First, check whether you are eligible for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, which grants access to the Working Holiday Visa (WHV), using the tool available on the CIC . Start by completing the "Come to Canada" questionnaire

"Determine your eligibility" tab . Fill in the fields below:

 At the end of the questionnaire, you will receive a personal reference number. Keep it safe.

...and obtain an electronic key called a GC key (this is the first secure step to creating a MyCIC account). To do this, register at this address . Once you have obtained the key, you will be redirected to CIC's online services. Register and enter your personal reference code as requested.

Once your account is created, you must submit an application for your chosen IEC category, namely the Working Holiday Visa. At this stage, you must complete all the fields. Be sure to verify your information. You will then be added to the candidate pool for that category. As a reminder, a pool is: "a group of eligible candidates already registered who have created and submitted their profile in one or more IEC categories."


Once this is done, you simply have to wait for the Canadian authorities to ask you to send them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a work permit. Since this is a random draw, some will receive this opportunity, others will not, if the number of applications for the Canadian Working Holiday Visa exceeds the number of available visas. There is a calendar listing several invitation rounds. Don't worry, these invitations are sent to the MyCIC account of eligible candidates. They generally take place throughout the year. The very first round date is communicated by EIC at least 5 days in advance. 

After receiving and accepting the Invitation to Apply (ITA), you can apply for a work permit through International Experience Canada.


Important! You have 10 days to accept or decline the invitation and begin the process by clicking "Start Application." Note: Once the invitation is accepted, you have 20 days, whether you accepted it on day 1 or day 10, to submit your work permit application through the Canadian immigration portal. How? By completing the online work permit application form; attaching the required documents; paying the fees; and submitting everything. (Regarding the required documents, it is strongly recommended that you prepare supporting documents electronically : medical exam or proof of your appointment, resume, passport photos, and a photocopy of your passport.)


Online Form:


Complete the online form accurately by filling in all the required fields. Incorrect answers, errors, or omissions could simply lead to a refusal. Useful link. Once your application is validated, a complete list of supporting documents will be automatically generated and available for download.


Payment of fees:


Be prepared to pay the participation fees online by credit card. In 2017, these fees amounted to 126 Canadian dollars (registration for the IEC program) plus an additional 100 dollars for the work permit itself. The fees will be refunded if your application is refused or if you withdraw your application before receiving your letter of introduction.

Your Canadian Working Holiday Visa application is then assessed. You may be asked to provide additional documents if necessary. Processing and receiving a response takes approximately 8 weeks. A Port of Entry (POE) Introduction Letter will be sent to your MyCIC account within 24 to 72 hours. Print it and keep it safe. This letter must be presented to an immigration officer upon arrival in Canada. In exchange, you will receive your work permit.


You can always check the status of your application online through your MyCIC account . Finally, please note that in the event of a refusal, you will receive a letter of explanation.

Since late July 2018, Canada has required applicants to provide their fingerprints and have their photo taken by an accredited agency; this is known as biometrics.

You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays.
Please do so as soon as you receive the letter from Canadian immigration stating that you need to provide your biometrics.
You have 30 days from the date indicated in the letter to do so.

The nearest agency is currently located in Paris. Click here to visit the website of the accredited Paris agency. You can go there with or without an appointment. Please note the opening hours (generally 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays). You will be charged €56 (CAD $85) for the biometrics fee. It may be more prudent to travel to Paris the day before and arrive as soon as the office opens, or to avoid arriving at 3:55 p.m. at the office in question.

Canadian Visa Application Centre
VF Services (UK) Limited
82 Rue d'Hauteville,
75010 Paris, France.

Remember to bring:

your passport,
your Canadian government biometric instruction letter if you submitted your visa application online to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), and
any other required documents, if applicable (for more information, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/visiter/visas.asp).

Please note that once there, it is important to take a ticket, which will give you a number, so you can be added to the day's order of service. If you do not take a ticket, your application will not be processed, even if you have made an appointment beforehand.

There is currently no office in Belgium where your biometric data can be collected. For a full list of locations where you can provide your biometric data, click here.