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Working Holiday Canada for Germans (2026): requirements, quota and status

Working holiday

The Working holiday rules for Germany passport holders in Canada list a stay of up to 12 months. Verified against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on 2026-09-30.

Age
18–35 years
Stay
Up to 12 months

Source for Stay

who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/content/canadasite/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility/eligibility-by-country.html

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Application fee
CAD 184.75

Source for Application fee

Pay your IEC fee of CAD$184.75 with a credit card online through your IRCC account.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: About the program

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Proof of funds
CAD 2,500

Source for Proof of funds

It must clearly show that you have enough money to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada (the equivalent of CAN$2,500).
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/prepare-arrival.html

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Selection method
Pool and invitation rounds

Source for Selection method

We randomly select Working Holiday candidates from the pool and invite them to apply.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/become-candidate/chances.html

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Get opening alerts

After the visa: first 30 days in Canada

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How to apply

  1. Create and submit your profile in the IEC pool.

    Source for Candidate profile

    To participate in IEC, your first step is to create and submit your profile in one or more IEC pools.
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: Create your IEC profile and get your invitation to apply

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  2. After submitting your profile, wait for an invitation before applying for a work permit.

    Source for Invitation or ballot before applying

    After you submit your profile, you must wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to apply for a work permit.
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: Create your IEC profile and get your invitation to apply

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  3. Gather the documents required for your application.

    Source for Application documents

    When you complete the application, the system will generate a personalized document checklist for you. It shows all the supporting documents you need to upload. Use this checklist to gather all your documents.
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/apply-work-permit.html

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    View 6 documents
  4. Apply for the work permit only after you receive an invitation.

    Source for Submit the application

    You can’t apply for a work permit under International Experience Canada (IEC) unless we’ve sent you an invitation to apply (ITA). If you accepted an ITA for a work permit, follow these steps.
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/apply-work-permit.html

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  5. Check the status of your submitted application in your account.

    Source for Application status tracking

    If you’re invited to apply, you’ll use your IRCC secure account to: submit your work permit application pay your fees check the status of your application
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: Create your IEC profile and get your invitation to apply

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Continue on the official website

Plan your budget

Open budget calculator

Convert the listed visa fees and add your own insurance, flight and first-month estimates. This is a planning estimate, not a price quote.

Currency
Listed fees + your travel and first month

Enter your own lower and upper estimates in the selected currency, without thousands separators. Changing currency does not convert the amounts you enter.

Travel and health insurance

Example: use the lowest and highest quotes for cover over your planned stay. No sourced estimate is available yet.

Return flights

Example: use flight quotes from your departure city for your travel dates. No sourced estimate is available yet.

First month: accommodation and living costs

Example: add 30 days of accommodation, food, transport and phone costs. No sourced estimate is available yet.

Enter all three ranges to calculate your travel and first-month estimate.

Listed visa fees · approximate conversion

Visa application fee

Source for Application fee

Pay your IEC fee of CAD$184.75 with a credit card online through your IRCC account.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: About the program

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Approx. EUR 119

Approx. USD 133

Daily reference rates dated 2026-10-30. European Central Bank

Open work permit fee

Source for Open work permit fee

b) Working Holiday participants You must also pay an open work permit holder fee of CAN$100.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/apply-work-permit.html

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Approx. EUR 65

Approx. USD 72

Daily reference rates dated 2026-10-30. European Central Bank

Money you may need to show

These are funds to demonstrate, not a visa fee. They are shown separately and are not added to the estimate. Read the evidence for the applicable conditions.

Minimum funds

Source for Proof of funds

It must clearly show that you have enough money to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada (the equivalent of CAN$2,500).
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/prepare-arrival.html

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Approx. EUR 1,602

Approx. USD 1,790

Daily reference rates dated 2026-10-30. European Central Bank

Check proof of funds

Amounts rounded up to whole currency units. Banks and payment providers may use different rates and add charges.

Questions answered by the official rules

What is the application fee?

CAD 184.75. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Application fee

Pay your IEC fee of CAD$184.75 with a credit card online through your IRCC account.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — International Experience Canada: About the program

Select the same information icon to close.

How much money must I show?

CAD 2,500. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Proof of funds

It must clearly show that you have enough money to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada (the equivalent of CAN$2,500).
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/prepare-arrival.html

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How are applications selected?

Pool and invitation rounds. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Selection method

We randomly select Working Holiday candidates from the pool and invite them to apply.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/become-candidate/chances.html

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How long is the initial stay?

