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IEC- Canadian Youth Going Abroad

Are you a young Canadian thinking about travelling and working abroad?

If you dream of travelling and exploring the world, or wonder what your future might be like if you were to kickstart your career with global exposure and first-hand experience of international business, the IEC program is for you! 
The Canadian government has negotiated Youth Mobility Agreements with 35 countries globally to help young Canadians like you to easily travel and work abroad.
We at International Internship Network are committed to helping the Canadian Government, through its International Experience Canada Program and Youth Mobility Agreements, to find ways for more Canadian youth to experience work and travel opportunities abroad, thus helping your personal and professional development while crafting a more personalized and long-term career pathway.

What Travel & Work permits can you apply for in the YMA countries?

There are three travel and employment permits that you can apply for and that will allow you to legally travel and work in any YMA country for 12 months, or 24 in some cases. 

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Working Holiday

Candidates are eligible to apply for an open work permit to allow them to work for any employer or location in the target country to subsidize their stay as they travel and discover the country.
This means that you need to apply for this permit BEFORE you start looking for jobs in your target country, since employers will only offer employment to those who are legally able to work in the country of their choice. 

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Young Professionals

Candidates are eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain targeted work experience to better compete in the global economy.
This means that you must secure a job offer BEFORE you apply for the YP permit, as otherwise you won’t fulfil the application criteria.

 

 

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International Co-op (Internship)

Candidates registered at a post-secondary institution (in Canada) are also eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit to help them gain work experience related to their field of study.
This application also requires a job offer and contract BEFORE you apply for the permit. Only students in fields related to their internship role with employment contracts can apply for this permit.
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Identify the right permit type

Select a country

Secure a job and/or Complete your application

Travel, learn and earn!

How to Choose The Best Country for You

Once you decide what type of permit you want or need to travel under, it’s time to choose your destination, which can be very tricky as there are many things to consider: employment opportunities, lifestyle, climate, cost of living, possible language barriers, etc.
The best place to start is by using the IEC Adventure page to help you narrow down your options based on your personality type, your likes and dislikes, and other factors.
Once you have a couple of options that match what you are looking for, you can visit those countries’ government pages available through the IEC website to review their application process and eligibility criteria and help you make the final choice!

How to Find Accommodation

Finding accommodation abroad doesn’t have to be complicated. Each country has dedicated online platforms you can tap into to look at properties rented either by landlords or by estate agents. These type of properties require in-person viewing and rental is subject to approval from the landlord or managing agency.
If you’d like to move to a new country with some type of temporary housing previously arranged, we suggest you look at Airbnb or Coliving options. Click on the button below to read more about Co-Living and view opportunities with IIN’s  partners at discounted prices.

How to Find Work/Internship Opportunities Abroad

Finding employment opportunities in your destination country that match your skills and interests doesn’t have to be a challenge thanks to the many digital platforms and online resources available to you. LinkedIn Jobs is always a great place to start since you can often apply for jobs directly through the platform by using your own profile as your CV or by uploading a customized CV. LinkedIn is a fantastic tool to help you understand the roles you may be suitable for in your chosen destination, give you an idea of the pay and help you connect with interesting companies and HR managers in your industry.
You can also do a google search for recruitment platforms in your country of choice to see other options available and start to apply for jobs before you have even landed in the country. Recruitment agencies with a global presence such as Randstad are available in different countries for more local employment opportunities, and you can also tap into free online recruitment platforms like Indeed or Glassdoor.

How IIN Can Help During your Adventure Abroad

We are here to help any Canadian youth along their journey towards obtaining a permit to live, travel and work abroad through the IEC/YMA program.
Moving abroad for the first time can be a daunting process and we want to let you know that as an RO of the Canadian government, we are here to support you in any way we can.
We hope that the information provided above has been useful and has helped point you in the right direction but if you would like to talk to us about your plans or to register your travel arrangements with someone other than your family, just to get additional support should anything arise while you’re away, please let us know! We are committed to helping all Canadian youth abroad!
☝️ Please note that the names of programs, fees, service standards, available work permit categories and other processes for Canadian youth will vary from country to country, but represent the negotiated equivalent pathway between Canada and the YMA partner.  
If, in addition to the work permit, you also need help finding employment for your Co-op/Internship or Young Professional permit applications (Working Holiday not included), you can visit our Global Internship Programs page to see whether you can enroll in any of our programs.
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