Canada welcomes 90,000 international youth
Dec. 15, 2023
Global Korean Post
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Canada continues to benefit from the interest shown by young people from around the world who wish to come here to acquire and contribute professional skills, travel and take part in the Canadian experience.
The Government of Canada announced that the 2024 season of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program is now open, which will allow nearly 90,000 young people from IEC partner countries and territories to come to Canada and participate. Those interested in applying can submit a profile as early as December 11, 2023.
IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth aged 18–35 to work and travel in each other’s countries.
Canada has established youth mobility partnerships with over 35 countries and territories, and in 2023, we signed new arrangements or agreements with Finland, Iceland and Ukraine, and improved existing ones with South Korea and the United Kingdom.
IEC has 3 participation categories:
- Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
- International Co-op (Internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within their field of study or career path.
With the opening of the 2024 season, participants will once again be able to take part in the Canadian experience through work and travel. This will have a positive impact on employers who are looking to fill positions, as well as on Canada’s tourism industry.
