Working Holiday Visa Vancouver? Vancouver is one of the most popular cities for working holiday visa holders to start their WHV in Canada — and it's no coincidence! Located between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Vancouver offers an exceptional living environment to combine work, exploration and quality of life .
It's a vibrant and multicultural city with numerous job opportunities, particularly in restaurants, tourism, retail, and event planning—sectors highly sought after by young people on working holiday visas . Thanks to its milder climate compared to the rest of Canada, Vancouver is ideal for settling in upon arrival without the significant challenges of winter.
Many internet users search for "which city to choose for a Working Holiday Visa in Canada" or "where to live during a Working Holiday Visa" — Vancouver regularly comes out on top thanks to its relaxed atmosphere, its proximity to nature, and its activities accessible from the first days : hiking, beach, cycling, skiing in Whistler… You won't have time to get bored!
Finally, Vancouver is an excellent starting point for exploring Western Canada, and benefits from a strong community of French-speaking working holiday visa holders , which makes adaptation easier, especially at the beginning.
Location: Vancouver is located in the far west, in the province of British Columbia.
Distinguishing feature: Vancouver consistently ranks among the world's most livable cities.
Climate: temperate/oceanic. Summers and winters in Vancouver are mild.
Population: over 600,000 inhabitants
The must-sees: Wreck Beach, Cypress Mountain, Downtown Eastside, Granville Island, Grouse Mountain, Vancouver Art Gallery, Capilano Canyon
Job types: sales staff, receptionist, dockworker, barista, bartender, waiter, cashier, front desk agent, chef, clerk, administrative assistant, laborer, cleaner, receptionist, etc. (full list available upon request)
Are you considering going to Canada on a Working Holiday Visa and wondering where to settle down when you arrive? Vancouver is often a favorite choice for young Belgians thanks to its exceptional natural environment, quality of life and numerous job opportunities.
The steps to obtain a Working Holiday Visa are the same regardless of the arrival city, but choosing Vancouver means opting for a city that is modern, green, and multicultural. An ideal combination to kick-start your adventure!
Going on a Working Holiday Visa is a decision that requires careful planning. Before booking your ticket to Vancouver, it's important to anticipate certain steps. Here's what you need to prepare before taking off, so you arrive with peace of mind and ready to enjoy your trip.
To be able to enter Canada with a Working Holiday Visa, you must:
Be between 18 and 30 years old (the age limit for Belgians)
Possess a valid passport
Have at least 2,500 CAD in savings in your account
Receive a letter of introduction (sent after your application is approved)
Take out comprehensive health insurance valid for the entire duration of your stay (repatriation, hospitalization, civil liability, etc.)
Create a profile in the IEC pool , then finalize your application if you receive an invitation.
For your application to be accepted, you must:
To be a Belgian citizen and not to have already obtained a Canadian Working Holiday Visa
Be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of registration
Provide all required documents within the given timeframe.
To be healthy
Demonstrate sufficient resources to meet your needs at the beginning of your stay
Costs vary depending on the type of support chosen. In 2025, the base price for a package including temporary accommodation, airport pickup, and assistance with administrative procedures is approximately €2,699 .
Do you want to take English classes upon arrival ? Budget an additional €2,000 , including accommodation.
In addition to the package, remember to factor in setup costs : local transport, SIM card, security deposit for accommodation, food, etc. Fortunately, our local partners will support you every step of the way to make your arrival as smooth as possible.
Located in the vibrant Gastown district and spread across several bright, modern buildings, ILSC Vancouver offers an exceptional learning environment. You'll enjoy spacious classrooms, welcoming lounge areas, fast Wi-Fi access throughout, shared kitchens, and even student lounges to relax between classes. Everything is designed to make you feel at home. ILSC Vancouver features 55 classrooms, shared kitchens equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, and hot/cold filtered water dispensers, and student lounges with armchairs and tables for relaxing or studying.
