Account menu icon

Contact

Go to homepage

About

Book now pay later with a deposit

BOOK NOW
Girl sitting on ledge in the woods

Work UK

Working holidays in the UK

3 nights in London + arrival set-up

Led by our in-country UK team – kickstart your UK working holiday with visa guidance, hostel nights, job listings, welcome socials, and help sorting all the geeky tax and bank account essentials.

LET’S TALK
Girls take selfie beside Nottingham mural
Girl stands before old English pub
Girl standing in the rain in rural England
Guy sitting beside tent in rural England
Option to pre-arrange a hospitality job before you arrive
Work in most industries anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales + N Ireland

Swap poutine for cheesy chips

Why should Canadians do a working holiday in the UK?

Need to know

What is Work UK?

ASK US ANYTHING

Is it for me?

Price tag icon

$725

Black birthday cake icon

18-35 year olds

Black passport icon

24-month visa

Black compass icon

Work in 4 countries

Black calendar icon

Depart year-round

Video camera icon with a plus sign

Pre-arrange a job

Accomodation icon

3 nights in London

Why work and travel in the UK

European access

Career rewards

Iconic destination

Girl stands in terrace doorway
Girl hiking in countryside

Visa + cost

UK working holiday requirements

Am I eligible for a UK working holiday visa?

  • You need to be 18-35 years old (you must apply after your 18th birthday and be issued your visa prior to your 36th birthday)
  • You can stay in the UK for up to 24 months – with the option to extend to a 3rd year
  • Once your visa is approved you have X months to enter the UK
  • You need to have savings of £2,530 which you’ve maintained in one bank account for at least 28 consecutive days
  • You must have no criminal record
  • You must pay the NHS Health Surcharge Fee (£1,552) – which entitles you to free healthcare during your time in the UK

Deposit


$100

Second payment


$625

Total

$725

Secure your spot with a $100 deposit
  • Expert guidance and SWAP support to have your UK visa approved
  • Digital handbook packed with pre-departure tips, guides + local knowledge
  • Pre-departure video call with our UK team to get trip-ready
  • Hospitality job listings before you arrive with support pre-arranging a job
  • 3 nights’ hostel accommodation at St Chistopher's Inn in London (extra nights can be arranged)
  • Half-day orientation at JENZA HQ including: UK + Europe travel workshop, CV + job workshop, National Insurance + bank account set-up
  • Trip to the Sky Garden in London
  • Self-guided day trip to Brighton
  • UK Discord group to connect with other Canadians

UK visa fee

Visa fees are paid directly to your local embassy/consulate and currently cost CAD $319

Support funds

Proof at immigration that you can access £2,530

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

This is £1,552 and entitles you to free NHS healthcare for 2 years

Biometrics

A condition of your visa, this can be free or CAD $100 depending on where you are based

Flights

We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved

Travel insurance

You must have comprehensive insurance to cover your trip

Balancing profit with purpose, SWAP only works for us if it works for others too. As part of the JENZA Travel Group, we donate 5% of profits to our JENZA Youth Access Scholarship Fund – helping 18-30s from under-represented groups and lower-income backgrounds to experience a SWAP working holiday or overseas internship. Find out more and apply for scholarship funding.

Swapportunities

What jobs can Canadians do on a UK working holiday visa?

UK in numbers

947

AD is the age of the oldest pub in England

100

Million cups of tea are drunk each day in the UK

4

The countries you can work in on your WHV

3,000

The number of parks in London

Finding a job in the UK

Girl gives thumbs up in the sun
Girls take selfie on bridge in London

Reasons to do a working holiday in the UK

Swap it like it's hot

1

The capital

Guy standing beside UK phone box and Big Ben

The capital

Food, music, culture

Not only does London have almost any job you can think of (plus, 'working in London' instantly adds gravitas to any resume), it's also one of the best places in the world not to work. A city where royal palaces and traditional afternoon tea spots rub regal shoulders with creative neighbourhoods and a rebellious subculture – London has it all. The theatres of the West End, world-renowned museums, Premier League football teams, iconic movie venues, lazy pub beer gardens on the river, more food markets than you can wave an over-priced bao bun at... it's somewhere where boredom doesn't exist.

The cost of living can be high, but wages generally reflect that. Once you've found your pace, London is the most rewarding places to work in the UK.

1

Guy standing beside UK phone box and Big Ben

The capital

Food, music, culture

Not only does London have almost any job you can think of (plus, 'working in London' instantly adds gravitas to any resume), it's also one of the best places in the world not to work. A city where royal palaces and traditional afternoon tea spots rub regal shoulders with creative neighbourhoods and a rebellious subculture – London has it all. The theatres of the West End, world-renowned museums, Premier League football teams, iconic movie venues, lazy pub beer gardens on the river, more food markets than you can wave an over-priced bao bun at... it's somewhere where boredom doesn't exist.

