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Youth Mobility Programs

YOUTH MOBILITY PROGRAMS
CANADA-FRANCE FAQ 2010

I applied to participate in the Youth Mobility Programs for 2010. Can I leave for Canada before receiving my letter of introduction?

If you leave for Canada before receiving your letter of introduction for your temporary work permit, it will be up to the Immigration Officer at the point of entry to Canada to determine whether you will be admitted as a visitor (tourist). This person must be convinced that you will respect the conditions of a temporary stay in Canada and not work without the authorization to do so. If you are in Canada when you receive your letter of introduction by email, you will have to leave the country with this letter and present it to an Immigration Officer at
a point of re-entry to Canada (i.e. a border crossing) in order to obtain your temporary work permit.

I obtained a Letter of Introduction within the framework of the 2010 Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs but wasn’t able to go to Canada. May I present a new application under the same category in the future?

No. As of quota 2010, the issuance of your Letter of Introduction counts as your participation in the category for which you obtained it, even if you didn’t present this letter at a port of entry to Canada. As a result, you will no longer be able to re-apply to the same category if your Letter was already issued to you because, according to the terms of the Canada-France Youth Mobility Agreement, you may only participate once in a given category.

NOTE: This policy is not retroactive. It came into effect upon the opening of the 2010 quota. If your Letter of Introduction was issued under the 2004 - 2009 quotas (inclusively) but you did not present it at a port of entry to Canada, you may submit another application to the category for which the original Letter was issued. You must meet all the eligibility criteria and repay the participation fee.

I live in the “outre-mer” or the “collectivités territoriales”. Can I participate in the Youth Mobility Programs?

You are eligible to participate in the programs if you live in the DOM or Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The Canada-France Youth Mobility Agreement does not apply to residents of the COM (except Saint Pierre and Miquelon), the TAAF, New Caledonia, or citizens and residents of Monaco and Andorra.

I am currently renewing my passport. Can I submit my application with a photocopy of my previous passport, my national identity card and/or a letter stating that my new passport is being renewed?

No. You must submit a photocopy of the appropriate pages of your new passport, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete. The paid participation fees will be reimbursed and your application will be returned to you by mail.

What does “habitually reside in France” mean?

We consider that a candidate’s habitual residence is in France if he/she lives in France, or if he/she is temporarily in a foreign country (i.e. for studies or short-term work).

I am/will be in Paris, can I drop off my completed application at the Embassy?

No. Out of fairness, participation applications to the Youth Mobility Programs are ONLY accepted by mail.

I am in Canada/in another country. Can I participate in the Youth Mobility Programs without coming back to France?

If your usual place of residence is France and you are temporarily out of the country, you may apply to the programs from the country in which you are. You can download the participation kit on our website and send your completed application by mail to the address indicated in the instructions. If your application is accepted, you will receive your letter of introduction by email. If you are already in Canada, you will
have to leave the country with this letter and present it to an Immigration Officer at a point of re-entry to Canada (i.e. a border crossing) in order to obtain your temporary work permit.

My employment/internship/on-the-job training is starting soon but my application for a temporary work permit is currently being processed at the Canadian Embassy. Can I go to Canada before I receive my letter of introduction?

If your employment/internship/on-the-job training contract starts in less than one week, please send an alert to the Youth Mobility Unit by filling in the form available here. It may be necessary to postpone the starting date of your contract if the processing time is too short.

If you leave for Canada before receiving your letter of introduction for your temporary work permit, it will be up to the Immigration Officer at the point of entry to Canada to determine whether you will be admitted as a visitor (tourist). This person must be convinced that you will respect the conditions of a temporary stay in Canada and not work without the authorization to do so. If you are in Canada when you receive your letter of introduction by email, you will have to leave the country with this letter and present it to an Immigration Officer at
a point of re-entry to Canada (i.e. a border crossing) in order to obtain your temporary work permit.

Do I need a medical examination? Can you send me a list of designated medical practitioners?

If a medical examination is required, for example if you intend to work in health or childcare, or teach at the elementary or secondary level, the Visa and Immigration Services will send you the appropriate form, instructions and a list of designated medical practitioners.

I obtained my temporary work permit. May I leave Canada during its validity?

Yes. During the validity of your temporary work permit, you may enter and exit Canada the number of times you want. However, you must ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of the country you plan to visit. The Embassy of Canada in France cannot answer questions concerning entrance requirements or travel restrictions for countries other than Canada.

What is a "common law partner"?

For more information on the common law status, click here.

SPOUSES / COMMON-LAW PARTNERS / CHILDREN

What does “accompany” mean within the framework of the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs (YMP)?

