Iceland and Canada inked a deal this month to allow up to 120 young people aged 18 through 30 from either country to travel and work in the other country, under the International Experience Canada Program (IEC).
“Youth mobility arrangements are all about supporting our young people, their dreams, their passions and their potential to make a difference,” said Marie-France Lalonde, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“With this exciting arrangement in place, we are creating a path for them to connect, learn and grow together, fostering friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
“Together, we are building a world where our youth can gain valuable life skills and experiences while supporting Canadian employers with a larger and more diverse talent pool.”
Under the deal, Canadian and Icelandic youth will be able starting next year to work and travel in each other’s country through IEC or its Icelandic equivalent for up to 12 months, with the possibility of repeating the experience for another 12 months.
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“Iceland is very pleased to sign a youth mobility arrangement with Canada, here in Manitoba,” said slaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Iceland’s minister of higher education, science and innovation.
“Through this arrangement, Icelandic and Canadian youth will have the opportunity to work and travel in each other’s country, exploring new cultures while enhancing their life skills and improving career prospects.”
Canada, which is home to the largest population of Icelandic immigrants and their descendants outside Iceland with 101,990 people of Icelandic origin in the country, has signed youth mobility agreements with 38 countries and foreign territories.
The IEC’s three streams are:
- Working Holiday: participants under this stream receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
- International Co-op: participants of this internship program receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professional: the participants in this stream receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience that is within their field of study or career path.
Since 2008, the IEC has allowed more than 240,000 Canadians to live and work abroad. This year, Canada is extending this opportunity to nearly 90,000 international youth from partner countries and territories.
As of 2021, there were 8.5 million people between the ages of 18 and 35 in Canada or about one in four Canadians.
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Marci Ien, Canada’s minister for women and gender equality and youth, said earlier this year the higher cap on the IEC benefits sectors like the tourism industry by allowing those employers to find the workers they need.”
Recognized Organizations Can Help IEC Youth Plan Their Trips Abroad
Under the IEC, applicants have the option of coming to work and travel in Canada with the help of a Recognized Organization (RO) to help them plan their trip.
These organizations, which usually charge a fee for their services, can help applicants:
- get information about Canadian culture, languages, laws, taxes, and job opportunities;
- find transportation, and;
- provide general support and advice.
Using an RO can help some of those who may want to apply from non-IEC countries come to Canada through the program. Every applicant to the IEC who is using an RO needs to provide a confirmation letter indicating that the organization is helping him or her and upload it to his or her profile.
Here is a list of these recognized organizations, their target markets, the work permit they help provide and the countries in which they operate.
AIESEC Canada
AIESEC Canada is a non-profit organization that helps develop leadership in youth.
Types of work permits:
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 30
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, Brazil, India
Go International
GO International is a Canadian organization that offers work and travel opportunities.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
IAESTE offers opportunities in technical career-related jobs.
Types of work permits:
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries and other IAESTE country partners
A-Way to Work/International Rural Exchange Canada Inc.
Through A-Way to Work, the non-profit International Rural Exchange Canada offers paid opportunities to young people in:
- agriculture
- hospitality
- culinary arts
- tourism
- horticulture
- landscaping
- other sectors
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target Market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
Memorial University offers internships for students and recent graduates.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
Stepwest
Stepwest offers work experiences ranging from paid ski resort jobs to industry-specific student internships.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only
SWAP Working Holidays
SWAP Working Holidays helps with working holidays and young professional work and travel opportunities.
Types of work permits:
Working Holiday (open work permit)
Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development
Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35
Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States