The cost of living can be high, but wages generally reflect that. Once you've found your pace, London is the most rewarding places to work in the UK.

Girls take a selfie in the mountains

The nations

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
A UK working holiday visa is the best BOGFF (buy one get four free) visa deal you'll ever get as a Canadian. You could spend the summer lifeguarding on a beach in South Wales, a winter serving whisky in bonnie Scotland, and still have a whole year to advance your career in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. As pint-sized as the warm beer Brits love to drink, the UK is only about 800 miles from top to bottom – about the same distance from Vancouver to Calgary – so it's all easily accessible at weekends. It also surprises travellers with the variety of its landscapes – from the Caribbean look-a-like beaches in northern Scotland, to the snow-covered mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, and the endless beaches of the south-west English coast.

2

Girls take a selfie in the mountains

The nations

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
A UK working holiday visa is the best BOGFF (buy one get four free) visa deal you'll ever get as a Canadian. You could spend the summer lifeguarding on a beach in South Wales, a winter serving whisky in bonnie Scotland, and still have a whole year to advance your career in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. As pint-sized as the warm beer Brits love to drink, the UK is only about 800 miles from top to bottom – about the same distance from Vancouver to Calgary – so it's all easily accessible at weekends. It also surprises travellers with the variety of its landscapes – from the Caribbean look-a-like beaches in northern Scotland, to the snow-covered mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, and the endless beaches of the south-west English coast.
Guy standing in front of Spanish mural

The travel

Plane, train or boat

One of the best things about living in the UK is how easy it is to access Europe. The UK is a hub for budget airlines and ferries over to mainland Europe, where you can get almost anywhere from Iceland to Ibiza in less than four hours. As a Canadian with a love for adventure, you will never be this close again to so many iconic ancient ruins, historic capitals, party islands and ski resorts – so use this time to really put the 'holiday' in working holiday and have your "that time I backpacked around Europe in my 20s" moment.

If you're in London, you can also catch the train under the English Channel (we know) to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels – no airport faff. What a star. No, Eur-a-star.

3

Guy standing in front of Spanish mural

The travel

Plane, train or boat

One of the best things about living in the UK is how easy it is to access Europe. The UK is a hub for budget airlines and ferries over to mainland Europe, where you can get almost anywhere from Iceland to Ibiza in less than four hours. As a Canadian with a love for adventure, you will never be this close again to so many iconic ancient ruins, historic capitals, party islands and ski resorts – so use this time to really put the 'holiday' in working holiday and have your "that time I backpacked around Europe in my 20s" moment.

If you're in London, you can also catch the train under the English Channel (we know) to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels – no airport faff. What a star. No, Eur-a-star.

Man wearing a leopard-print fur coat, white shirt, and gold chain, posing confidently

Got questions?

Find out more about UK work and holiday

SWAP have been doing working holidays for Canadians for 50+ years. We know our stuff and we love talking about travel. So, if you still have questions about working holidays in UK – visa requirements, types of jobs, which city does the best afternoon tea – give us a call. We'll figure it out together.
BOOK A CALL

How it works

How and when to apply

Countdown to the UK

  • Check your eligibility in the visa + cost section. Then hit ‘Book now’ to create your online account and pay your deposit. You can then access your account anytime at the top of this page.

    1 day

  • You’ll need to apply online and pay for your visa directly through the UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) website, but we’ll provide you with the visa guidance and are on call if you have any questions. When applying for your visa, you’ll also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and submit your biometrics at a local centre – find out more in our FAQs. You’ll also need to schedule a biometrics appointment at a biometrics office, located in Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton or Vancouver. If you're in Halifax, there are monthly appointments available and if you're in St. John's, Newfoundland, there are annual appointments. Find out more about the cost, location and process in our FAQs.

    3-4 weeks

  • Once your visa is issued, it’s safe to start ticking off your to-do list and book your flights and travel insurance. Make sure you let us know your flight details so that we can book in your hostel nights. If you’re arriving early and want any extra nights adding, just let us know.

    1 day

  • Your balance is due eight weeks before you fly. Once you’ve paid in full, you’ll have access to our job listings where you can search for short-term casual jobs – mostly in London. You don’t need to have a job lined up before you arrive and most of our travellers prefer to wait. UK cities are huge, so it’s often better to find longer-term accommodation and figure out where you're going to be based before finding a local job.

