Canada has officially published the list of 36 countries and territories whose citizens can apply for the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme, a youth mobility initiative based on bilateral agreements. The announcement, made on 14 September 2026, confirms that the programme allows young people from eligible nations to live, work, and travel in Canada for a specified period, offering an international experience beyond standard tourism or student visas.
Full List of Eligible Countries and Territories
The 36 confirmed countries and territories are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (South Korea), San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
The list is dominated by European nations, alongside several Asia-Pacific countries and a handful from Latin America. Notably, Australia, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and South Korea are among the major nations included, reflecting their strong bilateral youth mobility agreements with Canada.
Africa Excluded from the IEC List
Conspicuously absent from the list is any country from the African continent. Nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa are not among the eligible territories, meaning young people across Africa remain unable to access the IEC pathway. Applicants from non-listed countries would need to explore other immigration or work permit routes to enter Canada for similar purposes.
The announcement is relevant given ongoing conversations about mobility opportunities and the global demand among young Africans, particularly Nigerians, for legal pathways to work and live abroad. The exclusion highlights a gap in bilateral youth mobility agreements between Canada and African nations.
Context: UK Youth Mobility Scheme 2026
In a related development, the UK announced its 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme, which includes 13 countries and territories eligible to apply, along with their annual visa quotas. Australia received the largest allocation with 38,500 places, while some countries received only 100. The scheme allows eligible young people to live and work in the UK for up to two years, but no African country made the 2026 list, meaning applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa remain excluded from that route as well.
For young people in non-eligible countries, the only options to work and travel in Canada or the UK involve alternative immigration pathways, such as employer-sponsored work permits, study permits, or other bilateral agreements. The absence of African nations from both the Canadian and UK youth mobility programmes underscores the limited legal mobility options available to young Africans seeking international work experience.
