A new arrangement between Canada and Portugal will give people between the ages of 18 and 35 the opportunity to live and work in either country. Signed May 3, the new bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangement will let 2,000 Canadian and 2,000 Portuguese youth travel and work in each country through the Working Holiday, International Co-op, and Young Professional streams of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
The arrangement, which comes into effect in the 2019 IEC season, brings to 34 the number of partner countries and territories that have similar arrangements with Canada.
“Getting international travel and work experience allows youth to immerse themselves in a different culture and develop life skills, all while improving their employability back at home,” said Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen.
José Luís Carneiro, Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities Abroad, said the agreement will enable Canadian and Portuguese youth "to gain a better understanding of each other's culture, language and society."
