3. Q: I do not have an Australian passport. Is there a working holiday program for me?

A: Kindly refer to http://www.international.gc.ca/experience. If your country of citizenship (ie. passport) is not in the list but you wish to work in Canada, you may explore if you are eligible to apply for a regular work permit.

4. Q: Do I need to have a job lined up in Canada before I apply?
A: No. Please be advised that the WHP Section at the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney cannot help you locate prospective employers as this is not one of it's mandates. You may source an employer through travel and work abroad organizations, recruitment agencies, internet job sites or newspaper. You may also wish to refer to Working in Canada.

5. Q: What type of insurance must I subscribe to before leaving for Canada?

A: You must have and maintain insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. Please purchase this insurance only after you have received your Letter of Introduction informing that you are successful in your WHP application. You must be able to provide proof of this insurance to the Port of Entry Officer upon your entry to Canada. Your insurance policy must cover you for health care, hospitalization and repatriation; specify Canada as the country in your coverage or include Canada as one of the countries in your coverage if you are traveling to other countries; and cover you for the entire duration of your intended stay in Canada (if you later decide to stay longer in Canada, you should arrange for your insurance to be renewed or extended before it expires). Please be advised that the WHP Section at the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney does not have the mandate of providing a list of insurers and cannot provide further advice on insurance matters.

6. Q: I am 17 years old / I am 31 years old. Can I apply for WHP Canada?

A: No, you do not meet the criteria for the WHP Canada. Do not lodge an application.  You must be aged 18-30 years inclusive to participate in the WHP. You may wish to explore if you are eligible to apply for a regular work permit.

NOTE: Your application will not be accepted if it is received by the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney: prior to your 18th birthday, or, on or after your 31st birthday. The post marked date on the envelope and/or the date you completed the online processing is not taken into any consideration.

7. Q: Is there a minimum passport validity?

A: Yes. The Work Permit may not be issued to exceed the validity of your passport. As such, please ensure that your passport is valid for the time you wish to be in Canada. If you wish to proceed with a passport that has less than 36 months validity, you must state in your application that you intend to leave Canada before the expiry of your passport. Write and sign this statement on the photocopy of your passport photo page that you submit with your application. If you plan to renew your passport, please renew it first and submit a photocopy of the new passport information page with your application.

8. Q: I have previously been issued a place on the WHP Canada, but did not use it. Can I apply again?

A: Yes, you must, however, continue to meet all admissibility and eligibility requirements at the time of the new application. Although the Program Participation Fee was paid as part of your prior application, it is not refundable nor transferable. As such, you must be sure to submit the correct Program Participation Fee with any new application. You do not have to wait for your LOI to expire before re-applying.

9. Q: I would like work in Canada in 2011. What are the criteria?

A: Information pertaining to the 2011 program will be posted at the end of December, 2010.

However, you may apply under the 2010 WHP if you plan to enter Canada in 2011 -- depending on which month you intend to enter. If you are successful in your application to the Working Holiday Program, you will be issued with a Letter of Introduction (LOI), which is valid for one year from the date it was issued (this is not your actual work permit). For example, if you were issued with a LOI on the 1st of March 2010, you would have until the 1st of March 2011 to enter Canada. When you present your LOI upon your arrival -- say before the 1st of March 2011 -- the Port of Entry Officer will have the discretion to grant you up to 24 months from that date of entry on your working holiday your work permit.

10. Q: Can I apply to the Sydney office for a Study Permit at the same time I have an application for the WHP Canada in process?

A: Yes, providing you meet the requirements to apply for a Study Permit, you may apply. We can process more than one type of application from you at the same time.

11. Q: I was previously issued a New Zealand WHP work permit using my New Zealand passport. May I apply under the Australian WHP using my Australian passport?

A: Yes, as long as you still meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements at the time of the application.

12. Q: My WHP application has been approved, but I will soon turn 31. Do I have to enter Canada before my birthday? Will my birthday limit the validity of my work permit?

A: No. Your Letter of Introduction is valid for presentation at a Canadian Port of Entry for one year from the date of issuance and is not affected if you turn 31 within its validity period.

