Hiring international mobile youth is a good alternative to address your labour needs. The Canadian government has a bilateral agreement with 16 countries allowing the exchange of youth to work and/or study abroad. The following chart outlines four types of work permits for international young workers: Working Holiday Program (WHP), Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP), Youth Worker (YW) and Co-Op.
These work permits do not require a Labour Market Opinion. Youth can apply directly for a work permit through local embassies without any of your involvement. Many tourism employers have recruited staff, especially for seasonal positions, using one of the youth mobility programs and have enjoyed the benefits and convenience of these programs.
This chart contains program information such as quota amount, release date, deadline, age limit, valid period, processing time and the Canadian Embassy locations. Terms and conditions vary depending on the country of origin.
Information in this chart will be updated on a regular basis as new agreements are established. Please check back often for updates.
For more info on youth mobility as well as other foreign worker programs, please also view: Understanding Foreign Worker Programs.
Note: The information below is first sorted by category then by country of origin.
Working Holiday Program (WHP)
| WHP |
Quota |
Released |
Quota fills |
Age |
Validity |
| Australia |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24 months |
| Belgium |
420 |
January |
1st July |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Denmark |
400 |
January |
Late in
the year |
18-35 |
12 months |
| France |
4085 |
October |
February |
18-35 |
12 months |
| Germany |
5000 |
January |
22nd
January |
18-35 |
12 months |
| Japan |
9500 |
January |
Yes, don’t
know when |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Korea |
2500 |
January |
Immediately |
18-25 (30) |
6 (12)
months |
| Netherlands |
500 |
December |
Late in
the year |
18-30 |
12 months |
New
Zealand |
4000 |
January |
No |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Sweden |
500 |
January |
Late in
the year |
18-30 |
12 months |
Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP)
| SWAP |
Quota |
Released |
Quota fills |
Age |
Validity |
| Argentina |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| Brazil |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| France |
20 |
January |
Mainly WHP |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Germany |
150 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Germany |
|
|
|
18-30 |
12 months |
| Germany |
|
|
|
18-30 |
12 months |
| Ireland |
2000 |
January |
1 week |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Netherlands |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12 months |
New
Zealand |
250 |
January |
Mainly
used as
repeat visa |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Peru |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| South Africa |
150 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12 months |
| UK |
3000 |
January |
Non-student
immediately |
18-35 |
12 months |
Youth Worker (YW)
| YW |
Quota |
Released |
Quota fills |
Age |
Validity |
| Australia |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24 months |
| France |
1045 |
1st
November |
May |
18-35 |
18 months |
| Germany |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-35 |
12 months |
| Netherlands |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-30 |
12 months |
| Sweden |
Program started in 2008 - no data |
18-30 |
12 months |
Co-Op
| Co-Op |
Quota |
Released |
Quota fills |
Age |
Validity |
| Australia |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24 months |
| France |
4085 |
1st
November |
August/
September |
18-35 |
12 months |
| Germany |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-35 |
12 months |
| Sweden |
Program started in 2008 - no data |
18-30 |
|
Work permits available by country
| Country |
Visa |
Quota |
Released |
Quota fills |
Age |
Validity |
| Argentina |
SWAP |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| Australia |
WHP |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24
months |
| Australia |
Co-Op |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24
months |
| Australia |
YW |
Unlimited |
18-30 |
24
months |
| Belgium |
WHP |
420 |
January |
1st July |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Brazil |
SWAP |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| Denmark |
WHP |
400 |
January |
Late in
the year |
18-35 |
12
months |
| France |
WHP |
4085 |
October |
February |
18-35 |
12
months |
| France |
SWAP |
20 |
January |
Mainly WHP |
18-30 |
12
months |
| France |
Co-Op |
4085 |
1st Nov |
August/Sept |
18-35 |
12
months |
| France |
YW |
1045 |
1st Nov |
May |
18-35 |
18
months |
| Germany |
WHP |
5000 |
January |
22nd
January |
18-35 |
12
months |
| Germany |
SWAP |
150 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Germany |
Co-Op |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-35 |
12
months |
| Germany |
YW |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-35 |
12
months |
| Ireland |
SWAP |
2000 |
January |
1 week |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Japan |
WHP |
9500 |
January |
Yes, don’t
know when |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Korea |
WHP |
2500 |
January |
Immediately |
18-25
(30) |
6 (12)
months |
| Netherlands |
WHP |
500 |
December |
|
18-30 |
12
months |
| Netherlands |
SWAP |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Netherlands |
YW |
|
|
Doesn’t fill |
18-30 |
12
months |
New
Zealand |
WHP |
4000 |
January |
No |
18-30 |
12
months |
New
Zealand |
SWAP |
250 |
January |
Mainly
used as
repeat visa |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Peru |
SWAP |
50 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
6 months |
| South Africa |
SWAP |
150 |
January |
Yes (but
quota based
on demand) |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Sweden |
WHP |
500 |
January |
Late in
the year |
18-30 |
12
months |
| Sweden |
Co-Op |
New program started in
2008 - no data yet |
18-30 |
|
| Sweden |
YW |
New program started in
2008 - no data yet |
18-30 |
12
months |
| UK |
SWAP |
3000 |
January |
non-student
immediately |
18-35 |
12
months |