Are you a Portuguese citizen planning to apply for the Canada Working Holiday Visa? Congrats, you’re about to embark on an exciting journey! Moving to Canada from Portugal on a working holiday visa offers a unique chance to explore a new country while gaining valuable work experience. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know as a Portuguese passport holder applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada Portugal in 2024. From the application process to settling into your new Canadian life, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to start your adventure with the Visto Working Holiday Canada!
Year-round
5-24 Months
From $1,190
If you’re a Portuguese citizen looking to move to Canada on a working holiday visa, here are the key requirements you must meet:
Meeting these requirements is crucial for a successful application for the Working Holiday Visa Canada. Once you have all the necessary documents and meet the criteria, you’ll be one step closer to starting your adventure in Canada!
Interested in moving to Canada from Portugal? Find out more about our Working Holiday Visa Canada Programs and begin your adventure!
As a Portuguese citizen, you can participate only once under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program for up to 24 months. While Portugal offers three work permit categories under IEC, the most popular option among Portuguese citizens is the open work permit: the Working Holiday Visa Canada. This visa allows you to work for any employer in Canada, providing the flexibility to explore different job opportunities and regions during your stay.
For the 2024 IEC season, Canada has allocated 1,750 Working Holiday Visas for Portuguese citizens. This number can be adjusted during the IEC season based on demand and other factors. The Working Holiday Visa Canada para Portuguese is an excellent opportunity to gain international work experience, immerse yourself in Canadian culture, and make lasting memories. With a valid Visto Working Holiday Canada, you’ll have the chance to live and work in Canada, experiencing everything from its vibrant cities to its stunning natural landscapes.
If you hold a Portuguese passport, you can apply for the Working Holiday Visa Canada regardless of where you currently live or if you have ever lived in Portugal. This lack of residency requirement under International Experience Canada is a significant benefit for Portuguese citizens.
For example: if you have dual citizenship with Brazil and have never lived in Portugal, you are still eligible for a Working Holiday Visa Canada para Portuguese, provided you meet the other requirements. This flexibility makes it easier for Portuguese passport holders around the world to take advantage of this opportunity.
Canada now requires biometrics for visa applications, and Portugal has recently opened its own Biometrics Center, making the process more convenient for Portuguese citizens. Previously, you had to travel to Madrid, Spain, as it was the closest VFS Center to complete this step of your Working Holiday Visa Canada application. Now, you can complete your biometrics in Portugal, specifically in Lisbon at Campo Grande 28, 5 A, 1700-093 Lisbon, Portugal.
If you are applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada para Portugueses from overseas, you can complete biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Center (VAC). For example, if you are studying or working in Australia, you can complete biometrics there instead of returning to Portugal. Our team can guide you to find the closest VAC to your location, ensuring a smooth application process for your Visto Working Holiday Canada.
As a Portuguese citizen applying for the Working Holiday Visa Canada in 2024, it’s crucial to be aware of the application timeline. Typically, the application pools open in January and remain accessible until September or October of the same year. Applying early is advantageous as it enhances your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Working Holiday Visa Canada para Portuguese.
For the 2024 season, make sure to submit your application before the pools close later in the year. Looking forward, if you miss the opportunity for 2024, the pools for the 2025 season are expected to open again in early December 2024. It’s essential to stay updated with the latest International Experience Canada (IEC) announcements to plan your application effectively and increase your likelihood of securing a spot for your working holiday visa Canada para portugueses.
No, it is not guaranteed! It’s crucial to be cautious and not assume automatic approval for a full two-year work permit in Canada. Canadian regulations stipulate that Portuguese citizens must have insurance coverage for the entire duration of their planned stay. If you only purchase insurance for one year, it’s likely that your Canada work permit will be approved for only one year, not two.
Stepwest Tip: Ensure you purchase insurance that covers the entire period of your intended stay in Canada to maximize your chances of receiving a two-year work permit. Understanding the requirements for health insurance under the Canada Working Holiday Visa program is essential. Learn more about IEC Health Insurance requirements here to prepare thoroughly.
