International Experience Canada (IEC)

The Canada – Latvia Youth Mobility Agreement in 2010 provides to 500 young Latvians and 500 young Canadians the opportunity to acquire professional or hands-on experience as well as to improve their knowledge of languages, culture and society of the other country while holding a temporary work permit.

As a young Latvian citizen, you can work anywhere in Canada for up to a year. It is a great way of getting to know Canada and making new friends!

You can apply for a work permit under the International Experience Canada if you:

• are a Latvian citizen living in Latvia;
• are between the age of 18 and 35 (inclusive);
• are in possession of CAD 2 500;
• have health insurance for the duration of your stay (contact your insurance company);

• pay the participation fee equivalent to 150 CAD in Latvian Lats (LVL).
  The current fee is 77 LVL as of 12 April 2010.

Different Categories

There are 3 different categories under which one can apply within the framework of this Agreement. It is possible to benefit from the Agreement twice, if you are eligible and if it is under a different program.  

Professional development: Young citizens, including post-secondary graduates, who wish to broaden their work experience through a work contract in Canada

Download application form (PDF * 221 KB) and application kit in English (PDF * 212 KB), French (PDF * 232 KB) or Latvian (PDF * 243 KB).

Internships: Young adults who wish to complete an internship under a contract of employment in a company in Canada as part of their studies or training.

Download application form (PDF * 221 KB) and application kit in English (PDF * 213 KB), French (PDF * 223 KB) or Latvian (PDF * 244 KB).

Working Holiday: Young adults who wish to stay in Canada for tourism and cultural discovery while being authorized to work on an occasional basis in order to supplement their financial resources.

Download application form (PDF * 221 KB) and application kit in English (PDF * 214 KB), French (PDF * 234 KB) or Latvian (PDF * 246 KB).

Reimbursement Policy

The International Experience Canada participation fee will only be reimbursed if:

• An application package is not accepted due to being incorrectly or incompletely filled out;
• You do not meet the criteria of the International Experience Canada and thus cannot be a participant;
• You cannot be issued a work permit by Citizenship and Immigration Canada by reason of a pre-existing medical condition or criminal record or because you have not been able to establish that you will come back to your home country ;
• The established participation quota for the International Experience Canada in your country has been filled and no more applications can be accepted or the quota for the category for which you are applying has been filled and no more applications can be accepted; or,
• You voluntarily withdraw before the Letter of Introduction is issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The participation fee will NOT be reimbursed if:

• A Letter of Introduction has been issued to you by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, thereby confirming that a work permit will be issued to you at the Port of Entry. From the moment that your Letter of Introduction is issued, you are deemed to be a participant, whether you end up participating or not; or,
• You include inaccurate information on the application or declaration form to circumvent the official requirements of the International Experience Canada, and, as such, falsely represent yourself.

Please take note that Participation Fees are not transferable under any circumstances, neither from person to person nor from year to year.

Letter of Introduction

Professional Development and Internship:

Your Letter of Introduction will indicate your start date in Canada. Employment must begin between January 1 and December 31, 2010.

Working Holiday:

Your letter of introduction will be valid 12 months from its date of issue. It tells you the date by which you can submit to a port of entry to Canada to get your work permit.

Submission

You can submit your application by mail or in person at the Embassy in Riga

Reception hours are:
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
9:30 – 12:30

Address

Embassy of Canada to Latvia in Riga
20/22 Baznicas Street
6th floor
Riga, LV-1010
Latvia

Information sessions

The Embassy will hold information sessions for those interested in International Experience Canada and study opportunities in Canada.

Questions

If you have any additional questions, please send an e-mail to riga.youth18-35@international.gc.ca

You may also read the text of the Youth Mobility Agreement online in English (PDF * 825 KB), French (PDF * 859 KB) or Latvian (PDF * 267 KB).

Information for Canadian citizens wishing to benefit from this Agreement can be found on the official web site of the Embassy of Latvia’s in Canada.

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