Age limit for UK citizens in IEC increased to 35

The governments of Canada and the United Kingdom are dedicated to providing young individuals from Canada and the United Kingdom with employment opportunities that empower them to reach their maximum potential.

Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Right Honourable Robert Jenrick, UK Minister of State for Immigration, announced the signing of a new agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom for Youth Mobility. Minister Fraser and Her Excellency Susannah Goshko, British High Commissioner to Canada, have signed the agreement.

Under this arrangement, more young individuals from Canada and the United Kingdom will have the advantage of reciprocal employment opportunities in each other’s countries for an extended duration through the International Experience Canada (IEC) and the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme.

The new agreement builds upon an existing partnership for youth mobility that was initiated in 2008 and introduces several enhancements:

• The age eligibility will be expanded from 18 to 30 to 18 to 35.

• Two new categories, namely International Co-op (Internship) and Young Professionals, will be introduced to complement the existing Working Holiday category for UK nationals visiting Canada.

• The maximum duration of stay will increase from 2 to 3 years.

International youth mobility allows young individuals to explore diverse cultures, languages, and societies, while also developing life skills and enhancing their future job prospects.

Implementation of the new agreement is expected in 2024.

Quotes

“The United Kingdom is a highly sought-after destination for Canadian youth seeking work and travel opportunities abroad. Similarly, Canada is a top choice for UK youth participating in IEC. This new agreement ensures greater accessibility for young individuals from Canada and the United Kingdom to work and travel in each other’s countries, benefiting from the advantages of international youth mobility. I encourage youth from both nations to embrace the opportunities presented by this program, explore new cultures, acquire new skills, and gain international experience and perspectives.”

• The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“As close Commonwealth partners, the historical and deep-rooted ties between the United Kingdom and Canada are of great pride to us. We warmly welcome numerous Canadians under the Youth Mobility scheme to the UK, while thousands of British individuals have similarly benefited from opportunities overseas. This expansion will create avenues for even more young individuals to establish enduring connections, develop their skills, and utilize their experiences to contribute to their host country and their home country upon return.”

• The Right Honourable Robert Jenrick, Minister of State for Immigration

Quick facts

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a reciprocal program that enables Canadian and international youth to work and travel in each other’s countries. The program comprises three categories:

• Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit, allowing them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travel.

• International Co-op (Internship) participants obtain an employer-specific work permit, enabling them to gain targeted experience in their field of study.

• Young Professional participants receive an employer-specific work permit to acquire focused professional work experience in their field of study or career path.

Canada has established youth mobility agreements or arrangements with 37 countries and foreign territories.

For the 2023 season, Canada is extending this opportunity to nearly 90,000 international youth from partner countries and territories. This expansion will assist Canadian employers in finding the workforce required to alleviate labor shortages across the country.

Since 2008, more than 240,000 Canadians have participated in IEC, and many have returned to Canada with life-changing experiences that have proven valuable in their personal and professional lives.

Youth who require assistance in planning their IEC experience may consider utilizing recognized organizations, which are typically youth service organizations providing work and travel support. These organizations can be non-profit, for-profit, or educational and may charge fees for their services.

As of 2021, Canada had 8.5 million individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, accounting for almost one-fourth of the Canadian population.