Preparing the Application

1. Q: Can I include my family members (my spouse, my common-law partner, my child) on my application for WHP Canada?

A:  No, none of your family members may be included on your application under the WHP Canada.  They may make a separate application to the WHP Canada or for a study permit if they are eligible.  Children over 5 years of age will require a permit to study in Canada. Study permit applications are separate from your WHP application and require separate payment for the study permit processing fee. Any accompanying child / children do not need to provide a letter of acceptance from a school as part of their application for a study permit but they will need to provide a letter of consent from any non-accompanying parent. You may submit both applications at the same time to the WHP address. If you have a child/children who will be coming to Canada you will be required to show additional funds to satisfy a Port of Entry Officer that you are able to cover the financial requirements for that person for the duration of their stay in Canada. NOTE: The accompanying spouse or common-law partner of the holder of a work permit issued under the Working Holiday Program (WHP) is not eligible to be issued an open work permit under the Spousal Program. If the accompanying spouse or common-law partner is not eligible in their own right for a WHP or SWAP work permit, they would require an offer of employment with a positive Labour Market Opinion from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) in order to apply for a regular (employer specific) work permit.

Visitors to Canada are usually granted admission for a stay of six months. Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada as visitors. Information on Temporary Resident Visa is available in Visiting Canada. On arrival at the Canadian port of entry, a person accompanying their spouse or common-law partner or parent who holds the WHP work permit may ask to be granted admission to Canada for a duration coinciding with their spouse or common-law partner or parent's WHP work permit but the Port of Entry Officer has the discretion to grant this or not. The spouse must provide a copy of the marriage certificate; the child, a copy of the birth certificate; while the common-law partner must submit documentary evidence to show you have cohabited in an ongoing relationship for a minimum period of 12 months. This may include copies of documents such as: joint bank statements or statements to the same address; joint property ownership; superannuation beneficiary declaration/s; wills, etc. and include Statutory Declaration of Common Law Union.

If the spouse or common-law partner was subsequently able to obtain a HRSDC confirmed offer of employment, they could submit an application for a work permit with the nearest Canadian visa office outside Canada (e.g. at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, Detroit, New York or Buffalo).

Checking the Application

2. Q: What are some common reasons applications are rejected?

A: An application will be rejected if: it is unsigned or not signed in the same way as on your passport; is not an original ink signature (i.e: it cannot be signed by you, then faxed to Australia to be submitted); is incomplete; your passport page photocopy is unclear, grainy, too dark or indistinct; the fee is incorrect or in an unacceptable form (e.g., a personal cheque).

Submitting the Application

3. Q; Can I pay more to have my application processed faster?

A: No, we will process in date received order.

4. Q: Can a friend send in my application or bring it to the Consulate General of Canada for me?

A: Yes, but it must be an original application form with your ink signature.

5. Q: Can I submit my application by fax?

A: No.

6. Q: Can I submit my WHP Canada application online (electronically)?

A: No.  Applying online is only the first step in the application process. At the end of the online process, the actual application form, your unique participant number and customized checklist will be sent to your designated email account for you.  You may print and lodge your application, keep it for future reference, or you may delete it.

Successful Application

7. Q: Can I print more than one copy of my electronic Letter of Introduction?

A: Yes, but they will all be the same and can only be presented once to the Port of Entry.

8. Q: What happens if my email address changes during my processing time?

A: You must contact us immediately.

9. Q: Can the Consulate General of Canada send my WHP Canada approval to more than one email account?

A: No. Only one application will be sent to one designated email account.   This is the email that we will use to email your Letter of Introduction if you are successful.

10. Q: What if I don't receive my Letter of Introduction within the advertised processing time?

A: Contact us if you have not received your Letter of Introduction after 4 weeks has passed since you lodged your application.

11. Q: Can the Consulate General of Canada also send a paper copy of my Letter of Introduction to my Australian mailing address?

A: No, Letters of Introduction will only be sent to your designated email account provided at the time you apply online.

12. Q: I have a Letter of Introduction.  My plans have changed and I cannot use it.

• Can my friend use my Letter of Introduction?

• Can I cancel it?

• Can I withdraw from the Program?

• Can I extend the validity date on the Letter?

• Can I apply to the WHP Canada in the future?

A: The Letter of Introduction is not transferable. It cannot be cancelled and will continue to be valid for use until it’s validity date. The validity date cannot be extended. You may only request for a withdrawal if your application has not been finalized or a final decision has not been made by a visa officer. If you have been issued a Letter of Introduction, but do not obtain a WHP work permit from the port of Entry, this does not make you ineligible to apply to the WHP in the future (you must, however, continue to meet all admissibility and eligibility requirements at the time of the new application).