France

Young Professionals 2013

This category is designed for French young professionals wishing to gain further professional experience in their field, with a fixed-term employment contract (maximum 18 months).

Employment must begin between January 1st and December 31st, 2013.

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In 2013, the Embassy of Canada in France is continuing its pilot project that allows electronic tracking of applications.

To submit an application to the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative, you must download an application kit by following the instructions outlined on this page.

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The 2013 Young Professionals category is now closed.

Please note that we will not accept any applications mailed after Monday April 15th, 2013 (as attested by the postal mark). Please ensure that the mailing date is clearly and lisibly indicated.

Applications will be studied within the limits of the available places.

No waiting list will be established. The information regarding the opening of the 2014 “Young professionals” category will be posted on this page in Fall 2013.

We thank you for your interest in Canada.

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Eligibility Criteria

You must:

• be between the ages of 18 and 35 inclusive on the date the application is received;
• be a French citizen and habitually reside in France (France, the French overseas departments and St. Pierre and Miquelon only);
• hold a valid French passport (validity must exceed stay in Canada by one day);
• not have previously participated in this category, nor have already participated twice in the IEC initiative with France;
• have a job offer in Canada, in your field of expertise (diploma or certificate, and / or work experience) and which constitutes a professional development;
• pay the participation fee that is equivalent to $150 CAD in Euros; and
• be prepared to take out health-care/hospitalisation/repatriation insurance for the duration of your stay – you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada.

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Required Documents

1. Download Certificate

Download, print and attach this certificate as the cover page of your application.
You will obtain this certificate by clicking on the link provided in the email giving you access to your personalised application kit.

2. 1 Copy of the 2-page IEC Application Form

Save this 2-page IEC application form on your computer. Then, complete it on the screen and print one copy. Finally, do not forget to sign and date this form.
This document must include your original signature.
The signature on your IEC application form must correspond to the one in your passport. No one else can sign this form on your behalf.

3. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Forms:

• Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295), 5-page form when completed
• Family Information (IMM 5645), 2-page form

You will have access to these CIC forms by downloading the IEC application kit.

4. Declaration Form

Read carefully. Duly complete all boxes, sign and date. This document must include your original signature.
The signature on your declaration form must correspond to the one in your passport. No one else can sign this form on your behalf.

5. 2 Identity Photos

Staple (do not glue) the 2 photos to the CIC “Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada” (IMM 1295) form, in the bottom left-hand corner of the first page (in the section marked FOR OFFICE USE ONLY – DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE).
These photos must conform to the specifications set out by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

6. Photocopy of the Identification Pages of your Passport

This photocopy must clearly show your first and last names, date and place of birth, passport issuance and expiry dates as well as your signature.
Your passport must be valid for at least one day beyond the date of your stay in Canada. Do not send your original passport.

7. Photocopy of your Job Offer, in your field of expertise

This offer must be on letterhead paper of the company or host institution in Canada. In the absence of letterhead paper, your employer must stamp the offer or provide the business number. Your offer must include all of the following information:

your first and last names;

contract start date (dd-mm-2013)*;

contract end date (dd-mm-yyyy)**;

gross salary***;

number of hours worked per week;

job title and responsibilities/duties;

location of employment in Canada (address);

professional contact information (telephone and e-mail) of your employer in Canada;

name, title and signature of your employer in Canada; and

date, on which the job offer was drafted.

* Special Case: If this job offer is for the continuation of your current job in Canada, ensure that the offer indicates the date on which you would like your new work permit to begin. If you do not wish to interrupt your employment, the date on your job offer must correspond to the expiration date of your current work permit, at the latest. If you are currently in Canada with a valid permit, please include a photocopy of this permit with your application.

** Please note that the maximum duration of this work permit will not exceed 18 months.

***Please note that your employer must comply with labour laws in effect in Canada. Consequently, the salary proposed must correspond to at least the legal minimum wage of the province or territory of your employment. For more information, please visit Minimum Wage Database. Within the framework of this category, the Embassy of Canada requires that your weekly wage correspond to at least the minimum wage of the province or territory of employment, based on a 35-hour workweek.

