Starting November 1, 2010, the governments of Mexico and Canada simultaneously began receiving applications from youths in both countries interested in taking part in the Youth Mobility Program.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Mexican and Canadian governments agreed to issue 250 visas each for an equal number of youths interested in obtaining temporary work permits under three possible categories: temporary employment during academic holidays, pre-arranged work placement to fulfill part of an academic curriculum, or practical workplace experience for young professionals. The aim is to facilitate access to cultural exchanges that allow for personal growth and skills development through immersion in the host country’s language(s), culture and society.
In the case of Canadian nationals intending to work in Mexico, they should present their individual application at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Mexico in Canada, or through any of the Mexican Consulates in Canada.
Canadian youths interested in this program must fall under one of the following categories of eligibility:
- Registered students of a post-secondary educational institution in Canada who intend to fulfil part of their academic curriculum in Mexico by completing a pre-arranged work placement related to their field of study.
- Registered students of a post-secondary educational institution in Canada who intend to obtain temporary employment in Mexico during their academic holidays.
- Young citizens, including graduates of a post-secondary educational institution in Canada, who intend to obtain employment experience or practical workplace experience related to their professional field in Mexico, through a pre-arranged employment contract.
Should interested youths qualify according to the previous categories of eligibility, they may apply for the corresponding visa by satisfying the following requirements:
- Provide a written document, in the original, in which applicants present their candidacy to the Consular Office, indicating that they are requesting a visa under the Mexico-Canada Memorandum of Understanding for Youth Mobility;
- Present a valid passport, in force at the time of the application, to prove their nationality. This document must be valid throughout the anticipated period of stay, which may not exceed one year in any case;
- Complete the Visa application form and provide one passport-sized photograph;
- Be between 18 and 29 years of age on the date the application is presented;
- Present, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or proof of sufficient financial resources to purchase such a ticket;
- Present proof of sufficient financial resources to support themselves at the beginning of their authorized stay, by presenting the original and a copy of investment receipts or bank account statements showing an average monthly balance of $37,221.50 Canadian dollars during the past twelve months; or the original and a copy of documents showing that the applicant has employment or a pension with a monthly tax-free income greater than $2,233.29 Canadian dollars during the past six months;
- Have comprehensive medical insurance, including hospitalization and repatriation, prior to arriving in Mexico and valid for the entire duration of their stay;
- Pay the applicable fee(s) for the processing of the visa application, migratory form and work permit;
- For applicants in categories I and II, they should present documentation attesting to their enrolment at a post-secondary educational institution in Canada, and proving that they are students at the time of their Mexican visa application;
- For applicants in categories II and III, they should present documentation proving that they have obtained a pre-arranged contract for employment or practical workplace experience related to their professional field in a Mexican company or institution.
In addition, those interested in this program must comply with the following rules:
- Applicants may not be accompanied by economic dependants;
- Applicants who meet the requirements are allowed to benefit from the application of the MOU on a maximum of two (2) occasions. The stays must be discontinuous. Eligible applicants may submit a new application after three (3) years have passed from the expiry date of their work authorization document for the period of stay authorized under the MOU;
- Each stay will have a maximum duration of twelve (12) months;
- Applicants will not be able to request permission from the Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM (National Migration Institute) to remain in Mexico under this MOU after their authorized period of stay has ended.
Once the visa has been granted, Canadian youths will be able to enter into Mexico with their visa and a migratory form entitled “Forma Migratoria Múltiple” (FMM), which will be provided at the port of entry to the country. Within 30 days following the arrival in Mexico, applicants should then exchange the FMM for the Temporary Resident Card at the National Migration Institute.
Finally, Canadian youths are obliged to process their Work Permit through the National Migration Institute, by meeting the requirements laid out in Article 63 of the Guidelines for Migratory Processes and Procedures; to do this, applicants must present their Temporary Resident Card, proof of payment of the corresponding fees, as well as the offer of employment indicating the activity to be performed, required timeframe, place of work, and registration data for the employer.