Young Ukrainians may soon have another opportunity to legally travel to Canada, live there, work, and gain international experience. On October 19, 2026, Bill No. 0397 was registered in the Verkhovna Rada to ratify the agreement between Ukraine and Canada on youth mobility.
The program is designed for citizens of both countries aged 18 to 35 and provides for the possibility of a temporary stay abroad lasting up to one year.
It sounds appealing, especially for those who have long wanted to experience life in Canada but did not plan to enroll in university right away or go through a complex immigration process.
However, there is an important caveat: the program is not yet operational, and applications from Ukrainians are not yet being accepted. The registration of the bill is just another step toward its potential launch.
What is this program, and where did it come from?
The idea of youth exchanges between Ukraine and Canada is not new.
Back on April 11, 2023, in Toronto, representatives of the two countries signed the Agreement concerning Youth Mobility.
On behalf of Canada, the document was signed by then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, and on behalf of Ukraine, by Ambassador Yulia Kovaliv.
The main goal of the agreement is to give young people the opportunity to get to know another country better—not just as tourists, but through everyday life, work, social interaction, and cultural exchange.
For Ukrainians, this is a potential opportunity to spend some time in Canada, gain work experience in an international environment, improve their English or French, and discover whether life abroad is right for them.
Canadians, in turn, will be able to take advantage of similar opportunities in Ukraine once the exchange program is launched.
However, signing an international agreement does not mean it will automatically take effect. To launch the program, the procedures required by law must first be completed.
Who Can Participate?
According to the published information about the agreement, the program is open to citizens of Ukraine and Canada aged 18 to 35.
The duration of stay in the other country under this agreement will be up to 12 months.
This primarily applies to young people who want to combine travel with temporary work or gaining professional experience.
Among the preliminary eligibility requirements are:
- Ukrainian or Canadian citizenship.
- Age between 18 and 35.
- Submission of an individual application in accordance with the rules of the host country.
- Payment of the required government fees.
- Sufficient funds to cover the initial stay abroad.
- A return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one.
- Health insurance for the entire duration of the stay, including coverage for hospitalization and repatriation.
Depending on the participation category, additional documents may be required.
The exact financial requirements, application fees, number of available spots, and final list of required documents for Ukrainians have not yet been announced.
Therefore, the conditions listed above should be considered general guidelines for the future program, rather than a complete set of instructions for submitting an application.
Will it be possible to obtain an open work permit in Canada?
This is one of the most pressing questions for potential participants.
Canada has had the International Experience Canada (IEC) program in place for many years, which allows young citizens of partner countries to temporarily travel and work in Canada.
It includes three main categories.
Working Holiday
This format most closely resembles the classic Work and Travel program.
Participants can come to Canada, travel around the country, and work to cover part of their living expenses.
This category typically includes an Open Work Permit—a work permit that allows participants to work for most employers without being tied to a single specific company.
This is convenient for those who want to try different types of work or change their place of residence while traveling.
Young Professionals
This category is aimed at young professionals who want to gain work experience in their field.
Unlike the Working Holiday program, a job offer from a Canadian employer is usually required.
The work permit is tied to a specific employer, and the job itself must align with the participant’s professional development goals.
International Co-op (Internship)
This option is designed for students who want to complete a co-op or internship in Canada as part of their educational program.
Typically, you must have a suitable internship placement and confirm that the internship is related to your studies.
Important: These are the general categories of the Canadian IEC program. There is currently no official confirmation that all three options will be available to Ukrainian citizens.
Similarly, it cannot be stated that every Ukrainian under the age of 35 will automatically be eligible for an Open Work Permit.
The final terms and conditions are to be announced by the Canadian immigration service, IRCC, once the necessary procedures are completed.
How will this program differ from CUAET?
Many Ukrainians in Canada are familiar with the CUAET program, under which thousands of Ukrainian families arrived in the country following the start of the full-scale invasion.
However, the upcoming Youth Mobility Program should not be viewed as a continuation of CUAET.
CUAET was a special immigration mechanism created in response to the war in Ukraine.
In contrast, the Youth Mobility Agreement is a bilateral international agreement focused on travel, temporary employment, and cultural exchange.
The main differences lie in the program’s purpose, age restrictions, and the expected length of stay.
The youth program also does not automatically lead to permanent residence.
