The Canadian government has made changes to the one year working holiday scheme for Irish people to come to Canada. There is now the option of applying for a second year, including from here in Canada, and an increase in the quota of places available to 5,000 Irish citizens in 2011 from 4,000 last year. These changes are effective immediately.

Following the signature of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ireland concerning a Working Holiday Programme, citizens of Ireland may come to Canada to travel and work under the International Experience Canada initiative. The Working Holiday Programme is designed for Irish citizens between the ages of 18 to 35 inclusive who intend to travel in Canada and who wish to obtain paid employment in order to supplement their financial resources. Participants in this category will generally receive an “open” work permit (maximum 12 months). Irish citizens may participate up to 2 times under the Canada-Ireland MOU on a Working Holiday Programme.

For information you need to prepare and submit your application, click on the above image to go to the official Government of Canada website for the International Experience Canada (IEC) for Irish citizens.