Recently, Canada and the United Kingdom signed a new Canada-UK Youth Mobility Arrangement. The announcement took place on 14 July 2023. This agreement is expected to come into effect in 2024. The new Youth Mobility Arrangement includes various modifications to the current agreement between both countries. Some of the notable improvements are as follows:

  • Raising the eligibility age to 18-35 years old;
  • Introduction of two new streams for UK nationals relocating to Canada; and
  • An extension to the visa duration to three years

In the current Youth Mobility Agreement, the eligibility age is 18-30 years, and the visa duration is only two years.

The Youth Mobility Agreement

The Youth Mobility Agreement was introduced in 2008 with the aim of encouraging reciprocal work opportunities in both countries. The agreement functions under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program managed by the Canadian government.

The IEC or International Experience Canada program includes the following three categories:

  • Open Work Permit: Working Holiday participants can obtain an Open Work Permit. This permit enables them to work in Canada for any employer.
  • Employer-specific work permit for students: International Co-op (internship) students can obtain an employer-specific work permit. This permit enables the students to acquire work experience that is relevant to their studies.
  • Employer-specific work permit for professionals: Young Professionals can obtain an employer-specific work permit. This permit allows them to acquire specific work experience that is relevant to their study or career.

Currently, there are 37 countries with which Canada has the youth mobility agreement. Now, Canada updated and signed a new Canada-UK Youth Mobility Arrangement.

In 2023, nearly 90,000 youth across the world can take advantage of Canada’s IEC. Through the IEC, the government of Canada is expecting to reduce the country’s labor shortages. Furthermore, since 2008, more than 240,000 Canadians have taken part in IEC.

After relocating to Canada, the youth of the United Kingdom have the excellent opportunity to obtain Canadian Permanent Residence.

Canada’s Immigration Plans

Presently, Canada is expecting to admit 500,000 new permanent residents yearly in 2025. In 2022, it admitted more than 437,000 newcomers to the country, which was the highest recorded of all time.

The high levels of Canada’s immigration targets are to help support the economic and budgetary health of Canada as more than 9 million baby boomers are reaching retirement age during the following decade.

Notably, in Canada, the majority of immigrants are admitted to the country via economic class.

In Canada, immigration is governed by both federal and provincial governments. Both governments prioritize and provide advantages to candidates who have Canadian work experience to obtain permanent residence. This is because, as per the research done by the Canadian government, after becoming a Canadian permanent resident, domestic work experience is proven to bring more profitable labor market outcomes.

In the Economic Class Programs of Federal and Provincial Governments, the candidates are evaluated based on various human capital criteria, including age, education, work experience, and language ability. In addition, other criteria, including Canadian work experience and/or Canadian study experience and close family connections in Canada, are also taken into account by the governments. That is why the nationals of the United Kingdom who transition to Canada via the IEC program have the excellent opportunity to obtain Canadian permanent residence as they have their young age, English proficiency, and Canadian work experience as valuable factors.