At the same time, work experience in Canada could potentially be beneficial for those who later decide to pursue other immigration pathways. However, the ability to use such experience will depend on the specific requirements of the relevant immigration program.
Why was the agreement signed back in 2023, yet the program is still not operational?
After the agreement was signed in April 2023, Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports announced that youth exchanges would begin following the ratification of the document by the parliaments of both countries and the restoration of peace in Ukraine.
In the years that followed, Ukraine continued preparations for the implementation of the agreement.
In August 2025, Bill No. 0341 on the ratification of the agreement was registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
In March 2026, the relevant parliamentary committee recommended adopting the document; however, on July 16, 2026, the bill was withdrawn.
The process has now resumed with a new bill.
On October 19, 2026, Bill No. 0397 was registered, which again concerns the ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and Canada on youth mobility.
Thus, this is not about creating an entirely new program, but rather about continuing the process of implementing the agreement reached several years ago.
Do We Need to Wait for the War to End?
This question is particularly important for Ukrainians who are already considering the possibility of working or studying in Canada.
A statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports in April 2023 noted that the exchange program is expected to begin after the agreement is ratified and peace is restored in Ukraine.
In addition, in 2025, a legislative mechanism was announced that provided for the relevant law to take effect one year after the termination or repeal of martial law.
However, these conditions applied to the previous draft law.
Since a new document, No. 0397, was registered in October 2026, the final deadlines and the procedure for its entry into force must be determined based on its provisions and subsequent decisions by parliament.
Therefore, it is currently inaccurate to promise that the program will launch in the coming months.
At the same time, it is not possible to specify an exact launch date.
Will men aged 18–35 be able to leave Ukraine under this program?
Another question that naturally arises following news about the possibility of working abroad concerns crossing Ukraine’s state border.
It is important to understand that an international agreement on youth exchanges and Ukrainian rules for leaving the country during martial law are different legal mechanisms.
Even if the program begins, participation in it alone will not mean automatic permission to leave Ukraine for all men of the relevant age group.
The ability to cross the border will depend on the laws in effect at the time of travel and the individual’s specific circumstances.
At this time, there is no confirmed basis for asserting that the new program will create a separate exception to the rules governing departure during martial law.
Can Ukrainians who are already in Canada take advantage of the program?
This question may be relevant for young Ukrainians in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and other Canadian cities.
For example, someone might have arrived under the CUAET, obtained a temporary work permit, and is now exploring other ways to remain in the country legally.
However, there are currently no officially published rules confirming the possibility of transitioning from an existing Canadian immigration status to the future youth mobility program.
It is also unknown whether it will be possible to apply directly from within Canada, what requirements will apply to prior stays, and whether there will be restrictions on repeat participation.
Therefore, Ukrainians already in Canada should not view the new program as a guaranteed way to extend their status.
For now, it is necessary to comply with the terms of current permits and follow official immigration procedures.
When will applications be accepted?
As of October 23, 2026, applications from Ukrainian citizens under the new agreement are not yet being accepted.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not yet published specific rules for Ukrainians’ participation under this agreement.
In the official Canadian registry of international treaties, the agreement with Ukraine is currently listed as signed.
For the program to actually launch, the relevant procedures must be completed and the implementation mechanism must be determined.
Only then will it be possible to discuss specific application deadlines, the number of available spots, required documents, and types of work permits.
Those who are already planning a future trip should closely monitor official announcements but should not pay for the services of intermediaries who promise guaranteed processing under a program that has not yet begun.
Where can you find official information?
The most reliable sources remain the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Canadian immigration service, IRCC.
It is on these resources that information will be posted regarding the bill’s progress, the agreement’s entry into force, and the possible start of the application period.
Pay special attention to the official terms and conditions of International Experience Canada, as the rules for youth exchange programs can vary significantly depending on your country of citizenship.
What does this mean for Ukrainians?
The upcoming youth mobility program could be an attractive alternative for those who want to get to know Canada through real-life experiences of living and working there.
Not everyone needs to immigrate immediately for permanent residency. For some, a year abroad is an opportunity to improve their language skills, gain professional experience, make new connections, or simply figure out in which country they’d like to build their future.
This opportunity may prove particularly useful for students, young professionals, and people just starting their careers.
However, there are still several important legal and administrative steps between the signing of the international agreement and the actual opportunity to apply.