Youth Mobility Visa For Canada

Do you want to live and work in Canada or just travel there? Here’s an overview of the Youth Mobility Visa program, which allows eligible young people to stay in Canada for up to two years. It can replace a visitor visa, work permit, study permit, or other types of entry documents. You’ve probably heard about the Canadian experience, but this article is all about what it’s like on the ground.

With the prospect of bringing young and motivated youth to Canada to strengthen its labour market, the Canadian Government launched an immigration program for foreign workers. The aim of this program is to encourage immigrant youth (between 18-35) from outside the country, who are graduates in specific disciplines, to come live and work in Canada.

Youth Mobility Visa For Canada

The Youth Mobility Visa is a program that allows individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 to come to Canada on a temporary basis. They can stay for up to two years, during which time they can study, work, or do some combination of the two.

The visa is meant to give young people from other countries the opportunity to experience Canadian life before making any long-term commitments. It’s also a way for Canadian companies and organizations to recruit new talent and build up their international networks.

Are you a youth from another country who wants to study in Canada? Are you looking for a way to get into the country, but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered.

If you’re between the ages of 18 and 35, you can apply for a Youth Mobility Visa (YMV) for Canada. This visa allows those who are eligible to enter the country and pursue studies or work opportunities for up to two years, with the option of renewal. The YMV gives international students a chance to explore Canada’s diverse culture, meet new people and make memories that will last a lifetime.

The application process takes approximately four months, so it’s important that you begin early on in your planning process. If you’re interested in applying for this visa, be sure to contact our immigration experts today!

This information applies to Canadian citizens only. Spanish citizens who would like to participate in the Program must check the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for this program.

1) Beneficiaries of this Agreement shall be Canadian citizens who fall under any of the following categories: 

a. Young citizens in possession of a post-secondary diploma wishing to obtain additional training in Spain through a prearranged contract of employment;

b. Registered students of a Canadian post-secondary institution wishing to complete part of their academic training through a prearranged internship in a Spanish institution, including under interinstitutional agreements; 

c. Young citizens wishing to obtain additional training in the other country under a prearranged contract of employment in order to contribute to their professional development; 

d. Registered students of a Canadian post-secondary institution in their home country who plan to travel to Spain during academic vacations and who wish to work on a casual basis in order to increase their financial resources; 

e. Young citizens who plan to travel to Spain and who wish to work on a casual basis in order to increase their financial resources or to do volunteer work (Working Holiday). 

2) The beneficiaries of the agreement will need to: 

• ​​Be a Canadian citizen, be holder of a valid Canadian passport and live in Canada.
• Be the holder of a valid Youth Mobility visa.
• Be between 18 and 35 years old by the date when submitting the visa application.
• Have a return ticket or enough resources to buy one, and dispose of the necessary economic means to satisfy any need during the three first months of the stay in Spain. This amounts to 2,504.75 CAD in 2022. In the cases of having a prearranged job offer, the proof of economic means will be satisfied with the submission of the contract of employment, as long as the income during the three first months amounts to the above quantity.
• Be committed to subscribe a medical insurance, including hospitalization and repatriation due to medical issues or death, for the authorized period of stay, before entering Spain.

NOTE: IT WILL NOT BE MANDATORY TO HAVE A PREARRANGED CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT to apply for this type of visa when the applicant is under the categories “b”, “d” or “e”, specified in the point 1.

3) The participation in this program consists of two different phases, taking place in Canada and Spain respectively:

• CANADA: Applying for the Youth Mobility visa and the Foreigner Identity Number (NIE) at the competent consular office (Check point 4).
• SPAIN: Applying for the Foreigner’s Identity Card (TIE) in the competent office for foreigners. It is not compulsory to obtain a TIE, but it is very helpful to have one.

4) The visa application must be submitted in the Spanish consular office corresponding to the different consular jurisdictions: 

• The consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Spain in Toronto consists of the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario (except the city of Ottawa and the National Capital Region), Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut.
• The consular jurisdiction of the Embassy of Spain in Ottawa covers the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau and the National Capital Region.
• The consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Spain in Montreal consists of the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec (except Gatineau and the National Capital Region).

5) In order to apply for the visa at the Consulate General of Spain in Toronto, the Canadian citizen must:

