Looking for a hotel internship next year (2017)? Make sure Canada is top of your list: fantastic 4* & 5* hotels, amazing resorts, breath taking scenery and the warm, friendly locals.

Register NOW and get the visa process underway to stand the best chance of having an amazing Canadian hospitality placement in 2017.

Below we outline the benefits of registering in 2016 for a hospitality, travel/tourism placement in Canada starting in the summer of 2017.

Working Holiday Store has strong relationships with some of the best hotels in British Columbia and Alberta and would be pleased to help you plan your adventure.

Our services include, hotel interviews, CV writing, interview training, visa help, tax & banking information and travel/insurance guides.

You can read more about our comprehensive internship placement programme here:

Hospitality Internship Canada with Working Holiday Store

Apply NOW? Are you serious?

It may seem crazy to apply this early, but we recommend that you start NOW.

As you may (or may not) be aware, the Canadian visas are in high demand. If you start the process now you’ll be able to secure your International Experience Canada visa (the visa we use to support our placement programme) this year and avoid any visa rush next year. A little effort now will make your life a lot more simple next year. Our experienced team will help you with the visa process and be on hand to answer questions.

Will my visa be valid if I apply now?

Yes. The International Experience Canada visa allows up to 12 months to start your trip. So, as an example, if you get your visa in September 2016 you will be able to travel to Canada at any time up to September 2017. You will be granted a stay of up to 24 months (depending on your nationality) from your arrival date. Most of the summer placements start in May and June which means you will start your trip well within the visa validity.

Why the urgency?

The visa application process is a little random and processing times vary. If you apply for your visa now then you will have the comfort and peace of mind knowing that this aspect of your placement is already taken care of. You can wait until next year but visa processing times and eligibility are subject to change and it is possible that applying later may cause delays and inconvenience. Hotels will also be reassured to know that you’ve already been issued with a visa and may look more favorably on your application.

Isn’t it risky applying for a visa before I have a placement – what if I don’t get a placement?

Our comprehensive placement service is designed to help enthusiastic, hardworking, competent young students to find work placements. As long as you have the right attitude then we are confident that we will find you a placement (and if we can’t we refund your programme cost). Unfortunately, we can’t make an absolute guarantee as the hiring is ultimately down to the hotels. However, we will do all we can to help you succeed.

Visa background

Visas (or more accurately Permits) are granted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC for short). Each year CIC allocate quotas of visas to a number or partnering nationalities. The numbers of visas is different for each partner country. In 2016 the visa process requires that you register your interest with CIC by creating an online profile. Then, through the year at regular intervals, CIC invite people to continue with the visa process. These invitations are offered at random so there is no way to determine whether you will be invited or not. If you start your application now, you will stand a much better chance of getting the visa.

Is it the same for all nationalities?

No. For some partner countries (for example the UK), the number of people who want a visa exceeds the annual allocation available. Some people will be unsuccessful – but starting early improves the chances. Other countries have a more suitable allocation (Ireland) and the number of places better matches the level of interest – in this case there are more visas and a greater likelihood of getting a visa. For some countries (Australia) there isn’t a limit to the number of visas that they will consider.

We have more information regarding visas on our programme page: Hospitality Internship Canada with Working Holiday Store 

I’m really interested but can’t commit. What should I do?

We continue to help enthusiastic students throughout the year. We monitor the visa process carefully so that we can offer the most accurate information. Applying in 2016 for a 2017 placement isn’t essential but for those who already know that Canada is the destination of choice, it makes good sense to start the process now. If you aren’t ready, don’t panic. Give it some more thought, let us know if you have any questions and then get back in touch when you are ready.

I’m really interested in a Canadian hotel placement next summer. What should I do next?

Please follow the link to our programme page. Read more about our comprehensive package and then upload your CV for free so we can give you an assessment. One of the team will get in contact with you to discuss your basic ideas for placement and to provide some realistic feedback regarding placement options. They will also discuss visas and next steps.

We hope that this information is interesting and look forward to helping you to find an amazing placement in Canada.