Up to 12 months. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Stay

who wish to find temporary paid employment to help pay for their trip (up to 12 months)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/content/canadasite/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility/eligibility-by-country.html

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What ages can apply?

18–35 years. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Can family members join my application?

Working Holiday eligibility requires that you are not accompanied by dependants.. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Family and dependants

not be accompanied by dependants
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility.html?selection=de-wh

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Can more insurance extend a shortened permit?

If your IEC permit was shortened because your health insurance would expire during your stay, extending the insurance after arrival does not let you extend that permit.. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Insurance and extension

If your health insurance was going to expire while you were still in Canada and you didn’t receive the maximum length of stay listed in the agreement between Canada and your country, you can’t apply to change your work permit, even if you extend your health insurance after entering Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/extend-change.html

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Can I extend my stay?

You may request a change to the IEC permit expiry if it was limited by passport expiry, is shorter than your full eligible period, and you have been issued a new passport.. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Extension conditions

You can apply to change the expiry date of your IEC work permit if: your work permit was valid only until your passport expired your current work permit is not valid for the full period you’re eligible to stay in Canada you were issued a new passport
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/extend-change.html

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Can I participate again?

German citizens may participate in IEC twice, choosing a different category each time.. Verified on 2026-09-30 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Source for Repeat participation

As a German citizen you may participate in IEC twice. You must choose a different category each time.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility.html?selection=de-wh

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Last change on October 1, 2026

Change history

What changed

Dates show when our published evidence changed. Previous values stay off this log so withdrawn or expired advice is not repeated.

All status updates
    • Value withdrawn: Annual places
    • Verified evidence added: Maximum age
    • Verified evidence added: Minimum age
    • Verified evidence added: Annual places
    • Verified evidence added: CV or résumé
    • Verified evidence added: Family information
    • Verified evidence added: Medical evidence
    • Verified evidence added: Passport document
    • Verified evidence added: Digital photo
    • Verified evidence added: Police certificate
    • Verified evidence added: Application documents
    • Verified evidence added: Invitation or ballot before applying
    • Verified evidence added: Candidate profile
    • Verified evidence added: Submit the application
    • Verified evidence added: Application status tracking
    • Verified evidence added: How to apply
    • Verified evidence added: Family and dependants
    • Verified evidence added: Extension conditions
    • Verified evidence added: Insurance and extension
    • Verified evidence added: Repeat participation
    • Verified evidence added: Application fee
    • Verified evidence added: Required funds
    • Verified evidence added: Selection method
    • Verified evidence added: Initial stay
    • Verified evidence added: Work permit charge
    • Value withdrawn: Maximum age
    • Value withdrawn: Minimum age
    • Value withdrawn: Annual places
    • Value withdrawn: CV or résumé
    • Value withdrawn: Family information
    • Value withdrawn: Medical evidence
    • Value withdrawn: Passport document
    • Value withdrawn: Digital photo
    • Value withdrawn: Police certificate
    • Value withdrawn: Application documents
    • Value withdrawn: Invitation or ballot before applying
    • Value withdrawn: Candidate profile
    • Value withdrawn: Submit the application
    • Value withdrawn: Application status tracking
    • Value withdrawn: How to apply
    • Value withdrawn: Family and dependants
    • Value withdrawn: Extension conditions
    • Value withdrawn: Insurance and extension
    • Value withdrawn: Repeat participation
    • Value withdrawn: Application fee
    • Value withdrawn: Required funds
    • Value withdrawn: Selection method
    • Value withdrawn: Initial stay
    • Value withdrawn: Work permit charge
    • Verified evidence added: Maximum age
    • Verified evidence added: Minimum age
    • Verified evidence added: Annual places
    • Verified evidence added: CV or résumé
    • Verified evidence added: Family information
    • Verified evidence added: Medical evidence
    • Verified evidence added: Passport document
    • Verified evidence added: Digital photo
    • Verified evidence added: Police certificate
    • Verified evidence added: Application documents
    • Verified evidence added: Invitation or ballot before applying
    • Verified evidence added: Candidate profile
    • Verified evidence added: Submit the application
    • Verified evidence added: Application status tracking
    • Verified evidence added: How to apply
    • Verified evidence added: Family and dependants
    • Verified evidence added: Extension conditions
    • Verified evidence added: Insurance and extension
    • Verified evidence added: Repeat participation
    • Verified evidence added: Application fee
    • Verified evidence added: Required funds
    • Verified evidence added: Selection method
    • Verified evidence added: Initial stay
    • Verified evidence added: Work permit charge
whvisas change feed

Official sources