We have two working holiday programs to help you secure your job in Canada. The right one for you depends on the type of experience you are looking for:
Our Working Holiday Programs allow you to experience living and working at a Summer Season or Winter Season Resort location in Canada. If you love the outdoors and enjoy hiking and skiing, then this program will help you discover your passions while working and earning money!
The Summer Season begins normally from April to June. If you like mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, zip-lining, and rock climbing, then the summer season is perfect for you!
The Winter Season begins from September to November and is for you if you love skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Explore the Rocky Mountains while living in Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise. Or live in Whistler for the ultimate Canadian experience with your working holiday permit. Over the course of your two-year work permit, you can literally experience it all!
Whether you start in the Summer or Winter, your job and accommodation are secured at a Canadian resort before you arrive.
The Stepwest “Send-Off Package” is tailored to support individuals applying for a Canada working holiday visa by providing personalized one-on-one assistance throughout the visa application process. It ensures applicants have all the necessary information and guidance to accurately submit their work permit applications. From the initial decision to pursue a working holiday in Canada to the moment of departure and beyond, Stepwest guides applicants, aiming to make their transition smooth and enjoyable. This package aims to equip individuals with the tools and support needed for a successful and memorable adventure in Canada.
The package ensures applicants have all the necessary information and guidance to accurately submit their work permit applications but does not include job placement services.
Our Winter Resort Working Holiday program provides a great opportunity to secure employment before you arrive in Canada. Partnered with top Canadian ski resorts, we assist in job placement and guarantee staff accommodation while you're still in your home country.
Our summer resort program is perfect for experiencing the beauty of a Canadian summer firsthand. With various job opportunities, you can earn income while immersing yourself in Canada's wonders. Plus, you can even extend your stay for the winter season if you choose!
Our Canada Send Off Package helps you obtain your Working Holiday Visa, marking the start of an exciting journey. While job placement isn't included, it's a great way to begin your return to Canada affordably.
Yes, we can help you! You must have a working holiday visa to find a job, so we will help you securing your job and accommodation before you arrive. Come to Canada knowing you will be making money on arrival with a place to live and the support of our team!
Not at all! You can come apply for your working holiday visa in Canada directly, without taking an English course. Of course, the higher your level of English, the faster you will land a job. To take away the stress of getting a job in a new country, our team of Work Placement Specialists can secure your job for you!
After you have completed your biometrics, it takes between 6-8 weeks max. to secure your Working Holiday visa for Canad. The processing time can vary depending on how many visa applications Immigration, Refugees and Citizen Canada (IRCC) has to process – but it should not take longer than eight weeks.
As insurance is such an important part of the working holiday work permit activation, our Travel Coordinators will be assisting you with different options of insurance so you can make sure you don’t miss anything by bringing your 24 months of insurance, you can get your 2-year work permit.
You can complete your biometrics in Lisbon or in any country with a VAC Center. Do not go to the Embassy of Canada in Lisbon. They cannot assist you with biometrics or any part of your Canada working holiday visa application under International Experience Canada.
At any VFS Center of the world. Whereas you are a Portuguese citizen living temporarily outside of Portugal or you are a dual citizen, who has never lived in Portugal before, you are allowed to use any of the VFS centers that Canada has authorized in the world:
Example:
Scenario 1: You are studying at a University in the UK, but your home is Lisbon, Portugal, you can do Biometrics in London, UK.
Scenario 2: You hold a passport from Portugal but you live in Brazil, you can do Biometrics in any of the VFS centers in Brazil in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Porto Alegre or Brasilia.
If you qualify for an IEC working holiday visa, you can work up to 2 years in Canada.
The duration of your work permit will depend on the duration of your travel insurance that you will bring to Canada to activate the work permit.
Remember that health insurance is mandatory. If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. If this happens, you will not be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date. Learn more about this here.
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