Foreign Ministry announcement on the entry into force of the Greek-Canadian Youth Mobility Agreement

The Youth Mobility Agreement between Greece and Canada entered into force on 1 February. The Agreement was signed during Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit to Greece, in May 2011, and was ratified by the Hellenic Parliament on 31 October 2012.

This pioneering Agreement provides for simplified procedures so that young Greek and Canadian citizens, between 18 and 35, may have the opportunity to travel, reside and work in each other’s countries for up to twelve months, under the condition that they satisfy one of the following three prerequisites:

(a) They are graduates of post-secondary or tertiary education institutions and want to gain work experience, with a predetermined employment contract.
(b) They are students at post-secondary or tertiary education institutions and want to do a predetermined internship.
(c) They want to travel for a long vacation with the option of working temporarily to supplement their funds.

As Foreign Ministers Avramopoulos and Baird stressed at their meeting today in Ottawa, this Agreement presents the youth of both countries with an opportunity, and, in that sense, is an investment in the future.

Interested Greek citizens may consult the website of the Canadian Embassy in Athens, while Canadian citizens may consult the website of the Greek Embassy in Ottawa. The necessary prerequisites and related documents will also be uploaded on the websites of the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

On the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and Canada, this Agreement adds to a series of positive and tangible results of their excellent, dynamic, multifaceted cooperation, based on shared values and principles promoting freedom, democracy, human rights, progress and prosperity. Greece and Canada are also solidly bridged by a thriving community of Canadians of Greek origin. Our hope is that the young people who benefit from this Agreement will further enrich these bilateral relations and people-to-people ties.