8. Complete and Up-To-Date Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You must list your entire work history as well as all of your study experiences. Please indicate the official titles of your degrees, diplomas and certificates as well as their completion dates (mm-yyyy).

For each of your professional and study experiences, please specify:

• dates (mm-yyyy)
• locations (city, country)

All periods of time must be accounted for (i.e. travel, sabbatical year, unemployment, etc.).
Please list the official titles of your degrees, diplomas, and certificates (avoid translating them).

9. Checklist

Verify that all the required documents are assembled in the proper order. Include the checklist with your application.

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Participation Fee

The payment of the participation fee will only apply to candidates who submit applications that meet all of the IEC eligibility criteria. Consequently, it will be requested only after the Youth Mobility Unit (YMU) has examined your application.

If your application meets the IEC eligibility criteria, you will receive a conditional acceptance email. In this message, you will be asked to pay the participation fee by wire transfer. The fee amount in Euros as well as the bank coordinates of the account to which the payment must be made will be sent in your conditional acceptance email. Only the Euro amount indicated in that message will be accepted as it will correspond to the Canadian dollar exchange rate on the day of the conditional acceptance. You must not make this payment before receiving a conditional acceptance email from the Youth Mobility Unit. If you make the payment before you have received the conditional acceptance email, your application will be rejected on grounds of non-compliance.

Additional information concerning the fee payment process will be provided in the conditional acceptance email.

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Sending In Your Application

Mail the complete application to:

Applications will only be accepted by post. Applications that are sent by fax, email or delivered in person will be refused and returned without being examined.

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Evaluation Process

You will be kept up to date on the status of your application by email, from the time it is received at the Youth Mobility Unit (YMU) to the completion of its evaluation. Your application will be examined in two phases: first, by the Youth Mobility Unit and then by the Visa and Immigration Section (VIS). If your application is accepted at the end of this process, you will receive a Letter of Introduction authorising your stay in Canada.

1. Youth Mobility Unit (YMU)

Upon reception of your application by post at the YMU,you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your file. Please be aware that this message is generated by an automated system. If you use an anti-spam filter, please make sure that your system is configured to authorise the following sender (i.e. by adding it to your contact list):

• eic-iec.e-tracking-noreply@ambassadeducanadaeic.net

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The YMU will examine your application in accordance with the instructions outlined above and the provisions of the Canada-France Agreement Concerning Youth Exchanges.

• If your application is accepted by the YMU:

You will receive a conditional acceptance email from us asking you to pay the participation fee by wire transfer.

The fee amount as well as the bank coordinates of the account to which the payment must be made will be sent to you in this conditional acceptance email. You will have ten (10) days to make the wire transfer and upload your proof of payment via our secure online form; otherwise, your application will automatically be rejected on grounds of non-payment. Additional information regarding the payment process will be provided in the conditional acceptance email.

After receipt of your proof of payment, you will receive an email from us confirming that your proof of payment has been received. We will then undertake a final verification of your file.

If everything is in order, you will receive an email informing you that the first evaluation phase has been completed. Your application will then be forwarded to the Visa and Immigration Section for the second evaluation phase.

• If your application is rejected by the YMU:

You will receive an email explaining the reason(s) for the refusal.

If you wish to reapply to IEC, you must download a new application kit as your previous one will no longer be valid.

Reminder: All incomplete or non-compliant applications will be rejected.

2. Visa and Immigration Section (VIS)

The Visa and Immigration Section will examine your application in accordance with Canadian immigration law and regulations.

• If your application is accepted by the VIS:

You will receive a Letter of Introduction at the email address that you provided on your IMM 1295 form. (No paper copy will be sent.) This letter is not a passport or a travel document allowing you to enter or to stay in Canada. This document indicates that your application for a work permit has been approved. You will not receive any other documents.
If you use an anti-spam filter, please configure it to accept messages from the following addresses (i.e. by adding them to your contact list):

• eic-iec.e-tracking-noreply@ambassadeducanadaeic.net;
• paris-im.visiteur@international.gc.ca; and
• Client-update-mise-a-jour@cic.gc.ca.

