Working Holidays in Canada
1. Student Work Abroad Schemes
This is how most young people from other countries get to have a working holiday in Canada. Unlike the Australian programme; these programmes require that foreigners are either full-time university students, or have recently graduated.
The Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP)
The programme is offered to people from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. Generally it provides a one-year, non-renewable open- permit visa, except to Americans, for whom it's a six-month visa. Age limits vary from country to country, so it's best to check for your own, but generally it's for 18 to 30 year olds. The programme doesn't find travellers work, but its regis tration fee does ensure the necessary working visa, two nights' accommodation upon arrival and various other services.
For more information, contact a student travel agency in your country or a Travel Cuts agency in Canada. Your university campus placement and career centre may have information as well.
British Universities North American Club (BUNAC)
Under this programme, one-year, non-renewable working holiday visas are available to students from the UK who are taking a year off or who have just finished their `A' levels and who are between 18 and 35 years old. Applicants must show proof they are returning to school or continuing on with higher education. BUNAC also has a programme for non-students.
British students can also take part in a volunteer programme during their 'gap year'. Go to www.gaporg.uk for more information.
2. Live-in Caregiver Program
Caregivers are people who are qualified to care independently for children, elderly or the disabled. There are some requirements you have to meet in order to participate in this programme.
- You must have the equivalent of a Canadian high school education.
- You need to have six months of full-time training or 12 months of full-time paid working experience in the field or occupation that is related to the live-in caregiver job you are looking for. The paid work experience must include six months of continuous employment with one employer. Examples of relevant fields are early childhood education, geriatric care, paediatric nursing and first aid. Your experience must have been gained within the three years prior to your application.
- You must be able to speak, read and understand either English or French.
The work visa will be for one year and must be renewed for the next year before it expires. To renew it the employer must provide a signed contract showing the job as a live-in caregiver is being offered for another year.
3. Working Holiday Programmes
Working holiday visas usually involve age restrictions. Some are for university students only while others are employer specific and work more like a temporary work visa. Canada has different agreements with different countries. In general, such visas are restricted to 18-30-year-olds. Quebec has its own agreements with particular countries, especially Belgium and France.
