The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, today signed a new bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangement between Canada and Luxembourg.

“I am pleased that we are able to reach this arrangement with Luxembourg and further strengthen the great relationship between our 2 countries. This new arrangement will give Canadian and Luxembourgish youth the opportunity to broaden their perspective of the world and gain a better understanding of each other’s cultures, languages and societies while travelling and working abroad.”

 – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Giving youth the opportunity of international travel and work experience allows them to immerse themselves in a different culture and develop life skills, all while improving their employability back at home. Young Canadians can now enjoy such opportunities in 35 countries and territories around the world through the International Experience Canada program.”

 – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

• Each year, Canada and partner governments negotiate a reciprocal quota that sets the maximum number for participants that can be approved under the Youth Mobility Arrangement. The initial annual quota with Luxembourg will be 100 (up to 100 youth from each country may participate). 

• Luxembourg, known as the “Green Heart of Europe”, is a prosperous country bordering France, Germany, and Belgium with highly developed banking, steel, and industrial sectors.

• Canada enjoys strong bilateral relations with Luxembourg rooted in shared values and membership in the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, La Francophonie, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

• More than 200,000 Canadians have participated in the International Experience Canada program, and many have returned to Canada with life-changing experiences valuable to both their personal and professional lives. 

• There are 3 categories of participation under the program:

  1. Working Holiday: participants receive open work permits that allow them to work anywhere in the host country, to support their travels.
  2. International Co-op (Internship): participants receive employer-specific work permits that allow students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
  3. Young Professionals: participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience that is within their field of study or career path.

Associated links

• International Experience Canada (IEC)

Contacts for media only

Mathieu Genest
Minister’s Office
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
IRCC.COMMMediaRelations-RelationsmediasCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca