Updated IEC Working Holiday Visa Requirements for Italy
Canada has vastly improved the IEC working holiday visa for young people from Italy. Now the program allows Italian citizens to work in Canada for up to 12 months, which is fantastic for Italian applicants as this will allow them to gain enough work experience in Canada to become eligible for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry.
Previously, Italian citizens had one of the most unfavourable versions of the IEC Working Holiday Visa program. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, and others were allowed to work for up to two years in Canada. However, Italians were only allowed to work in Canada for up to 6 months, and then to apply to change to visitor status for another 6 months – far short of the minimum requirement of 1 year of Canadian work experience for PR.
NOTE: The IEC Website/Canada.ca still shows the OLD information for the Working Holiday visa from Italy. Up to date information is available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2022/11/new-youth-mobility-agreement-with-italy-expands-work-opportunities-for-canadiananditalian-youth.html
Other Updates for IEC Work Permits from Italy
Italian citizens will now also have access to the Young Professionals and International Co-Op categories of IEC visas. Until now, Italians were only allowed to participate in the working holiday category.
Italian citizens will be allowed to participate twice in the program where they were previously only allowed to be issued the working holiday visa one time.
When will the changes to the Italy IEC visa come into effect?
The Minister did not specify when exactly the changes would come into effect. However, IEC pools are now closed for the year for ALL countries and ALL programs (working holiday, young professional, international co-op). IEC pools generally reopen in January so we expect that the changes will be in place by that time for 2023 applicants.
Italy—Working Holiday
The Working Holiday category is designed for Italian citizens who wish to find temporary paid employment to pay for their travel in Canada. This program is perfect for Italians who wish to know the culture in Canada and it’s beauty and with the new agreement this is possible now for youth from 18 – 35 years old to work and travel up to 24 months total, if you participate twice
To be eligible for the IEC Working Holiday category from Italy, you must:
- be an Italian citizen
- have a valid Italian passport for the duration of your stay in Canada
- NOTE: Your work permit in Canada can’t be valid longer than your passport
- prove you’re a resident of Italy when you apply
- This means you must give either a residential or mailing address in Italy
- 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
- You may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada
- not be inadmissible to Canada
- have, before departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you’ll have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada
- not be accompanied by dependents
- pay the fees
Note: If you have dual citizenship you can participate in the program under each citizenship.
To be eligible for a working holiday visa as a dual citizen, you need to:
- be a citizen of the participating country
- have a valid passport issued by the participating country
- meet all of the eligibility criteria for this country, and
- provide a letter of explanation in your work permit application that says
- you are a dual citizen
- your other work permit is under your other country of citizenship.
Note: The cost of living varies depending on where you decide to settle in Canada. Prepare financially by finding out how much it costs to live in the city and province or territory where you plan to stay.
There are 3 different kinds of work and travel experiences available:
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op (Internship)
If you’re a citizen of a partner country, you may be able to apply to one or more of these 3 categories.
If you aren’t a citizen of a partner country, you may still be able to apply to IEC through a recognized organization.
Rounds of invitations – International Experience Canada
2022 IEC season is closed
The pools for the 2022 season are closed. This means that if you have not submitted your profile into the IEC pool yet for 2022, you can no longer do so until the pools reopen next year.
If you have already received an ITA, you can still submit your work permit application. However, your profile will be removed from the pools if you do not receive an ITA for the 2022 season. If this happens, you can create a new profile when the pools reopen for the next season. Your account and GCkey are still valid. You will not have to create a new account or sign-up for a new GCkey.
Eligible candidates are regularly invited from the IEC pools to apply for a work permit which are called rounds of invitations and the number of candidates called varies through each round. Rounds will take place until there are no more spots available or the season for that year closes.
One IEC profile in multiple pools
You can only have 1 IEC profile at any time. However, you can be eligible for more than 1 IEC pool which means you can have your profile in multiple different pools. You know which pools are available when you complete your profile.
The available pools and the Invitations to Apply are issued in the following order:
- International Co-op (Internship)
- Young Professionals
- Working Holiday
Facts – IEC Working Holiday between Italy and Canada
A fact which is widely known in both Canada and Italy is that they have strong historical ties as there are more than 1.5 million Canadians able to claim Italian ancestry or about 3.9 per cent of Canada’s population of 37.7 million. This agreement won’t just be good for the young people of the both countries but it will also be good for the strong relationship these two countries have.
Contact us if you need help to apply for your working holiday visa, or to discuss how to apply for Canadian PR once you have your work permit.
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