Canadian Working Holiday Visa Need a British Passport?

Ericcc

Hi guys, I was looking to apply for an IEC visa with my Irish passport, but it states that I must have lived in Ireland for the last three years, the problem being I haven't lived in Ireland for nearly 14 years, though I was born there... And for the UK version of the IEC visa, I'll obviously need a British passport. So it would seem if I want to apply for the IEC (2013), I'd need to first get a British passport? It just seems a bit silly, and I'd rather avoid having to apply for a British passport if I can...

Anyway, sorry to make this my first post, any help is appreciated.

Helix

everything you say is correct

Ericcc

As I suspected, I guess I'll be filling out more application forms then.

silja

*** Moving from US/ Canada travel to Living Abroad, which is where living in Canada queries go until we get a separate forum ***

pete88

Ericcc wrote: »

Hi guys, I was looking to apply for an IEC visa with my Irish passport, but it states that I must have lived in Ireland for the last three years, the problem being I haven't lived in Ireland for nearly 14 years, though I was born there... And for the UK version of the IEC visa, I'll obviously need a British passport. So it would seem if I want to apply for the IEC (2013), I'd need to first get a British passport? It just seems a bit silly, and I'd rather avoid having to apply for a British passport if I can...

Anyway, sorry to make this my first post, any help is appreciated.

I have the exact same problem except I applied last year I think and I have a British Passport but have lived in Ireland since 1992. I was born in Britain but only lived there until I was four and so when I was trying to fill out the iec visa forms, I would put in all of my Irish education, work and residence history, and then it wouldnt allow me to put in my british pasport but then when i tried to fill out the british pasport I had none of the relevent information. I also think its alot of effort and silly to have to get a different passport for a visa application. Its as if they have just designed the application process around an outdated ideology that people are born and live in that country indefinitely. I ended up travelling there for a few months under the visa waiver programme but could not work. They were also very suspicious of me when i arrived in Vancouver and customs in the airport were wondering why i was the only person out of five irish people with working holiday visas that had come without one. I had to show them dated bank statements and a credit card statement just so they wouldnt think I was trying to work illegally! anyway I hope that you have some luck or can find a means of applying successfully without having to go through all of the hassle of obtaining a new passport. I will let you know if i can find out any info that will help- cheers- pete

pete88

silja wrote: »

*** Moving from US/ Canada travel to Living Abroad, which is where living in Canada queries go until we get a separate forum ***

how do I get to this thread? cheers