Ready to take the plunge and move to Canada from Sweden? The Canada Working Holiday Visa – or Working Holiday visum Kanada – is by far the best way for citizens of Sweden to work in Canada. On a working holiday in Canada, you can make money to pay for your living and travel expenses! From Swedish students looking for a summer job abroad to recent graduates who want to do a gap year in Canada enjoying a ski resort winter season, if you are from Sweden you will find all the answers here.
Year-round
4-24 Months
From $1190
Sweden has an agreement through the International Experience Canada program that gives Swedish citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 the opportunity to work in Canada. This agreement allows you to move to Canada from Sweden for up to 12 months with a working holiday permit, and an extra 12 months with any of the other 2 work permit categories.
There are a total of three work permit categories available under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. These are the Working Holiday (that’s the Working Holiday visum Kanada!), Young Professional, and International Co-Op (internship). A participant from Sweden can participate in the IEC program up to two times, meaning you can spend up to 24 months total in Canada. However, if you participate twice, it must be through two different categories. You cannot do two working holidays in Canada, for example.
Now that being said, the most popular and easiest visa to get for Swedish is without a doubt: The Working Holiday visa
Quota: as of IEC 2024: 580 Working Holiday visas for citizens of Sweden
In order to apply for a working holiday visa for Canada, you must meet the following requirements:
Are you from Sweden and almost 30 years old? The working holiday visa is available to citizens of Sweden from 18 to 30 years old inclusively.
This means you can still apply when you are 30, as long as you get your Invitation (ITA) for your working holiday visa before your 31st birthday, you are still eligible to apply for it!
Interested in making the big move to Canada from Sweden on one of our Working Holiday Programs? Perhaps Fill in the form below with your details and our team will be in touch to answer all your questions.
There are three fees for the Canada Working Holiday Visa totalling CAD $357 as of IEC 2024 Season, or about 2,800 SEK on top of your Stepwest Working Holiday Program fee of CAD $1,190.
Here is a breakdown of these fees:
Your biometrics are valid for 10 years so you do not have to retake them if you apply again for another work or study permit for Canada. These Biometrics will be done at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Stockholm, NOT at the Canadian Embassy.
The VAC is located at Magnus Ladulåsgatan 29, 118 65, Stockholm.
Please note that this is the only VAC in Sweden.
Normally it takes up to eight weeks for International Experience Canada to process your visa application. Keep in mind, this processing time begins after you have completed your biometrics (the final step of the application process).
When it comes to Canadian resort jobs, getting ahead of the program is definitely beneficial. Popular resorts such as Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise have 2 main hiring periods for each season, Summer and Winter 2024. So that means here at Stepwest, the earlier you apply the better chance you have of securing your dream job in your dream resort! The latest we typically accept applications for these programs are as follows:
Summer 2025: Until February 2025.
Winter 2025: Until May 2025.
It pays off to be organized, the sooner you are ready for interviews, the more resort job positions you could be a candidate for. If you are a last-minute planner, then start to consider planning for the next upcoming Season. Too late for Winter? check our Summer Resort Working Holiday program. You could start out with a summer job and opt to stay for the next winter season
To move to Canada, Swedish citizens will need to prove at least $2,500 CAD or approximately 20.000 kr. We highly recommend you have at least $3,500 CAD so you can cover your first month’s expenses (rent and rental deposit, food, transportation, leisure activities, etc.) This is because you will need to wait at least two weeks after you start working to receive your first paycheck.
The minimum wage is different in every Canadian province. As of July 2024 the minimum wage in Alberta is $15 CAD/hour and in British Columbia, it is $17.40 CAD/hour.
In Canada, you will get paid bi-weekly (every two weeks). If you are working with our Working Holiday Resort Programs, the rent for your staff housing will be taken directly from your paycheque
Working Holiday visa holders pay the same income tax rates as Canadian citizens. Here is a link to our favourite website that explains taxes in Canada. This tool will help you compare how much tax you pay in Sweden with how much tax you will pay in Canada.
Keep in mind that if you do your taxes properly, working holiday visa holders are eligible for an average refund of $1,000 CAD. Learn more about this in our blog post on how to file taxes as a working holidaymaker.
In Canada, it’s common that during your first year of work, you normally will not earn vacation time from your employer. However, this fully depends on your specific job and employer. Many of our working holiday participants arrive in Canada with a resort job set up for the winter or summer season, then spend the shoulder season travelling before starting work again the following season.
We recommend you get started on your working holiday in Canada by committing with your employer for at least one full season. That way you will have time to work and earn money, and you will get an employer reference. Having a reference in Canada is very important if you want to continue working in the country. Be ready with professional references, as you will be always requested for these during the hiring process.
Unlike other IEC countries, Sweden has a residency requirement for those wanting to get a working holiday visa in Canada. You must pay attention to this as a mistake here will get you a denial from the Immigration Officer:
“It has been determined that you do not currently reside in Sweden.”
If you are temporarily outside of Sweden you may still apply. As long as your permanent address is in Sweden, you can apply for any of the three IEC work permits. If you have a Swedish passport but you have never lived in Sweden, you will NOT be eligible for any IEC work visa.
Yes, biometrics can be done anywhere in the world. You do not have to complete them in Sweden if you are currently travelling. Where you complete your biometrics will not impact your residency requirements, as long as your permanent residency is in Sweden. Have more questions about biometrics? Check out our post on Canada’s biometrics requirement for working holiday visa applications.
Great start! if you already have your working holiday visa, we can assist you in securing your job and getting settled in Canada. Fill in the form below to get in touch with our team for a FREE meeting to discuss work opportunities for you here in Canada.
Though IEC, a working holiday! Swedish citizens aged 18 to 30 have the opportunity to work in Canada through the International Experience Canada, allowing up to 2 participations of 12 months each, but the most popular option is the Working Holiday visa, as it is the easiest visa to get!
Swedish citizens will need to prove at least $2,500 CAD or approximately 20.000 SEK. We highly recommend you have at least $3,500 CAD so you can cover your first month’s expenses (rent and rental deposit, food, transportation, leisure activities, etc.) This is because you will need to wait at least two weeks after you start working to receive your first paycheck.
Up to 12 months on the working holiday visa, as long as you qualify for it as a citizen from Sweden.
Remember that this work permit cannot be extended beyond one year. If you want to stay in Canada longer, you can apply for a different work permit.
You can participate under IEC up to two times, each time for 12 months. Normally participants from Sweden start their experience in Canada with the easiest work permit, the Working Holiday Visa, and afterward apply for the Young Professional work permit.
The Young Professional permit is for post-secondary graduates who wish to advance their careers by gaining professional work experience in their career field in Canada.
Swedish citizens participating in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, such as the Working Holiday Visa, generally do not need a separate visa to enter Canada for their authorized stay. However, they do need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before travelling to Canada by air. This authorization is linked electronically to the individual’s passport and is required for visa-exempt foreign nationals entering Canada by air.
Swedes on working holiday visas in Canada often gravitate towards ski and summer resorts for seasonal employment opportunities. Locations like Whistler in British Columbia and Banff in Alberta attract many Swedish workers, especially during the winter ski season, due to their renowned ski resorts and outdoor recreational activities.
Similarly, during the summer months, resorts in areas like Lake Louise and Jasper National Park offer employment opportunities in hospitality and tourism, drawing Swedes seeking temporary work experiences in Canada’s picturesque landscapes.
Not that hard! Good news is that every season, there are more working holiday spots available than applicants, so during the IEC season you should be ready to get a working holiday visa if you qualify for it!