Canada: Youth Mobility Agreement with South Korea

Key Points   

• Canada and South Korea launched a new agreement to allow youth to travel and work in the other country  

Overview   

The government of Canada introduced a new Youth Mobility agreement with South Korea on 23 May 2023. The conditions of the agreement are anticipated to go into effect in early 2024. Under the agreement, Canadian and South Korean youth aged 18 to 35 can live, work and travel in each other’s country under the International Experience Canada (IEC) or the South Korean equivalent immigration pathway.    

Youth can participate in the program for up to 24 months per category. The programs managed under the IEC consist of the following:  

• The Working Holiday program allows participants to receive an open work permit that will enable them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travel.   
• The International Co-op (Internship) program allows participants to receive an employer-specific work permit that will enable students to gain targeted experience in a chosen field of study.    
• The Young Professional program allows participants to receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within a specific field of study or career path.   

What are the Changes?   

The government of Canada launched a Youth Mobility Agreement with South Korea. This agreement will allow Canadian and South Korean youth to gain work and travel experience. Canada has established formal youth mobility agreements with 37 countries and territories.    

Looking Ahead   

Continue to check the Government of Canada’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.