    1+ days

  • Before you fly, you’ll have a pre-departure call with our UK team to answer all your questions and make sure you’re UK ready.

    1 day

  • Our independent starter pack includes three nights’ dorm accommodation at St. Christopher's Inn in London. On day two, you'll meet our London team and do a city walking tour which includes help sorting your UK bank account and National Insurance Number. Day 3 includes a work and travel session covering everything you need to get a job and make the most of being in the UK. And the fourth day includes a return train fare to the iconic seaside town of Brighton. An hour from London, this is self-guided with plenty of time to explore the winding laneways, eat fish and chips, and hang on the beach.
Girl looks out back of van at lake

Get it for free (ish)

Earn back your adventures

We know the most authentic voices come from our community. Whether you want to come on board as an ambassador, roadtester or as a one-off collaborator for blogs, vlogs or images – earn some extra $$ on the road with a content side hustle.

Read the SWAP blog

Inspo from around the world

Girls take selfie at a large party
Silver trophy with red ribbon attached
Girls float motionless in the sea
Girls at a Japanese train station platform
Girls pose for selfie on bridge in London
Couple sit by a blue river in New Zealand
Girls lay in the sun on the grass by the sea
Girls at a Christmas market in the UK
London street lit up in the sun
Friends enjoy picnic in the sun

Got questions?

We’ve got answers

Not found what you're looking for? Hit 'Ask a question' below and one of our SWAP Support Squad will come back to you.
Guy beneath tree in Autumn.

Talk to us

UK experts
Call us for all the intel on who can go, when to apply and what jobs you can do.
CONTACT US
  • If you're 18-35 and a Canadian passport holder, you can apply for a UK working holiday visa, also known as the Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

  • The UK working holiday visa is called the Youth Mobility Scheme visa (formerly known as the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa). It allows 18-35 year olds from Canada and other countries to live and work in the UK for up to two years doing most types of work.

    Find out more about the eligibility for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa here

  • At the time of writing (March 2026), a 24-month UK working holiday visa or UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa for Canadians typically costs £1,871. This includes a £319 application fee and a £1,552 Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 per year). Applicants must also show proof of £2,530 in savings.
  • We support you every step of the way to getting your UK working holiday visa approved. While you must pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge directly to the UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) website at the time of applying, SWAP helps you navigate this, including understanding eligibility and assistance with the necessary documentation.
  • It’s mandatory for anyone staying in the UK for six months or more to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Paying the IHS means you’ll be entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. This gives you access to emergency health care and means you won’t be charged for hospital treatment or further medical treatment if required. You pay the surcharge once you complete your online application.

  • You must provide your fingerprints and photo in person (‘biometric information’) as part of your visa application. To secure your visa, you’ll then need to schedule a biometrics appointment at a biometrics office – there are different options depending on where you're located in Canada.

    While appointments in Toronto are free, the other offices charge a user fee of CAD $100 which includes the added benefit of priority delivery for your visa and passport to your mailing address. Rest assured we provide you with a clear step by step guide to navigate this process smoothly.

  • Canadians must be 18-35 (inclusive), meaning you must apply and be approved before your 36th birthday, to be granted the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

  • You can live anywhere in the UK – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Although your arrival intro is in London, our UK team will be on hand to talk you through your options working across the country. We've had SWAPPERS work all over – from Cornwall to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

  • The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is more flexible than most working holiday visas. You have the freedom to work in either England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and can work in most professions (other than as a professional sportsperson and in some medical professions), and for one employer for the full 24-months of your visa.

    Alternatively, you can do more casual work. Typical backpacker jobs include bartending, waiting staff, admin roles, retail, temp jobs and childcare (nannying or au pair).

  • Canadians are able to extend their Youth Mobility Scheme visa by 12 months after the 24-month period ends.

    Find out more here.

  • The UK Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) ballot is a random selection process for young citizens to get an invitation to apply for the the 2-year UK working holiday visa.

    There are a restricted number of visas allocated each year for each country and where demand is high (currently India, Hong Kong and Taiwan), then applicants will need to enter the ballot.

    Canada is allocated 6,000 and if the quota is met, then you may need to enter the UK Youth Mobility Scheme ballot.

  • If you meet the ancestorial criteria and are a Commonwealth or British Overseas citizen, you might also qualify for a UK Ancestry visa which allows you work in the UK for up to five years. You must have enough funds to support yourself without help from public funds and housing, and be able to show that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

    You can check the most up-to-date eligibility rules here.

  • Ask your question here and one of our team will come back to you.

More ways to work the world

Swap it out

Back to top