Visa snapshot
Verified on 20 June 2026Work and study
- Work rights
- You can take casual and temporary work without a separate employment permit, once you have registered your immigration permission and received your residence permit (IRP). Australian and New Zealand holders can work up to six months with any one employer; Canadian holders have no per-employer limit.
- Study rights
- Short courses and study are allowed alongside the authorisation.
Funds and health
- Funds required
- CAD 2,500 (an original stamped and signed bank letter or statement).
- Levy or extra cost
- IRP registration EUR 300 after arrival.
- Health and insurance
- No reciprocal public-health cover. Canadian applicants must hold a full year of comprehensive insurance at application; Australian and New Zealand applicants are not asked for it in the official application requirements, but going uninsured is a real risk.
- Health and insurance details →
Extensions
- Further stay
- No extension
Quota or ballot
- Allocation
- Not capped on the Irish side (no published WHA quota); Canadian-side intake is set by IEC.
- No ballot
Reciprocal healthcare
- Agreement in place
- No
- Private health insurance needed
On this page
Eligibility at a glance
- Passport: This route is for Canadian citizens, so you must apply on a valid Canadian passport.
- Age: You must be aged 18 to 35 when you apply, not when you travel.
- Funds: CAD 2,500 (an original stamped and signed bank letter or statement).
- Health: No reciprocal public-health cover. Canadian applicants must hold a full year of comprehensive insurance at application; Australian and New Zealand applicants are not asked for it in the official application requirements, but going uninsured is a real risk.
Eligibility and conditions
Who can apply
Open to Canadian citizens aged 18 to 35. No maximum period with any one employer. Apply via the Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa, or through SWAP; the passport must be valid for 30 months from entry.
General conditions
One Working Holiday Authorisation per person; activate it within 12 months of issue. After arrival, non-EEA nationals register their immigration permission and pay the residence-permit (IRP) fee, currently EUR 300.
Length and stay
Up to 24 months, twice the Australia and New Zealand duration and the standout of the Ireland set.
Work conditions
No maximum period with any one employer, unlike Australia's six-month cap.
Health cover
Insurance proof is mandatory at application (12 months of cover plus a declaration for year two).
Reciprocal scheme
Reciprocal with International Experience Canada (IEC) on the Canadian side.
Application rules
Apply via the Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa, or through SWAP; the passport must be valid for 30 months from entry.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Irish Government's official visa portal. Processing typically takes a few weeks.
Apply Now →Get ready for Ireland
Sort out the essentials before you arrive, from banking and mobile data to flights, accommodation and insurance.
Some provider links here are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
Essential setup
Banking
Open a local account soon after you arrive in Ireland so you can get paid and skip foreign-card fees. Most banks let you start the application online before you land.
Mobile and connectivity
Set up a local number or eSIM in Ireland for data and calls. The major networks have the widest coverage; budget MVNOs run on the same towers for less.
Plan and book your trip
Useful tools for arranging your insurance, flights and first accommodation.
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.
Skyscanner
Compare flights to Ireland from hundreds of airlines.
Hostelworld
Book your first nights in Ireland. Hostels and budget stays.
Other nationalities going to Ireland
Your first-week checklist
The practical order of things for your first days. What to sort and where to go next.