With the framework of the YMP, the verb “accompany” means “to be dependent on” or “to be reliant on”. On the Declaration Form, when you tick that you will not be “accompanied” to Canada, you acknowledge that no individual will be reliant on you. In other words, you declare knowing that no other individual may benefit from a status, visa or permit (i.e. work or study) based on the simple fact of going to Canada with you. In this sense, you cannot be “accompanied” to Canada as each of your dependants is responsible for obtaining his/her own status in Canada.

Your dependants can go with you to Canada but each person is responsible for his/her own application and/or his/her own status (please see the explanations below).

I would like to apply to the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs (YMP). Can my family come with me?

Yes, your family can come to Canada with you. However, each of your dependants (spouse/common-law partner/child/children) will have to obtain his/her own status. Please see the scenarios below.

I would like to apply to the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs (YMP). Can my partner* come with me? (*The word ‘’partner’’ designates a spouse or common-law partner.)

Yes, he/she can come with you. However, your partner will have to obtain his/her own status.

I would like to apply to the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs (YMP). Can my partner* come with me without a work permit? (*The word ‘’partner’’ designates a spouse or common-law partner.)

Yes. At the time of applying, you must indicate that you are a couple by:

  1. Completing all the boxes in the appropriate column in section 1 of the YMP application form.
  2. Attaching 2 identity photos of your spouse, as per the requirements set out by Citizenship and Immigration Canada: www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/photospecs-e.pdf. These photos must be stapled to the bottom of your application form, face-up, next to yours. Each of the photos must have the signature of your partner on the back.
  3. Attaching a legible photocopy of the identification pages of his/her passport

(family name, given name(s), date of birth, issuance and expiry dates). If your partner would like to remain in Canada for as long as you, his/her passport must be valid long enough to cover this period.

Your partner will be considered a temporary resident (visitor, tourist) in Canada and will not be able to work there. The duration of his/her visitor status will be determined by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry to Canada. For more information on temporary residence status in Canada, please click here: www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/visit_condition-en.asp

Does my partner require a temporary resident visa (visitor visa) to come to Canada with me?

To know if your partner requires a temporary resident visa, please click here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
If so, he/she must comply with the instructions found here:
www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/visa_euro-en.asp
If not, please read carefully the information regarding temporary residence status in Canada: www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/visit_condition-en.asp

My partner will come to Canada with me and wishes to work there. What are his/her options?

If your partner wishes to work in Canada, there are two options for him/her:

  1. He/she can submit his/her own application to one of the Youth Mobility Programs: www.amb-canada.fr/youth. He/she must meet all of the eligibility criteria for the category to which he/she is applying and comply with all the instructions. In this instance, you may submit your applications in the same envelope.
  2. He/she may submit an application for a temporary work permit outside of the YMP. All the information related to this can be found here: www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/autre_emploi-en.asp. In this instance, your partner must send his/her application directly to the Visas and Immigration Service of the Canadian Embassy in France and pay them the fees related to his/her application. Your partner will have to mention that you have submitted an application to the Youth Mobility Programs. Your partner’s application will be processed independently of yours.

In the two cases above, at the time of applying, you will have to indicate that you are in a couple by completing all the boxes in the appropriate column in section 1 of the YMP application form.

I would like to apply to the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs (YMP). May my child come with me? What will his/her status be?

Yes, your child may come to Canada with you. However, each of your dependants (spouse/common-law partner/child/children) will have to obtain his/her own status.

At the time of applying, you must indicate that your child will come to Canada with you by:

  1. Completing all the boxes in the appropriate column in section 1 of the YMP application form.
  2. Attaching 2 identity photos of your child, as per the requirements set out by Citizenship and Immigration Canada: www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/photospecs-e.pdf. These photos must be stapled to the bottom of your application form, face-up, next to yours.
  3. Attaching a legible photocopy of the identification pages of his/her passport

(family name, given name(s), date of birth, issuance and expiry dates). If you would like your child to remain in Canada for as long as you, his/her passport must be valid long enough to cover this period.

If your child is under 6 years old, he/she will be considered a visitor. He/she may attend nursery school, as per the system in place in your province/territory of stay. He/she will not have a student status. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry will ask you to prove that you will be able to provide for the needs of your child during your entire stay in Canada (financial means, fixed accommodation, who will take care of the child while you work, etc.). The duration of your child’s visitor status will also be decided at this stage by the Immigration Officer at the border.

If your child is over 6 years old, he/she is of schooling age. It will therefore be obligatory to obtain a study permit for your child before his/her entry to Canada in order that he/she may attend an educational institution there. Your child will consequently have a “student” status. To apply for a study permit, please click here: www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/etudier-en.asp

The Immigration Officer at the port of entry will ask you to prove that you will be able to provide for the needs of your child, who will be considered a student, throughout your entire stay in Canada (financial means, fixed accommodation, who will take care of the child while you work, etc.). The duration of your child’s status will also be decided at this stage by the Immigration Officer at the border.