Please also check your spam or junk folders to ensure that messages haven’t been filtered out.

• If your application is rejected by the VIS:

You will receive a letter by post explaining the reason(s) for the refusal and a reimbursement process will automatically be triggered within the YMU.

You will receive an email informing you that the YMU has initiated this reimbursement process.

You will receive a final email notifying you of its completion.


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Processing Time

The processing time that applies to your file is the one indicated in the email acknowledging receipt of your application at the Youth Mobility Unit. More information on the processing time is available on the Processing Time page.

Due to the high number of applications received, we will not respond to any questions regarding your file during the processing period.

In the event that you have not received an email or letter informing you of the Embassy’s decision after the total processing time indicated in the Acknowledgement of Receipt email has passed, you may inform us of this situation by completing the form available on the Processing Time page.

This form is to be used ONLY in this situation.

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Insurance

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) requires that all participants in the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative have comprehensive health care and repatriation insurance upon their arrival in Canada. This insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the work permit.

In Canada, the health care and social security systems vary by province and territory. The Practical Information page will help you know your rights.

The insurance policy that you buy must:

• covers health care/hospitalisation/repatriation;
• be valid for all of Canada (North America, Canada/USA or worldwide coverage); and
• be valid for the duration of your work permit in Canada.

You are strongly advised against buying an insurance policy until you receive your Letter of Introduction.

You must present your proof of comprehensive insurance coverage (health care/hospitalisation/repatriation) to officials upon your arrival in Canada.

Please note that the Embassy of Canada does not have information regarding insurance policies or providers.

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Formalities at the Point Of Entry (Customs)

Your work permit will be issued at the point of entry to Canada upon presentation of the following documents:

Letter of Introduction;

passport;

Job Offer; and

proof of insurance.

Your work permit will be valid for the duration indicated in your Letter of Introduction (maximum 18 months). It will specify the name of the employer for whom you are authorised to work in Canada.

Before leaving the point of entry, verify that all the information on your work permit is correct (i.e. permit expiry date, etc.).

You may enter and exit Canada during the validity period of your work permit.

If you plan to travel to another country, you must ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of the country you plan to visit.

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Download an Application Kit

If you would like to participate in this category, you must follow the three steps outlined below in order to create your personalised application kit:

• Step 1: Provide and confirm your email address. (This address will be used during the entire evaluation process at the YMU.);
• Step 2: Complete the online personal information form;
• Step 3: Download your personalised application kit.

After following the steps above, you will have all of the information and documents necessary to complete your application and send it to the Embassy by post.

Registering online is the ONLY way to access a personalised application kit.

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Reimbursement Policy

The program participation fee will be refunded if:

• your application is not accepted because it was not completed or was not completed correctly;
• you do not meet the eligibility criteria for participating in International Experience Canada;
• your application for a work permit is refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada;
• the category you applied for is full and International Experience Canada cannot take any more participants this year; or,
• you voluntarily withdraw your application before Citizenship and Immigration Canada issues your Letter of Introduction.

Your participation fee will not be refunded if:

• The Letter of Introduction has been issued: Once your application has been approved and the Letter of Introduction sent, you will be assigned one of the spaces available under International Experience Canada. Your participation fee will not be refunded from that point on, even if you decide not to come to Canada.
• You have misrepresented facts on your application: If your application contains false information, it will automatically be refused, and your participation fee will not be refunded.

WARNING: Inadmissibility for Misrepresentation

All applicants are legally required to be truthful and disclose all relevant information with their applications. Applicants who submit an application package that contains misrepresented information, knowingly or unknowingly, will be denied entry to Canada and may also be banned from travelling to Canada. The details of the misrepresentation will remain permanently on record with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. For more information on misrepresentation, please visit: Document Fraud/Misrepresentation.

Please note: The participation fee is not transferable under any circumstance, whether from person to person or from year to year.

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Canada-France Youth Mobility Agreement

You can download the Youth Mobility Agreement here | PDF ^* (1.1 Mo)

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Questions?

If you have any questions about the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative, please consult the FAQ section.

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* If you require a plug-in or a third-party software to view this file, please visit the alternative formats section of our help page .