One of the most popular places for Canadians to go on a working holiday visa under the Youth Mobility Programme is the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK consists of Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. When you combine everything that these places have to offer, heading off to the UK on a working holiday really makes a lot of sense!
Moving to the UK would mean you have centuries of incredible history on your doorstep, with castles, museums and monuments galore.
If you work a full time job, you will be privy to the 28 paid days off per year that are mandated under UK law. They also have nine unpaid bank holidays and continue the custom to close up shop over the Christmas to New Year.
All this means you’ll have plenty of time off to travel to all the great places close by. Not only is the UK home to some incredible cities like London and Edinburgh, but you’re just a short flight away from some of Europe’s most popular destinations – such as Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam.
And, if you’re coming from the US or Canada, chances are you’re fluent in English – so language won’t be an issue at all. It may, however, take time to get used to some of the accents!
So, if you’re thinking about it, we’re here to help you out – here’s everything you need to know about applying for a working holiday visa in the UK.
The London Underground is the world’s oldest metro system
Who Can Apply?
To work in the United Kingdom under the Youth Mobility Scheme, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen
- Be 18-30 years old (inclusive)
- Have a valid Canadian passport
- Have £1,900 (CAD 3275) in savings
You cannot apply if you have:
- Children who live with you
- Children you are financially responsible for
- Already been in the UK under the scheme or in the former ‘working holidaymaker’ category
How Long Is The Visa Valid?
Once you have entered the UK, you are permitted to stay and work there for up to 24 months. You can enter the UK at any time while your visa is valid, and leave and come back at any time during your stay.
If you turn 31 while you’re in the UK, you can stay for as long as your visa is valid.
The English Premier League is the world’s 4th largest professional sports league by revenue ($6.4bn)
Do I Need To Organise A Job First?
No. You do not need a formal job offer, a pre-arranged contract of employment, or a formal internship offer before arriving in the UK.
What You Can And Can’t Do
You can:
- Study – for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
- Work in most jobs
- Be self-employed and set up a company – as long as your premises are rented, your equipment isn’t worth more than £5,000 and you don’t have any employees
You cannot:
- Work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach), doctor or dentist in training – unless you can show you qualified in the UK
- Extend your stay
- Get public funds
- Bring in family members on your application – they must apply separately
How Do I Apply?
You can apply online through the UK government website.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.
You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date).
It is recommended you read the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) guidance before you apply.
Edinburgh Castle overlooks the famous Scottish city
How Much Will It Cost And How Long Will It Take?
It costs £244/$420 CAD to apply for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Programme – but you will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you travel. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You can check the guide processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in your country.
What Is The Best Way To Send Money From Canada To The UK?
When withdrawing money or using your card abroad, you pay high fees and unfair exchange rates to your local bank.
To avoid these fees and charges, you will have to open a UK bank account once you move there. One issue people face when opening a bank account overseas is transferring their money over.
Transferring online with your bank or through bank wire transfers sacrifices huge portions of your money in wire transfer fees. These transfers can also take around 5 working days to arrive into your new account.
Some people will opt to send their money using online transfer companies like Transferwise. However, to send the equivalent of CAD $5,000 to the UK with Transferwise, you pay around $40 in fees! (As per Transferwise website, 01/31/2019).
Thankfully, REMITR is here to save you both time and money. Our service eliminates high fees and guarantees savings, charging a flat fee as low as $5!
REMITR allows users to send and receive money 24/7 to 150 countries worldwide. We offer users the best live exchange rate, no matter what the currency.
