Free time activity for WWOOFers
by Claude Monet

WWOOFing is legal in Canada, therefore a working visa is not required! However, a visitor's visa may be required from certain countries. Please do your research and find out whether you need any kind of visa to enter Canada. We cannot provide advice on this issue - it is up to you to do the research and find out. If you are a citizen of another country, please visit the "Citizenship and Immigration Canada" website to see if you require a visitor visa to enter Canada.

A work permit is not required. Unfortunately, some border agents are NOT aware that VOLUNTEERING for foreigners is legal. You may want to print out the following quote and show them at Customs, in case they make it difficult for you.(it has happened to others) Also please always get the Customs officer's name and phone number and call us immediately if they refuse you entry into Canada.

The following link refers to "Volunteer work conducted by foreign STUDENTS". Please see the 4th paragraph down (on the Citizenship & Immigration website for more information) "There may be other types of unpaid short-term work..."

The above link refers to "foreign students" but all "TOURISTS" are covered also. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) "Foreign Worker Manual FW 1, Item 5.1..." states the same information but referencing "tourist" as follows:

"There may be other types of unpaid short-term work where the work is really INCIDENTAL to the main reason that a person is visiting Canada and is not a competitive activity, even though nonmonetary valuable consideration is received. For instance, if a tourist wishes to stay on a family farm and work part time just for room and board for a SHORT PERIOD(i.e., 1-4 weeks), this person would NOT BE CONSIDERED A WORKER."

PRINT OUT THIS QUOTE AND TAKE IT WITH YOU AND SHOW THE CUSTOM AGENT. IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. TELEPHONE (COLLECT) US IMMEDIATELY, GET THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND NAME. WE WILL HELP YOU IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS ENTERING CANADA.

From The Government of Canada: Minister P. Van Loan

" a memorandum was sent by Operations Branch of the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) to all its officers on May 5, 2009, reminding them that foreign nationals volunteering on farms in exchange for room and board for up to 4 weeks per farm, do NOT require work permits"