A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US
SWAP Working Holidays is an organization that has been working for over 46 years to promote cultural exchange opportunities to Canadians. We started in 1975 and have been going strong ever since. Back then (a time before internet, selfies, and #hashtags), we sent 7 brave Canadian youth to work and travel across the world to New Zealand. All they had to do was strap backpacks on and we helped them with everything else. We made sure their paperwork was in order and that they were taken care of when they arrived. After that successful trip, feeling proud to have been part of such a life-changing initiative, we realized there were other Canadians who wanted the same type of supported experiences in other countries. The rest is history.
WE ARE YOUR PROGRAM
Originally, SWAP Working Holidays was called the “Student Work Abroad Program (S.W.A.P.)” because it was solely catered to full-time students and recent graduates. Over time, foreign governments changed their regulations to include most youth (up to age 35), which allowed us to expand these programs and opportunities to non-students – so it was only fitting that our name changed as well. Today, we here at SWAP provide a wide range of programs for young Canadians, including traditional working holiday programs, teach abroad positions, volunteer abroad adventures, and hard-to-acquire US work visas. Encouraging Canadians to live, work, contribute, travel, and experience the world is our mission and we have programs to help turn even your wildest travel aspirations into reality.
HOW SWAP HELPS
In an era where information is readily available online, we believe that one-on-one in-person connections are more important than ever. With ever-changing visa and immigration regulations, our knowledgeable and expert local staff (with offices around the world) are trained to provide ongoing support during your SWAP adventure, both during your pre-departure in Canada and your time abroad. We’ve got you covered every step of the way! All of our staff have spent significant time abroad and are passionate about the experiences we offer. Whether it’s walking you through the paperwork line-by-line to get your application approved or helping you once you get to your destination with our local staff and resources, we all understand how it feels to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are thrilled to support you on your adventure.
At SWAP, we have been ambassadors of travel for over 46 years. We know the value of living and working abroad because we have done it ourselves. And if that’s not enough, there’s 65,000+ Canadians who have trusted SWAP and said “YES” to the extraordinary over the past few decades. We want you to join them in living, working, experiencing, and impacting the world, while gaining new skills, friends, and the stories of a lifetime along the way.