Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced that Canada wants to double the amount of Irish young people who come to Canada each year through the International Experience Canada program, also called the working holiday visa. 
Currently, 1,000 spaces are available for Irish youth in the IEC program. By 2013, this number of spaces will grow to 6,350 and to 10,000 in 2014.
“Our government is focused on creating a proactive, nimble immigration system that helps us grow Canada’s economy,” said the Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “Relations between Ireland and Canada are already close, based on family ties, historically rooted cultural affinities and shared democratic political traditions. The expansion of the Canada-Ireland working holiday agreement will not only help build a stronger Canada but will also strengthen the ties between the two countries.”
Canada is competing heavily with Australia and New Zealand for highly educated Irish youth who are looking for work abroad. In the International Experience Canada program, foreign nationals are able to live in Canada on a temporary basis, while also being permitted to work in Canada in order to support themselves during their trip.
Irish passport holders who are between the ages of 18 and 35 can apply.
As of right now, the working holiday visa can be applied for twice, for 12 months at a time. In the future when the program expands, Irish passport holders who fit the specified age range will be able to apply once for a two-year span. Previously, Irish citizens had to return home before applying again, which was quite inconvenient.
Working holiday programs are amazing ways to travel and see the world. They can be life-changing experiences for young people who want to spend time in another country while being able to work in order to fund their stay. If you are interested in a working holiday to Canada, please contact us! We can help you if you are an Irish citizen or another foreign national. Please contact us using the form on the right or at the telephone number at the top of this page.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
