International Experience Canada – Italy

Work and Travel in Canada with International Experience Canada

Young adults from Italy who are between the ages of 18 to 35 may be eligible to work and travel in Canada through International Experience Canada (IEC).

IEC is a government program created by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship
Canada to help Italian young adults:

• gain valuable international work experience
• improve your language skills in English and French
• work in Canada and fund the trip of a lifetime

IEC has the following three (3) categories through which Italian young adults can work in Canada:

1. Working Holiday

The Working Holiday category is designed for Italian citizens who wish to find temporary paid employment (for up to 12 months) to pay for their travel in Canada.

2. Young Professionals

The Young Professionals category is designed for Italian citizens, including recent post-secondary graduates, who wish to further their careers by gaining professional work experience in Canada. Participants must have a job offer letter or a contract of employment (for up to 12 months) signed by an employer in Canada before submitting their profile to the pool.

3. International Co-op (Internship)

The International Co-op (internship) category is designed for Italian citizens who are enrolled at a post-secondary institution. Participants must:

1) Be registered students for the duration of the internship.

2) Want to complete a work placement or internship (for up to 12 months) in
Canada to fulfill part of their academic curriculum.

3) Have a signed letter of offer or a signed contract of employment before submitting their profile to the pool.

To be eligible for any of these three categories, you must:

• be an Italian citizen
• have a valid Italian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada
• prove you are a resident of Italy when you apply
• be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive)
• have a minimum of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada
• have health insurance for the duration of your stay as a worker
• not be inadmissible to Canada (ex. no criminal record)
• have, before leaving Italy, a round-trip ticket OR prove that you will have the
  financial resources to buy a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada
• not bring your children, siblings (they have to apply on their own) or parents.

This immigration program is based on quotas. Every year Immigration Canada releases so many spots for applications. The number of available spots varies from participating country to participating country and from year to year. Immigration Canada releases those spots at the beginning of each calendar year. If all spots are gone, then you have to wait until the beginning of the next year to apply.

For some participating countries the spots are taken very quickly. So, you have to act fast. Historically, though, the spots allotted for Italy have been slow to be taken. This is probably because most Italian young adults simply don’t know about this amazing program and opportunity to work in and explore Canada.

Let Eastman Law Office help you apply to work and travel in Canada through International Experience Canada program.