Italy-Canada Youth Mobility Program
The new agreement between Italy and Canada on Youth Mobility, which entered into force on November 1, 2022, allows young people between 18 and 35 years of age from either country to spend up to twelve (12) months in the other country and seek temporary paid employment.
This is a significant opportunity for Canadian youths to develop a deeper understanding of the Italian language, culture and lifestyle.
Please note that, under the new agreement, participants are entitled to work for the entire authorization of stay, for a maximum duration of twelve (12) months, including with the same employer if they so choose. Every young person may participate in the program a maximum of two times.
Canadian citizens who wish to participate in this bilateral program must obtain the necessary visa before leaving Canada. They CANNOT apply for their visa after arriving in Italy.
Equally, Italian citizens who wish to apply to this program for Canada must contact the Canadian Embassy in Rome.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN ITALIAN YOUTH MOBILITY VISA WITH US
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
► be between 18 and 35 years of age on the date of application;
► be a Canadian citizen and possess a valid Canadian passport;
► to be deemed a resident of our consular district (AB, BC, SK & YT) with a local provincial ID to prove it.
WHAT TYPE OF VISA?
You can apply either for:
► a Working Holiday visa
► a Salaried Employment Work visa,
► or Study/Intern visa.
For further information on visas to Italy please check http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en
Visit this webpage (click here) to download the required visa forms and supplementary documents.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL SUBCATEGORIES
(all presented in proper physical hard copies; pls. no screengrab prints, no docs on pen drives, phones, or laptops)
- One recent passport-size colour photo (must have been taken less than six months before the application), size 35mm x 40mm, full-face and light coloured background. Face must be correctly centred and must be seen from a front view, with both sides visible. Styled poses (looking over one shoulder, head bowed etc.) are not allowed. The head must be free of all headgear, no hats, scarves, headbands or other decorative objects;
- Canadian passport, valid for at least three (3) months after the visa expiry date, as well as photocopies of the first two (2) pages and of visas previously issued, if any. There must be at least two blank pages in the passport;
- Canadian provincial DL, or ID, or equivalent, in original & a copy.
- A personalized round-trip flight ticket to Italy. If, for technical reasons, only one-way ticket can be issued and purchased, or the applicant submits a personalized flight reservation, or flight booking plan, or flight itinerary, supplementary financial resources deemed sufficient to cover the cost of such a ticket for the expected travel date/s are a must. However, buying your ticket in advance does not ensure that a visa is issued;
- For a Working Holiday visa and Study/Intern visa, applicants must prove to have sufficient financial resources. Such funds are assessed at a current minimum of EUR 1,900 equivalent in CAD; for info on current exchange rates, please click here . The availability of these funds must be shown by providing:
► bank statement/s inclusive of transactions from the most recent three (3) months, together with an up-to-date summary of accounts/account snapshot, duly stamped by the financial institution; please make sure your name and account/s details are clearly visible. In exceptional cases the visa applicant has to rely on a parent as a financial guarantor, click here for forms and further guidance.
► a credit card in the applicant’s name with sufficient credit to cover costs as an additional factor only
Please note NO proof of own funds is required for a Salaried Employment Work visa.
- Health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for emergency medical consultation, including hospitalization and repatriation, for the entire length of the stay under the Italy-Canada Youth Mobility visa. Please make sure to print out policy rules and regulations too.
- A current resume (curriculum vitae).
- Additional requirements by category; please see below.
A) Working Holiday visa
► Simplified application form for Working Holiday visa (click here) carefully and correctly completed and signed.
► a declaration of the applicant that certifies the intent to travel to Italy and to work temporarily to supplement own financial resources;
Please, note that the procedure for a “Permesso di soggiorno” (residency permit) must be initiated within eight (8) business days of arriving in Italy through the “Questura” (Italian provincial police headquarters) in order to validate the visa. The addresses and contact information of the relevant “Questura” are available at: http://questure.poliziadistato.it/. Subsequently the employer will apply for the work authorization to the “Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – SUI” (local integrated immigration & employment resources office).
B) Salaried Employment Work visa
► Application form for Italian National Visa (D)/ Long stay visa (click here) carefully and correctly completed and signed.
► Authorization to work (work permit), called nulla osta, initiated by the Italian employer and issued by the “Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione – SUI” (local integrated immigration & employment resources office). Such nulla osta authorization must be uploaded to the Italian national immigration database prior to the applicant’s visa procedure back at the Consulate of Italy in the appropriate consular district.
Please, note that the procedure for a “Permesso di soggiorno” (residency permit) must be initiated within eight (8) business days of arriving in Italy through the “Questura” (Italian provincial police headquarters) in order to validate the visa. The addresses and contact information of the relevant “Questura” are available at: http://questure.poliziadistato.it/.
C) Study/Intern visa
► Application form for Italian National Visa (D)/ Long stay visa (click here) carefully and correctly completed and signed.
► Documentation that certifies enrollment in good standing at an academic institution in the country of origin or residence.
► Documentation on the internship/co-op program to be carried out in Italy, relevant to the applicant’s field of study. Such program in Italy shall constitute an integral part of the academic program graduation requirements back in the country of origin.
► a personalized proof of accommodation in Italy. If a permanent accommodation confirmation is not available for the interview date, this Visa Office accepts a personal proof of a temporary lodging solution (a hostel, hotel, Airbnb…) that would take care of the first couple of weeks of stay at the destination in Italy.
Please, note that the procedure for a “Permesso di soggiorno” (residency permit) must be initiated within eight (8) business days of arriving in Italy through the “Questura” (Italian provincial police headquarters) in order to validate the visa. The addresses and contact information of the relevant “Questura” are available at: http://questure.poliziadistato.it/.
Last update on October 3, 2023