Thousands of Canadian visas snapped up in just 11 minutes

Irish men and women last night snapped up thousands of Canadian Working Holiday Visas in under 11 minutes.

Many Irish people will today be disappointed as 3850 visas were booked up almost immediately, following their release at 8pm last night.

Canada is expected to overtake Australia in the coming years as the go-to destination for young Irish emigrants looking for work, with an increased number of 24-month visas made available this year.

The low unemployment rate and pleasant lifestyle is resulting in many Irish students and young professionals choosing the cold of North America over the sunshine of Down Under.

Hundreds of Irish tradesmen have relocated to Calgary in the province of Alberta in recent years, where the unemployment rate is just 4.3%.

If working in oil fields doesn't appeal, the big cities of Toronto and Vancouver are also seeing a surge of young Irish people arrive. Ski and snowboard resorts such as Whistler and Banff are also highly sought after locations to live and work in.

One of the lucky applicants Paul Ryan, 32, from Limerick said he had his application ready for submission and was at his computer ready for the moment they were released.

"I have been waiting for this for months now so I feel like I have won the lottery, there was a massive rush for the visas. I know a couple of my friends were disappointed, I just hope I have someone to go with," he said.

In total 7,700 Working Holiday Visas will be made available. Last night was the round one release and the remaining 3850 will be released at a date yet to be announced.

For more information and to apply, visit the Canadian government website here.

* Gary Whelan is a journalism student at the University of Limerick.