Canada has announced two new facilitated work permit pathways for young professionals from Taiwan and Portugal under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. The initiative aims to strengthen international collaboration while offering youth opportunities to gain professional experience in Canada.

The new pathways fall under the Young Professionals stream, which provides employer-specific work permits to eligible candidates.

New Work Permit Pathways Introduced

Canada has launched the following two programs:

• Young Professionals Taiwanese Global Pathfinder Initiative (TGPI) Pathway – designed for Taiwanese nationals
• Young Professionals Inov Contacto Pathway – designed for Portuguese nationals

These pathways simplify the process for qualified youth to obtain employer-specific work permits in Canada. Applicants who meet the requirements can work in roles aligned with their education or professional background.

It’s important to note that Portuguese and Taiwanese citizens can still apply through the regular IEC Young Professionals stream, along with other IEC work permit categories.

Overview of the New Programs

Participants from both countries may only participate in the IEC program once, according to their bilateral agreements with Canada.

Young Professionals Inov Contacto Program (Portugal)

The Inov Contacto pathway provides Portuguese youth aged 18 to 29 with the opportunity to complete international internships in Canada.

The internships typically last nine months and are arranged with Canadian companies selected by the Inov Contacto program.

Financial support for participants is provided by AICEP Portugal, which covers several costs, including:

• Round-trip travel to Canada
• Health insurance
• Living expenses during the internship

Currently, the participating Canadian companies have not been publicly disclosed.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify under the Young Professionals Inov Contacto pathway, applicants must:

• Be 18–29 years old
• Hold a valid Portuguese passport for the entire stay in Canada
• Receive a signed job offer or internship contract from an approved Canadian employer
• Work in a position related to their education or professional experience
• Show that the job will contribute to their career development
• Demonstrate at least $2,500 in available funds
• Maintain health insurance for the duration of their stay
• Provide proof of round-trip travel or sufficient funds for departure
• Not bring dependents during the program
• Meet Canada’s admissibility requirements
• Pay the applicable program fees

Applicants working in Quebec must ensure their insurance includes repatriation coverage, even if they receive provincial health coverage.

Taiwanese Global Pathfinder Initiative (TGPI)

The Taiwanese Global Pathfinder Initiative (TGPI) is managed by Taiwan’s Youth Development Administration (YDA) and is designed to strengthen international industry connections while promoting innovation.

Through this initiative, Taiwanese youth aged 18 to 30 can gain professional work experience in Canada.

Participants must have either:

• Graduated in approved fields of study, or
• Gained relevant professional experience recognized by the YDA.

Under the program, the YDA provides financial support, including:

• Round-trip airfare
• Living expenses
• Medical insurance

As of now, the specific fields of study or professions eligible under this program have not yet been publicly announced.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants applying under the Young Professionals TGPI pathway must:

• Be 18–30 years old
• Hold a valid Taiwanese passport that includes their personal identification number
• Receive a job offer from a Canadian employer
• Work in a job related to their education or work experience
• Demonstrate the job supports their professional growth
• Show at least $2,500 in available funds
• Maintain health insurance during the stay
• Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one
• Not bring dependents
• Meet Canada’s admissibility requirements
• Pay the required application fees

About the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is a youth mobility initiative that allows young people from partner countries to work and travel in Canada.

The program also gives Canadian youth aged 18 to 35 the opportunity to work abroad in partner countries.

IEC currently offers three main work permit categories:

1. Working Holiday – Open work permits allowing participants to work for any employer
2. Young Professionals – Employer-specific work permits for career development
3. International Co-op (Internship) – Work permits for students completing internships related to their studies

Eligibility for the program depends on the bilateral youth mobility agreement between Canada and each partner country, which determines age limits and participation rules.