Youngsters from Finland are now eligible to participate in work and travel programmes in Canada.
The same goes for youngsters from Canada who will now be able to work and travel in Finland under the Canada-Finland Youth Mobility Agreement, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Finland and Canada signed the Youth Mobility Agreement last year, and just at the beginning of this month, on March 1, 2024, the agreement became effective.
Under the agreement, young citizens of Finland aged 18 to 35 can work in Canada, explore the country’s culture and build connections that will last.
Since this is a mutual agreement between Finland and Canada, young people from Canada of the same age, between 18 and 35, can also work and travel in the territory of Finland.
Youngsters of the two countries are able to work and travel in each other’s country under the International Internation Experience Canada Program or Finland’s equivalent programme.
Back when the agreement to permit young Finns and Canadians to work and travel was signed, the former Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, Sean Fraser, said that this agreement would benefit young citizens of both countries.
He further stressed back in 2023 that Canada would offer great opportunities for young people from Finland and possibly help Canadian employers find the workers they need.
The former Finnish Minister of Employment, Tuula Haatainen, also welcomed the agreement reached between the two countries last year.
The youth of both Finland and Canada will have even more opportunities to travel, work abroad and learn of each other’s cultures in the future.
Finns Can Apply for All 3 Participation Categories
The Canada-Finland Youth Mobility Agreement offers three categories of participation, and Finns are eligible for all of them.
Youngsters from Finland can apply for the Working Holiday, International Co-op (Internship), and Young Professionals programmes.
Working Holiday participants from Finland are issued an open work permit that enables them to work anywhere they want in Canada for the purpose of supporting their travel.
On the other hand, International Co-op (Internship) Finnish participants are issued a specific work permit. This permit allows students to work and gain experience in their field of study.
Young Professionals participants also receive a specific work permit that helps them gain professional work experience relevant to their chosen career path.
Youngsters From Other EU/EEA Countries Are Also Eligible for Canada’s Work & Travel Programmes
In addition to youngsters from Finland, nationals of other EU/EEA countries can also apply for the programmes.
Youngsters from these EU/EEA countries can apply for the programmes:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
The majority of youngsters from the above-listed countries are eligible for all three programmes. Exceptions apply to youngsters in Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, San Marino, and Switzerland who are eligible for only one or two programmes.