With students from over 100 countries, ILSC offers you immersion in an open and welcoming international community. You'll meet people from all over the world and improve your English in a 100% English-speaking environment, all while discovering other cultures.
You can create your own customized program! ILSC offers an ultra-flexible system: you choose the topics that interest you (communication, grammar, business English, IELTS preparation, etc.) and adapt your schedule to your goals. Whether you're a beginner or already comfortable with English, you'll progress at your own pace, surrounded by experienced and motivating teachers.
From the moment you enroll, you'll be supported by a helpful and caring team. ILSC assists you with all your administrative procedures: arrival in Canada, practical advice, job search (if you're coming on a Working Holiday Visa), and more. The school even offers a service to help you write your CV in English and prepare for interviews.
Every week, ILSC organizes social, cultural or sporting activities : international evenings, hikes, outings to Whistler or Victoria, conversation clubs, cooking classes… It’s the perfect opportunity to have fun, integrate and continue to improve your English outside of class.
Our partner school offers several types of English courses, allowing each of you to find a formula adapted to your needs.
Choose from:
Your main courses:
Your elective courses
Class sizes :
Schedules :
Lesson duration
ILSC regularly organizes social, cultural and sporting activities:
International evenings
Outings to national parks, mountains, or beaches
Vancouver sightseeing (Stanley Park, Granville Island, etc.)
Conversation workshops and themed clubs (films, books, entrepreneurship…)
Are you a student or an adult aged 19 and over looking for a quality school to learn English in Vancouver during your Working Holiday Visa in Canada? ILAC (International Language Academy of Canada) is one of the most reputable language schools in the country, highly praised by international students seeking a serious, immersive and highly structured program .
🌍 A multicultural environment : students from more than 75 countries, promoting international exchanges.
📚 Tailor-made programs : general English, academic English, exam preparation (IELTS, Cambridge), or business English.
⏱️ Up to 35 lessons per week , with intensive formats for rapid progress.
🧑🏫 Qualified teachers and a communicative teaching method, focused on oral expression.
🏙️ A modern campus in the heart of Vancouver , close to transport, restaurants and cultural venues.
Whether you come to improve your English with a view to entering a Canadian university , boosting your professional career or simply to live an immersive experience in Canada , ILAC offers courses adapted to your objectives.
Internet users often search for “best English school in Vancouver for adults” or “intensive English courses in Vancouver after age 19” — ILAC ticks all the boxes: academic rigor, flexible scheduling, an international atmosphere, and personalized support. Visavacancestravail.be recommends starting your Working Holiday Visa in Vancouver with a minimum of 4 weeks of English to improve your English level.
Objective : To improve general English language skills .
Content : Listening and reading comprehension, speaking and writing, grammar, vocabulary .
Levels : Beginner to advanced. Move
Lesson duration : Each lesson lasts 45 minutes .
Available formats :
IELTS Preparation : Specific courses to prepare for the IELTS test, required for admission to many English-speaking universities .
TOEFL Preparation : A program dedicated to preparing for the TOEFL test, often required for studies in the United States .
Cambridge English (FCE, CAE, CPE) : Preparation for internationally recognised Cambridge exams.
Vancouver offers a perfect balance between climate (neither extreme summer heat nor overly cold winters), stunning natural surroundings (mountains, rivers, and the ocean), and multiculturalism. It's a destination that will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts: you can, for example, be on the beach in the morning and end your day with a ski run the same day. From Vancouver, you can easily reach the West Coast of the United States, but you'll be far from other major cities in the country. Note that the cost of living is higher than elsewhere, particularly housing, which is often scarce.
Good evening Maelle, I saw that Joey hasn't replied to your email yet. [...], but I can already say that the trip went well. He likes school and I think he likes his host family. He also thinks Vancouver is great. I have a question about school. For the moment, he's enrolled for 3 months. He hopes his English is good enough to find a job. Is it possible to extend the school, for example, by a month if necessary? He told me that his friends often stay at school for 5 or 6 months
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