NOTE: If you are going to Canada alone on a YMP, without the other parent, and your child is a minor, you must read carefully the information provided by the Visas and Immigration Service of the Canadian Embassy in France for you will also have to prove that you are authorized to travel alone with your child: www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/france/visas/autorisation_parents-en.asp

What type of insurance must I subscribe to before leaving for Canada?

You must have and maintain insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. Your insurance policy must cover you for:

  • Health care, hospitalization and repatriation;
  • The Canadian territory (the policy should specify North America, Canada/USA or worldwide);
  • The entire duration of your stay in Canada.

You must be able to provide proof of this insurance to the Immigration Officer upon your entry to Canada.
To learn more about different insurance options, please consult l’Assurance maladie en ligne website www.ameli.fr. You can also consult la Maison des Français de l'Étranger (MFE): www.mfe.org. Please note that the Embassy does not have the mandate of providing a list of insurers.

I am a French citizen on a student exchange in Canada. I would like to do an internship as a requirement for my studies in France. Is this possible?

Yes. You may apply to the “Internship / On-the-Job Training” category. To download the application kit, click here.

In addition to the required documents, you must also include a copy of the letter from your post-secondary Canadian educational institution indicating that you are enrolled in a student exchange program with that institution. You can send your completed application by mail.

Is it possible to enroll in courses during my stay in Canada while under the Youth Mobility Programs?

Yes. However, the courses must be part-time and considered as personal development/growth. Your courses cannot be part of a university degree. If you are in Canada under the Working Holiday category, you may enroll in language courses over a short period of time, i.e. less than six months.

I am currently in Canada with a work permit issued under the Working Holiday category. My employer would like me to continue working after the permit expires. Is this possible? What should I do?

Keeping in mind that a work permit cannot be renewed or extended under the Working Holiday category, two possibilities remain:

  • If you are eligible, you may apply for a work permit under the Young Professionals category. You may send your application for this new work permit from Canada. Eligible citizens may participate in two different categories, but their stays must be discontinuous. Click here for more information.
  • If you wish to prolong your stay in Canada, you must apply for an extension at least 30 days before the expiry date of your current status by contacting the Case Processing Center at the following address: CPC Vegreville, 6212, 55th Avenue, Vegreville, Alberta T9C 1W5 CANADA. For more information, you can contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) call center at 1-888-242-2100 or consult the CIC website by clicking here.

Please note that your employer must first obtain a favorable Labor Market Opinion (LMO) from Service Canada in order for you to submit an application for a temporary work permit.

I am a foreign student enrolled in a French institution but I am not a citizen of France. I want to do an internship/work term in Canada. Am I eligible to participate in the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs?

If you are not a French citizen, you are not eligible to participate in the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs because these programs fall under the framework of a bilateral agreement between Canada and France. This agreement is based on reciprocity and applies only to citizens of Canada and France. However, there are other possibilities for obtaining an internship with a company:

  • Canada has signed youth mobility agreements with a number of countries. To find out if your country is one of them, please consult the website of the Canadian Embassy in your country. For the list of Canadian Embassies worldwide: www.international.gc.ca/world/embassies/menu-en.asp
  • If Canada has not signed a youth mobility agreement with your country, your employer will need to obtain a confirmation of your internship offer from the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) – Service Canada. Upon the reception of this confirmation, you will have to send your application for a temporary work permit to the Visas and Immigration Service of the Embassy of Canada in France. Please note that you will not be applying under the Canada-France Youth Mobility Programs and will therefore have to pay the appropriate processing fees.
  • There are also “multilateral” organizations concerned with youth mobility that may be able to assist you.
  • In an post-secondary institution in Canada: Certain post-secondary institutions in France have signed agreements with post-secondary institutions in Canada for the reciprocal exchange of interns. We suggest you find out from the International Relations Office of your institution, whether such an agreement exists. If it does, you must submit a copy of the agreement along with your application for a work permit to the Visas and Immigration Service at the Embassy of Canada in France, and include the name of at least one Canadian who is or will be doing an internship at your post-secondary institution this year. Please note that this approach does not fall under the Youth Mobility Programs and you must therefore pay them the appropriate fees. The forms are available here.

Can I fill out my application form by hand?

You are asked to complete the form on a computer. However, if this is impossible, you may fill in the remaining fields by writing LEGIBLY.

I have an employment offer that only mentions a piece-work rate. I have a job offer that mentions an hourly wage, but doesn’t mention the number of hours worked per week. Do you need the employment offer to be more precise?

Yes. The employment offer must indicate at least an average salary earned over a given period (hour, day, week or month), along with the number of hours worked per week, in order to show that you will have sufficient financial resources during your contract.

Can you provide me with a list of employers? Can you help me find a job/internship?

