These 32 Countries Are Inviting Young People In Canada To Live There For At Least A Year
The Government of Canada has a suprisingly easy-to-use website that helps young Canadians (18-35) live and travel abroad. Canada's program "International Experience Canada" (IEC) is an organisation that has agreeements with foreign countries that streamline visa application processes.
If you are a Canadian citizen and you are aged between 18 and 35, you are most likely elligible to apply for a visa in one of the following countries! Some countries even give out their visas for free. Most of these countries let Canadians stay for up to a year.
These are the countries where young Canadians can easily live through the IEC:
Australia
You can live in Australia for up to a year on a working visa, with a maximum of six months spent with one employer. You can renew your visa for a second year, subject to certain restrictions.
Austria
Your stay can be up to six months or up to twelve months, depending on the visa you choose. Some visas require you to have a formal job offer to apply.
Belgium
You can stay in Belgium for up to a year and participate in their Working Holiday Program once. "The Working Holiday Program (WHP) is addressed to young Canadians who would like to work and travel in Belgium for up to a year. Travel is the main objective of the Program, while paid work is only secondary."
Chile
You can apply for four different visas depending on what you want to get out of your trip. Some visas allow you to do some studies in Chile, while others help you finance your travels with part-time work, for example. You can stay for up to a year.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica also offers a variety of visas: young professionals, internship, and working holiday visas. You can live and work in Costa Rica for up to a year. You can participate in the "Youth Mobility Program" twice.
Croatia
You can stay in Croatia for up to twelve months and you do not need a formal job or internship offer to apply. You have to apply in person at a Croatian consular services site or in Croatia.
Czech Republic
You do not necessarily need a job offer to apply for a visa to live in Croatia. Your visa is good for up to a year. There are three kinds of visas Canadians can apply for.
Denmark
You can stay in Denmark for up to 12 months but you can only work in Denmark for up to 6 months and study for an additional 6 months during the 12-month period. You must apply for the working holiday visa.
Estonia
You can stay and work in Estonia for up to twelve months, and you're eligible to participate in the "working holiday agreement" twice.
France
France offers four different visas to Canadians: Young Professional Development, Inter-university exchanges, Practical Internship, and Working Holiday Program. The visas allow you to stay in France for up to twelve months.
Germany
Germany also offers a wide variety of visas for young Canadians. You can stay in Germany for up to twelve months and you don't need a job offer to apply to some of the visas.
Greece
You can apply for three different kinds of visas. Young Canadians can stay in Greece for up to a year.
Hong Kong
You can stay in Hong Kong for up to a year on the Working Holiday Visa and participate in the Working Holiday Scheme once.
Ireland
There are two kinds of internships that young Canadians can apply for. If you apply to the International Co-op or Internship Authorisation, you need a formal job offer first.
Italy
Canadians need to apply to a Working Holiday Visa, which will allow them to stay in Italy for up to a year.
Japan
You can stay and work in Japan for up to twelve months and participate in Japan’s Working Holiday program once. Read more here.
South Korea
You do not need a formal job offer to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea. You can stay for up to twelve months. You can apply either in-person or by mail through the Embassy in Ottawa or at a Consulate in Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal.
Latvia
There are three categories of visas that Canadians can apply for to to go to Latvia. Canadians 18-35 years old can stay in the country for up to a year.
Lithuania
Lithuania also has three different visa categories. Young Canadians can stay in Lithuania for up to a year. While you're there, you can participate in Lithuania’s Youth Mobility Programme twice.
Netherlands
To apply for a visa to stay in the Netherlands, you must be aged between 18 and 30 years old, inclusively. You can apply for either the Working Holiday Program or the Young Workers Program. You can participate in each program once.
New Zealand
You can stay and work in New Zealand for up to 23 months, applying through the Canada Working Visa. You can participate in New Zealand’s Working Holiday program once.
Norway
The Youth Mobility permit has five categories that you can apply for. You can stay in Norway for up to a year and participate in the Working Holiday program twice.
Poland
You can apply for one of three visas. Some visas require a formal job or internship offer in order to apply. You can stay in Poland for up to twelve months.
Portugal
To stay in Portugal for up to a year, you need to apply for a multi-entry temporary stay visa.
San Marino
To stay in San Marino, you need to apply for a work permit. You can stay in San Marino for up to a year, but you can only work for a maximum of six months.
Slovakia
To live in Slovakia you must apply for the “Youth Mobility Stay,” which has five different categories. You can stay in Slovakia for up to twelve months.
Slovenia
There are three visa categories that Canadians can apply to, two of which require formal job offers. You can stay in Slovenia for up to a year.
Spain
Spain offers Canadians a Youth Mobility Visa, which has five different categories. Three of these categories require a formal job or internship offer. You can live in Spain on a visa for up to twelve months.
Sweden
Sweden accepts applications from Canadians aged 18-30 years old, inclusively. You need to apply for a Work and Residence Permit (also known as a Working Holiday Visa), which has five categories. You can stay in Sweden for up to twelve months.
Switzerland
To live in Switzerland you need to apply for a Youth Mobility Program work permit. You can stay in the country for up to twelve months and participate in the Switzerland Youth Mobility Program twice. The maximum duration of stay must be less than 18 months.
Taiwan
You can stay in Taiwan for up to twelve months and participate in the Youth Mobility program once. If you intend on doing a work placement, you must have a job offer to apply for a visa.
United Kingdom
To apply for a visa to the UK you need to be 18-30 years old (inclusive). You can stay and work in the United Kingdom for up to two years! You do not need a formal job or internship offer to apply for a visa.
Are you ready to head abroad and learn about new cultures? These visas are great opportunities to visit new countries without breaking the bank because most allow you to work while you're there. Happy travelling!