13. Q: What is the processing time?

A: Please refer to www.whpcanada.org.au/processing_times.shtml.

14. Q: I hold an Australian passport, but I am traveling outside of Australia. Am I eligible to apply for the Working Holiday Program (WHP) at any other Canadian Visa office?

A: Yes. You may apply to the Visa Section at a diplomatic or consular mission of Canada responsible for the country to which you have been lawfully admitted. However, if you wish to avoid processing delays, please go through the online application process on this site to receive your application form and customized checklist from the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney. You must have a mailing address in Australia (may use a family member's address). Forward your original, signed application form, two photos and photocopy of your passport information (photo) page to a responsible person in Australia to add the fee and submit to the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney on your behalf. If you cannot request someone in Australia to purchase an Australia Post money order or bank cheque and submit your application on your behalf, you may obtain an international bank draft for A$160. Note that the currency must be in Australian $ and the international bank draft must include the name of the Australian drawee bank (this normally appears in the lower left portion of the international bank draft). You will receive your Letter of Introduction via email, if your application is successful.

15. Q: Can I apply to a visa office within Canada? Can I be in Canada while my application is being processed? Can I be in Canada when my application is approved and my LOI is issued?

A: You cannot lodge your application to an office located in Canada. However, you may be physically residing in Canada and submit your application to the Sydney office. Once you receive your Letter of Introduction via email, you must physically leave Canada and on re-entry present the Letter of Introduction to the officer at the Port of Entry (POE) or border crossing for validation to activate your LOI and be issued your 24-month work permit. If you plan to leave and re-enter Canada through a US/Canada shared POE, you will have to meet US immigration requirements (to be allowed entry to the US) and you should check with the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate before leaving home. Please also refer to U.S. visas.

16. Q: If my current WHP work permit will expire before I am able to apply to the WHP or obtain a new WHP Letter of Introduction, how can I extend my stay in Canada?

A: The Working Holiday Program work permit cannot be extended under any circumstances. If you wish to stay on as a visitor (you may NOT engage in any paid or unpaid work after your WHP work permit has expired and you do not have implied status to continue working even if you have a new WHP work permit application in process) or student, please go to www.cic.gc.ca or ring 1 888 242 2100 to check the requirements for changing your status from a worker to a visitor or student. You should make your inquiries while your document is still valid. If your Canadian employer wishes to sponsor you to work for them, please request them to refer to -- Guidebook for Employers.

17. Q: I currently have a valid WHP work permit, can it be extended?

A: No, your current WHP work permit cannot be extended. If you wish to continue working in Canada under the Working Holiday Program for Australian passport holders, you must submit a new WHP application. You must continue to meet all admissibility and eligibility requirements and must apply in the normal manner for the WHP beginning with the Online Registration Procedure at http://www.whpcanada.org.au/apply_online.shtml.

18. Q: Am I able to work for the same employer for the duration of the 24-month work permit? And the same employer if I apply again?

A: There is no minimum or maximum amount of time you may for work the same employer. For further information, please refer to www.whpcanada.org.au/work_permit.shtml.

19. Q: If I filled out an application form last year, can I submit it this year?

A: No, you must complete a new application form.

20. Q: Can I enter Canada as a visitor before I get my WHP Letter of Introduction?

A: It is strongly recommended that you wait until your application is approved and you have the Letter of Introduction before travelling to Canada. A decision to allow your entry to Canada is made by the officer at the Canadian Port of Entry (POE) and there is always the risk that you could be denied entry for not having the appropriate immigration documentation. The POE Officer must be convinced that you will respect the conditions of a visitor status in Canada and will not engage in any paid or unpaid work without a work permit.

You will receive your Letter of Introduction via email, if your application is successful.

If you are in Canada (as a visitor) when you receive the Letter of Introduction, you must physically leave Canada and on re-entry present the Letter of Introduction to the officer at the POE or border crossing for validation. If you plan to leave and re-enter Canada through a US/Canada shared POE, you will have to meet US immigration requirements (to be allowed entry to the US) and you should check with the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate before leaving home. Please also refer to U.S. visas.