It is not the Embassy’s mandate to provide a list of job/internship offers.  Nonetheless, there are a number of organizations involved with youth mobility that can provide support during the steps of your application process for a work permit, and/or help you find a job/internship.

What is the difference between a visa and a permit?

A temporary resident visa is a counterfoil or sticker placed in a passport or travel document which allows certain foreign nationals to travel to Canada. A permit is a document which confirms that the foreign national is authorized to work or study in Canada. One or both may be required and one cannot be a substitute for the other. As a French citizen applying in the Youth Mobility Programs, you are applying for a temporary work permit and not a visa or study permit. French citizens do not need a visa to enter Canada.

Do I need a machine readable and/or a biometric passport to enter Canada?

No, a machine readable and/or a biometric passport is not required to enter Canada.

Where do I find the passport number that I have to write on my YMP Application Form?

In the French passport, the passport number is located in the top right-hand corner of page 2, in the section "Passeport no".

What is a letter of introduction?

A letter of introduction is a document issued by the Visas and Immigration Service, confirming that your application for a work or study permit has been approved. It notifies you that you may leave for Canada in order to work, study or do both, upon its reception. You must present your letter of introduction to an Immigration Officer at a point of entry to Canada (airport, land crossing). The work or study permit will be issued to you by the Immigration Officer upon presentation of your letter of introduction and the other required documents.

I am in Canada with a work permit under the Young Professionals category (or Professional Development). Can I extend the validity of my work permit to enable me to continue working? How can I do this?

You may extend the validity of your temporary work permit to a maximum of 18 months by following the instructions on this page. Please note that you may not change employers.
You will not have to pay additional fees for this extension. You will have to mention that your temporary work permit in Canada is endorsed by an international program aiming young professionals, and is therefore exempt of treatment fees by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) according to the 299-2)(i) article of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Can I stay in Canada as a tourist after the expiration of my temporary work permit?

Yes, you may change your status in Canada by following the instructions on this page.

What kind of jobs can I hold with the WHP? Are there restrictions on the duration of the employment contracts, the language of the workplace, the location or the number of employers I can have?

No. The WHP is valid for any type of job. This is regardless of the duration of the contract, the language or the location. There are no restrictions on the total number of employers for whom you can work within the 12 month period either.

Are there any restrictions on the type of employment I can hold in Canada?

No. However, certain professions in Canada are regulated. To learn more about this, please click here.

I am currently in Canada with a temporary work permit under the Youth Mobility Programs. Can I participate in a second category while my current permit is still valid?

Yes. You may apply to participate in a second category, while you are in Canada and your current permit is still valid. An application to a second category does not annul the validity of your current permit. If you are in Canada when you receive your letter of introduction by email, you will have to leave the country with this letter and present it to an Immigration Officer at a point of re-entry to Canada (i.e. a border crossing) in order to obtain your new temporary work permit. Issuing the new permit will annul the previous one, regardless of its initial duration. Please note that you may participate in 2 different categories.

I participated in the Youth Mobility Programs and now wish to apply for a permanent residence status in Canada. How do I go about doing this?

To learn more about how to apply for a permanent residence status in Canada, please consult the Citizenship and Immigration website of the Embassy of Canada in France.

I have applied for permanent residence status and I’m waiting for my file to be processed. Can I go to Canada in the meantime under a Youth Mobility Program?

The Youth Mobility Programs are not designed to provide work permits to those waiting for permanent residence status. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria of the programs, you are welcome to submit an application to participate.

Do I need to apply for a temporary work permit if my internship/on-the-job training in Canada is of short duration and/or unpaid?

Yes. In Canada, internship/on-the-job training placements are all considered as employment, even if they are for a short period of time or unpaid. In order to obtain a temporary work permit authorizing you to undergo your internship/on-the-job training in Canada, you must submit an application to the Internship/On-the-Job Training category.

Technical aspects: downloading the application kit

What is the purpose of the barcode?

The barcode encodes the number you see underneath the barcode, in other words, the number of your application kit. It does not lead to a link nor URL. If you have a gray square instead of the barcode (MAC users), it will not impede the analysis of your file as long as the number below the grey square is visible. It is the number that is important because it links your personal information to your application kit.

I am not able to display the application kit, what should I do?

Make sure you are using a recent version of Adobe Reader (version 8 or 9).


For Mac Users:  An application kit may be downloaded using Safari and Leopard (MAC OS x 10.5.8 version) in conjunction with Adobe Flash Player. This program is available free of charge on the Adobe website: http://www.adobe.com/.

After performing online trials, we have established that personalized kits may not be downloaded using the Firefox browser or the Snow Leopard operating system.

If, after having consulted the FAQ section, you still have not found an answer to your questions, please click here.

 

Date de modification: 2009-12-11

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