Canada-UK Youth Mobility agreement expands 3 years stay. Apply now!

Highlights: UK and Canada agreed to increase youth mobility

• Canada and the UK have signed a deal to expand the International Experience Canada Program (IEC).
• The deal broadens the eligibility age range from 18 – 30 to 18 – 35.
• Participants can now to stay in the other country for up to 3 years.
• The IEC has allowed over 240,000 Canadians to live and work abroad since 2008.
• The IEC cap was increased by 20% for 2023, granting a 15,000-applicant boost to the limit.

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Canada and the United Kingdom have strengthened their youth mobility partnership with a deal that expands the opportunities under the International Experience Canada Program (IEC). Youth aged 18 to 35 from both countries will now have broader access to work in each other’s countries for longer periods.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser emphasized the UK’s popularity as a destination for Canadian youth working and traveling abroad and vice versa. The latest deal builds upon the existing the UK youth mobility partnership established in 2008 and introduces significant changes:

• Extended Age Range: From 18 – 30 to 18 – 35.
• New Streams: Two new streams have been The International Co-op stream, and the Young Professionals stream.
• Longer Stay Duration: Participants can stay in the host country for up to 3 years.

International Experience Canada Program

The IEC program offers three streams:

• Working Holiday: Participants will get an open work permit, allowing them to work in the host country while supporting their travels.
• International Co-op: This program grants participants an employer-specific work permit, allowing students to gain targeted experience in their respective fields of study.
• Young Professional: Participants in this stream receive an employer-specific work permit, enabling them to acquire targeted professional work experiences.

Since 2008, the IEC has been providing opportunities for over 240,000 Canadians to live and work abroad. In 2023, Canada is extending this opportunity to nearly 90,000 international youth from partner countries and territories.

Canada increased the IEC cap by 20% for 2023, providing a boost of 15,000 applicants. This move is expected to benefit industries such as tourism, allowing employers to find the necessary workforce.

Applicants can seek assistance from Recognized Organizations (ROs) that provide support in planning the trip, offering information on:

• Canadian culture
• Laws
• Taxes
• Job opportunities
• General guidance

These ROs play an important role in helping applicants from non-IEC countries come to Canada through the program.

Recognized Organizations for IEC Program

Name of RO	Types of work permits	Age limit	Eligible to
AIESEC Canada	Young Professionals	18 to 30	IEC countries/territories, Brazil, India
Go International	Working Holiday	18 to 35	IEC countries/territories, the United States
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)	Young Professionals	18 to 35	IEC countries and other IAESTE country partners
A-Way to Work/International Rural Exchange Canada Inc.	Working Holiday	18 to 35	IEC countries/territories only
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)	Working Holiday	18 to 35	IEC countries/territories only
Stepwest	Working Holiday	18 to 35	IEC countries/territories only
SWAP Working Holidays	Working Holiday	18 to 35	IEC countries/territories, the United States

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