WORKING - HOLIDAY
It truly is as good as it sounds.
How to live and work in Canada?
Check if your country does a 'Working Holiday' program with Canada. It does with a lot of European countries, it is easiest for Brits and Australians, because of the lady with the crown. Now, if you are one of the countries that offers a Working Holiday Visa for Canada, make sure:
You are in the right age group (I know, brutal). Usually the limit is 35.
Make sure you send your application within the first minute that they open it. They will announce the opening time ahead, it is usually between January and March.
You will be able to get your checklist after filling out a short quiz online cic.gc.ca
if you have lived in a Country that they may find suspicious (i.e. Vietnam) for more than a half year, try to not tell or try to get a criminal record from that country beforehand (ha,ha). This almost cost me my Visa!
The application itself costs 150$ as of right now. Depending on your country, where you have traveled before it can easily get up to 500$ to get all the documents together on time and up to 3 months to have all of them ready to go. So save up some money and check your country's conditions and your personal checklist several times and a few months beforehand!
A working holiday visa is really priceless for Canada. For 1 year, you can work wherever you want and if you are foxy enough to get some good gigs, you will make a lot of money for traveling afterwards. Alberta is the best province to work in, as of right now, especially in construction and the restaurant industry. Of course, the province of Quebec will do great if you are trying to improve your French, not only your English! Even though a France-Frenchie might disagree with me on that.
Just so you know, Working Holiday is your best bet. Don't screw it up. Working Permits and Permanent Residencies are a pain in the buttocks and it is only becoming harder and harder to get in! What a sad world, but hey, immigration politics are a delicate matter and politicians rarely figure stuff out (free speech yay!).
Now you've made it. You're in. Find yourself a sweet apartment on craigslist or kijiji, as well as a bicycle and make sure you get your provincial health care going. At least in Alberta, it is free, and you can go to the doctor anytime. A regular visit starts at 50$. Minor hospital stuff and even extensive ultrasounds and check ups are included for free with that health card! So go get it at the urban office, with your passport. You also have to get a driver's license if you are planning on driving regularly. That is easiest with an international license from home.
Now enjoy, ay!
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