July 14, 2023—Wallace, Nova Scotia—(IRCC) The governments of Canada and the United Kingdom are committed to providing Canadian and British youth with work opportunities that will empower them to achieve their full potential.

Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Right Honourable Robert Jenrick, UK Minister of State for Immigration, announced the signing of a new Canada–United Kingdom (UK) Youth Mobility Arrangement. The arrangement was signed by Minister Fraser and Her Excellency Susannah Goshko, British High Commissioner to Canada.

Under this arrangement, more Canadian and British youth will benefit from reciprocal work opportunities in each other’s country for a longer period of time through International Experience Canada (IEC) and the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme.

The new arrangement builds on an existing youth mobility partnership that began in 2008 and includes a number of improvements:

• The eligibility age will expand from 18 to 30 to 18 to 35.
• Two new streams—International Co-op (Internship) and Young Professionals—will be added to complement the existing Working Holiday category for UK nationals visiting Canada.
• The total period that participants will be able to stay will increase from 2 to 3 years.

International youth mobility helps young people explore new cultures, languages and societies, all while developing life skills and improving their job prospects for the future.

Canada and the UK anticipate implementing the new arrangement in 2024.