Updated instructions for International Experience Canada program
Italian citizens will have to provide one more document.
IRCC has updated the requirements for some participants in the International Experience Canada exchange program. This is the Canadian equivalent of the famous American Work and Travel, which allows young people (18 to 35) to come to the country for up to two years with a work permit. It is supposed to broaden your horizons and give you an unforgettable life and work experience.
The International Experience Canada program operates in an exchange format, meaning that Canada has certain arrangements with more than 35 countries. Citizens of these countries can come to Canada while Canadian youth travel to partner countries.
As of January 5, 2024, Italian passport holders wishing to participate in the program must include one more document: a certified translation in English or French of their certificate of residence (certificato di residenza). In this way, the Canadian side asks candidates to prove that they reside in Italy, as specified in their country's bilateral agreement with Canada. Italian citizens must be resident in Italy at the time of application.
No such updates have been received for other partner countries. The conditions for participation in the program should be checked on the official website of IRCC specifically for your country.
As a reminder, there are three categories of IEC:
- Working Holiday, participants receive an open work permit — it allows them to travel and work anywhere in the host country.
- International Co-op Internship, whose participants are de facto interns and receive work authorization for a specific employer for targeted experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals, whose participants are authorized to work for a specific employer to gain targeted professional work experience in their field.
Applications for the 2024 season are being accepted as early as December 11, 2023.
