Working Holiday Visa Canada: Our 2026 Guide For Italian Citizens

Eligibility Requirements: Who Qualifies?

To be eligible for the IEC Working Holiday as an Italian citizen, you must meet all the following criteria at the time of application:

Italy is one of the countries that enforces a residency requirement for IEC applications. This means you need to be able to prove you currently live in Italy — not just hold an Italian passport. Specifically:

• You must provide a valid Italian address.
• You must supply a Certificato di Residenza (available from your local town hall — Comune).
• If you’re temporarily outside Italy when you apply (travelling, studying abroad, etc.) but your permanent address is still in Italy, you can still apply.
• If you hold an Italian passport but have never lived in Italy, you unfortunately do not qualify for any IEC permit.

Read more: Participating Countries in the IEC Working Holiday Permit Program.

What Does a Canada Working Holiday Visa Cost? Full Fee Breakdown

Applying for the IEC Working Holiday involves fees payable to the Canadian government, plus a Stepwest program fee. Here is the complete breakdown:

Fees are set by the Government of Canada and are subject to change. Always verify current amounts at canada.ca/iec.
Last reviewed: May 2026.

Your biometrics are valid for 10 years, so if you come back for a second year in Canada, you will not need to redo them.

WHow Much Will You Earn in Canada?

One of the biggest draws of a Canadian working holiday is the earning potential — especially compared to typical wages in Italy.

For context, the average minimum wage in Italy is around €7–9/hour. Most resort jobs placed through Stepwest are full-time, so you can realistically earn CAD $2,300–$2,900/month before tax. Staff accommodation is often subsidized and deducted directly from your paycheck, keeping your living costs low.

A note on taxes: Working holiday holders pay Canadian income tax at the same rates as residents. With proper tax filing, many are eligible for a refund of around CAD $1,000. We have put together a guide to filing taxes as a working holidaymaker.

When to Apply: Getting Your Timing Right

The IEC issues a limited number of working holiday visas each year, and they can go quickly.

• Ski season applications should be submitted by 31 May at the latest.
• For summer resort programs, earlier is always better.
• Once you receive your work permit, Canada gives you up to 12 months to decide when you actually want to enter — so there is no rush to travel immediately after approval.

Two Ways to Experience Canada: Ski Season or Summer Resort

Imagine spending your winter in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, working at one of BC or Alberta’s legendary ski resorts — Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise — while skiing and snowboarding on your days off.

Through our Ski Resort Working Holiday program, we arrange:

• A guaranteed job before you leave Italy
• Subsidized staff accommodation on-site
• Visa assistance
• Pre-departure and on-arrival support

Resort jobs are generally full-time and pay at least CAD $15/hour, with housing costs deducted from your paycheck, so you do not have to worry about rent separately.

Canada in the summer is spectacular — turquoise glacier lakes, towering mountains, warm evenings, and a buzzing resort atmosphere. Our Summer Resort program places you in jobs ranging from front-of-house hospitality to outdoor activities, with the same guarantee of a job and accommodation before you fly.

Many participants do both seasons, earning money through the winter and exploring the country through the summer. Italy’s new two-permit allowance makes this easier than ever.

About Biometrics: What You Need to Know

Biometrics are a mandatory part of the IEC application process. Here’s how it works:

• You’ll receive a Biometric Instruction Letter after submitting your visa application.
• Biometrics must be arranged by appointment only — you can complete them anywhere in the world, not just in Italy.
• Where you complete your biometrics has no effect on your residency requirement — what matters is your permanent address, not where you give your fingerprints.
• Once completed, biometrics are valid for 10 years.

More questions? We have written a detailed guide to biometrics for working holiday applicants.