• Be resident of the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Spain in Toronto.
• Send the visa application by mail to: Consulate General of Spain, ATT: Visa Department, 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1201, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8.
• Submit ORIGINALS AND PHOTOCOPIES OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
  • ​Visa Application Form filled out and signed with one (1) recent full-face color photograph taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio no more than six months before the date you submit your application. It should also meet the requirements pictured of the ICAO standards. Please include the Spanish province where you are going to live.
  • A valid passport with a minimum validity of one year prior to entry into Spain.
  • Documentation such as a medical insurance card, a driver’s license, etc., which shows your residency in Canada. 
  • A return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase it. 
  • Proof of economic means (for the first three months in Spain which is set to 2,504.75 CAD for the year 2022) through bank statements issued within the previous two months, a scholarship, a grant, etc. If an applicant does have a formal offer of employment in Spain before applying for the visa, proof of the necessary economic resources is meet by providing a job contract as long as the income for the first three months reaches the amount aforementioned. In cases where parents are financially responsible, they shall submit a letter legalized by a notary public, signed by them in which they state their consent, a copy of the parents’ bank statements for the previous two months and a photocopy of their passports. 
  • Medical travel insurance Confirmation of Coverage, including hospitalization and repatriation for the entire authorized period of their stay, prior to entering Spanish territory, ONLY when an applicant chooses categories “b”, “d” o “e” mentioned in Point 1.
  • If the duration of the stay is over six months:
    • ​Original police check issued by the authorities of all the countries where an applicant has resided for the last 5 years, including Canada. NOTE: The police check should be issued by the RCMP and contain fingerprints and photo of the visa applicant. We will not accept police checks issued by local Police Stations.
    • Medical certificate issued by the applicant’s family doctor worded as follows: “This medical certificate states that Mr. /Ms.[…] does not suffer from any diseases that may have serious consequences on public health in accordance with the provisions contained in the 2005 International Health Regulations.”
  • 150.00 CAD visa fee. ONLY cash, money orders or certified cheques shall be accepted, payable to the “Consulate General of Spain in Toronto”. We do not accept personal cheques.
  • A Foreigner Identification Number (NIE). Please find more information about how to obtain the “NIE” number in this link.
  • A motivation letter explaining the reasons why you want to obtain the visa.
  • Proof of accommodation: You need to prove that you have arranged a place to stay in Spain for at least 1 week. Private housing must be accompanied by a letter of invitation issued at a police station in Spain. Your host will know how to obtain it.
  • A prepaid empty Xpress Post envelope of Canada Post with your address on it in order to send your passport and original documents back.​

Furthermore, as the case may be: 

A) Registered Canadian students of a post-secondary institution in Canada who wish to complete their academic training in a Spanish institution (category “b” beneficiaries): 

• Proof of registration in a post-secondary institution in Canada and proof of acceptance by a Spanish institution to complete their academic training, within the framework of an inter-institutional agreement. 

B) Young Canadians wishing to obtain additional training in Spain (categories “a” and “c” beneficiaries): 

• A prearranged contract of employment, valid up to the authorized stay. 
• Company’s NIF (Tax Identification Number), and a document stating that the hiring company is registered with the Spanish Social Security System. 
• Relevant qualifications and credentials proving that the applicant has the capacity required for the exercise of the duly recognized profession.
• The economic resources shall be proved by submitting the contract of employment, as long as the income for the first three months reaches 2,504.75 CAD for the year 2022. 

C) Young Canadians wishing to work on a casual basis (categories “d” and “e” beneficiaries): 

• An offer of casual employment, if available when applying for the visa. 
• Company’s NIF (Tax Identification Number), and a document stating that the hiring company is registered with the Spanish Social Security System if an offer of casual employment is available when applying for the visa. 
• Relevant qualifications or credentials proving that they have the capacity required for the exercise of the duly recognized profession, as the case may be, if an offer of casual employment is available when applying for the visa. 
• Revenues earned through occasional work shall be taken into consideration as proof of financial means, whenever it can be documented when applying for the visa. 

D) Young Canadians who wish to do volunteer work (category “e” beneficiaries): 

• Letter of acceptance from the institution where volunteer services shall be performed. 
  

Program participants who wish to stay in Spain for a period of time longer than 6 months, but less than one year, MUST apply for a “Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero”​ (Foreigner ID Card) at their closest “Oficinas de tramitación para ciudadanos extranjeros”. 

Qualified citizens may benefit twice from the application of this Agreement under two different categories among those set out in Point 1. The period of each stay may not exceed one year. In all cases, there shall be a minimum three-month period between the two stays.

Canadian citizens staying in Spain within the framework of this Agreement shall comply with the Spanish laws and regulations, in particular those involving employment. 

Please note that during the examination of a visa application, some additional documents may be requested in order to determine that all requirements to obtain the visa are met. In addition, a Spanish translation of all documents submitted may be required in accordance to the provisions of article 15 of “Act 39/2015 on Uniform Administrative Procedures of the Spanish Public Administration”. 

In some cases, a personal interview with an applicant may also be required. 

This information is not binding and does not alter or replace the relevant regulations, which shall always prevail. 

PROCESSING TIME FOR VISAS UNDER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CANADA AND SPAIN ON YOUTH MOBILITY PROGRAMS IS BETWEEN 3 AND 6 WEEKS.

FAQs – Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Here’re some of the most frequently asked questions about Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa.

How long can you stay on the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

You can stay up to two years on this Tier 5 visa scheme.

Can you Study while staying on Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?

You can study for some courses while you are on the scheme in the UK but you’ll need to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate.

How long is the certificate of sponsorship valid for?

The certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months and you should make an application within that time.

Can you apply if you have children? 

You are not eligible to apply if you have children who live with you or if you’re financially responsible for children.

Conclusion

If you are a foreign national under the age of 28, you might be eligible for a two-year work permit through the Youth Mobility Program. The program aims to help Canadians gain valuable work experience and international exposure before returning home to contribute to their country. By sharing your talents with Canada, you will help ensure that our economy thrives in the future. Millions of young Canadians have benefited from this program, which has helped grow our country, and there’s no reason why you can’t be next.