements work

Canada’s International Experience Canada (IEC) program is two-way. Young people from partner countries come to Canada, and young Canadians can go to those countries. Each agreement sets:

Categories: Working Holiday (no job offer needed), Young Professionals (job offer in your field) and International Co-op (internships for students).
Age limits: usually 18 to 35, sometimes 18 to 30, inclusive.
Length of stay: usually up to 12 months, sometimes 24 or more.
How many times: once, twice (often in a different category), or more.

You apply to the other country (its embassy, consulate or online visa system). The other country sets fees, proof of funds, health insurance rules and any yearly quota.

Every country, age limit and length of stay

From IRCC’s International Experience Canada pages for Canadians, checked October 5, 2026. Click a country for its official IRCC page and the link to apply.

Country	Age	Maximum stay	Times you can go	Categories
Andorra	18–30	Up to 12 months	Once	Working holiday
Australia	18–35	Up to 12 months per visa	Up to 3 times (36 months)	Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Austria	18–30 (working holiday); 18–35 (other)	Up to 12 months (6 for young workers)	Varies by category	Working holiday, company training, young workers exchange
Belgium	18–30	Up to 12 months	Once	Working holiday
Chile	18–35	Up to 12 months	Once	4 categories incl. working holiday
Costa Rica	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Young professionals, internship, working holiday
Croatia	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice	Graduates, students, working holiday
Czech Republic	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Graduates, students, working holiday
Denmark	18–35	Up to 12 months (max 6 months work)	Once	Working holiday
Estonia	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Career, internship, working holiday
Finland	18–35	Up to 12 months	Once per category	Working holiday, young professional, co-op
France	18–35	Up to 24 months	Varies by category	Working holiday, young professionals, students and interns
Germany	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Young professionals, internships, students, working holiday
Greece	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Graduates, students, working holiday
Hong Kong	18–30	Up to 12 months	Once	Working holiday
Iceland	18–30	Up to 24 months (12 + 12)	Once	Working holiday
Ireland	18–35	Up to 24 months (12 for co-op)	Once	Working holiday, co-op/internship
Italy	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice	Working holiday, work, study/intern
Japan	18–30	Up to 12 months	Twice	Working holiday
Korea (South)	18–35	Up to 24 months (working holiday)	Twice (working holiday)	Working holiday, young professionals, co-op
Latvia	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Career, internship, working holiday
Lithuania	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Career, internship, working holiday
Luxembourg	18–35	Up to 12 months	Once	Working holiday
Netherlands	18–30	Up to 12 months	Once per program	Working holiday, young workers exchange
New Zealand	18–35	Up to 23 months	Once	Working holiday
Norway	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	5 categories incl. working holiday
Poland	18–35	Up to 12 months	Check IRCC page	Professional development, internship, working holiday
Portugal	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (with a break)	Working holiday
San Marino	18–35	Up to 12 months (max 6 months per employer)	Twice	Working holiday
Slovakia	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Career, internship, working holiday
Slovenia	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	Graduates, students, working holiday
Spain	18–35	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	5 categories incl. working holiday
Sweden	18–30	Up to 12 months	Twice (different category)	5 categories incl. working holiday
Switzerland	18–35	Up to 12 months (18 months total)	Twice	Young professionals only (job offer needed)
Taiwan	18–35	Up to 12 months	Once	Youth mobility (working holiday or placement)
United Kingdom	18–35	Up to 24 months, plus 12-month extension (36 total)	Once	Youth Mobility Scheme

Age limits are inclusive: “18–35” means you can apply up to the day before your 36th birthday, but some countries count your age on the day they receive your application, so apply early.

The most popular choices

United Kingdom

The UK Youth Mobility Scheme lets Canadians aged 18 to 35 live and work for up to 2 years, with a 12-month extension for up to 3 years in total. You can go once. You pay a visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and must show savings: check the current amounts on GOV.UK.

Australia

Canadians can get the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) up to age 35, for 12 months at a time. Doing specified work, such as farm work in regional areas, lets you apply for a second and third visa, up to 36 months in total.

New Zealand

Canadians aged 18 to 35 can stay up to 23 months on a working holiday, once.

Ireland and France

Both allow up to 24 months. France has several categories, including a working holiday and young professional streams.

Japan and Korea

Japan’s working holiday is for ages 18 to 30, up to 12 months, and you can go twice. Korea’s is for ages 18 to 35, up to 24 months.

Before you go: a short checklist

Passport: most countries want it valid for your whole stay, some for 12 months beyond entry.
Health insurance: your provincial plan may stop covering you if you are away too long. Buy cover that meets the host country’s rules. See health insurance when leaving Canada.
Money: most countries ask for proof of funds and a return ticket or money for one. Plan with the move abroad budget.
Tax: if you keep ties in Canada, you stay a resident and report your foreign income on your Canadian return, with a credit for foreign tax. See the foreign tax credit calculator.
Phone and banking: keep one Canadian account and card active for when you come back.

After a working holiday

Many people use a working holiday to test life abroad before a longer move. If you decide to stay, you usually need a different visa, such as a skilled worker visa. Compare options with the visa finder. If you come back, the returning to Canada checklist covers health cards and tax.

Common questions

Can Canadian permanent residents get a working holiday visa through IEC agreements?

No. The agreements are for Canadian citizens. A permanent resident would need to use the agreements or visas available to their own citizenship.

What is the age limit for a UK Youth Mobility visa for Canadians?

Canadians can apply from 18 to 35, inclusive. The visa allows up to 2 years, and Canadians can extend for another 12 months.

Can I do the Australian working holiday more than once?

Yes. Canadians can get up to three Working Holiday visas (subclass 417), up to 36 months in total, if they do the required specified work for the second and third visas.

Do I apply through IRCC?

No. IRCC lists the agreements, but you apply to the other country’s government. Each country sets its own fees and requirements.

Will I still be a Canadian tax resident?

Often yes, if you keep a home or family in Canada. Then you report your foreign income in Canada and claim a credit for tax paid abroad. If you cut your ties, you may become a non-resident.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Working holiday visas for Canadians: every country and age limit