Lithuanian – Canadian Youth Exchange Programme

LITHUANIAN – CANADIAN YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

On 19 November 2009, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of Canada concerning Youth Exchange was signed in Vilnius. The Agreement came into force on 1 October 2010.

The purpose of the Agreement is to create the opportunities for youth to deepen their professional and language skills, study and work during holidays in another contracting state, and get to know its people and culture.

The text of the Agreement was published in the Official Gazette Valstybės Žinios (Žin., 2010, No. 92-4864). The text of the Agreement is also available in the data base of legislation of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (text of the Agreement in Lithuanian, English, French).

Who can take part in the Youth Exchange Programme?

The Youth Exchange Programme is open to:

(1) young citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and Canada, including graduates from a university, higher education institution or research institution, who wish to obtain further training in the host country under a pre-arranged contract of employment in support of their career development;

(2) young citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and Canada who are registered students of a university, higher education institution or research institution in their home country who wish to complete part of their academic curriculum in the host country by undertaking a pre-arranged internship or work placement, including in the context of an arrangement between educational institutions;

(3) young citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and Canada, including registered students, who intend to travel in the host country and who wish to work on an occasional basis in order to supplement their financial resources.

What are the conditions of participation in the Youth Exchange Programme?

Only citizens of the Republic of Lithuanian and Canada can take part in the Youth Exchange Programme. Canadian citizens who wish to come to Lithuania under the Youth Exchange Programme have to fulfil the following conditions:

(1) be between the age of 18 and 35 inclusively on the date the application is received;

(2) hold a valid Lithuanian or Canadian passport and be in possession of a return ticket or sufficient financial resources to purchase such transportation. For the case of the Republic of Lithuania, Canadian passport should be issued during the past ten (10) years and valid for at least three (3) months longer than the period of validity of the national visa;

(3) travel alone (the person cannot take part in the Youth Exchange Programme together with his/her dependants, e.g. children);

(4) have proof of the financial resources necessary to provide for their needs at the beginning of their stay;

(5) pay all applicable fees;

(6) have insurance for health care, including hospitalization and repatriation, for the duration of their authorized stay (for the case of the Republic of Lithuania, the health insurance held by the Canadian citizen must cover the costs of essential medical care and costs that may be incurred due to the return of the foreigner to a foreign country for health reasons (transportation costs, including escort by a personal health care professional(s)), and is valid for the entire period of the person's stay in Lithuania);

(7) provide additional documents, e.g., documentation proving pre-registration or registration at a university, higher education institution or research institution, a pre-arranged contract of employment or other documents proving that they are coming to undertake internship or work placement, or confirm, in the case of a stay for tourism and cultural discovery, their intention to travel in the host country and work on an occasional basis to supplement their financial resources.

The same conditions also apply to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who intend to go to Canada under the Youth Exchange Programme.

More information about the requirements of Canada for participants in the Youth Exchange Programme is available on the website of the Government of Canada “International Experience Canada”.

How many times is it possible to take part in the Youth Exchange Programme?

It is possible to take part in the Youth Exchange Programme not more than twice.

Each time a programme participant must fulfil requirements according to different categories, i.e. if at first the person takes part in internship or work placement under the Youth Exchange Programme, the next time he/she will not be able to participate in the Youth Exchange Programme under the same category, but will be able to take part as a graduate who wishes to obtain further training in the host country under a pre-arranged contract of employment or as a tourist who intends to travel in the receiving state and work on an occasional basis in order to maintain financial stability.

Is it necessary to obtain a visa?

Canadian citizens who wish to take part in the Youth Exchange Programme should apply for a national visa. Such visa authorizes the right to enter and stay in the Republic of Lithuania for a period not exceeding twelve (12) months from the date of issue of the national visa.

The foreigner holding a valid national visa (D) may travel across the territory of other Schengen States for a period not exceeding three months during any period of six months.

Where to apply for a visa?

Applications for national visas from Canadian citizens must be submitted through the centers of an external service provider in foreign countries (Canada - Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania).
An appointment at an external service provider’s customer service center can only be scheduled via the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).
Documents required to apply for a national visa under the Youth Exchange Program and other relevant information can be found - Migris.
 

Is it necessary to obtain a work permit in the Republic of Lithuania?
No.
Canadian citizens entering the territory of the Republic of Lithuania with a national visa issued in accordance with this Agreement shall have the right to work for the entire period of their stay in the Republic of Lithuania, subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Canadian citizens shall be exempted from the obligation to obtain a work permits in the Republic of Lithuania.

Lithuanian higher education schools
The list of Lithuanian higher education schools and more information about Lithuanian higher education system is available on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science:
Information on higher education schools

Job-seeking in Lithuania
If a person intends to seek a job in Lithuania, he/she may contact local Employment Service office or a EURES office regarding job search. Information about the jobs available throughout Lithuania can also be found on the Employment Service’s website - https://uzt.lt/en. This website provides information related to job searches: current job offers in the database, the most in-demand professions, etc.

It is also possible to search for available jobs on the websites of private employment agencies, where job advertisements can be searched by profession, location, necessary education, etc. Website addresses of the major private employment agencies operating in Lithuania: http://www.darbaslietuvoje.lt/; www.cv.lt; www.cvonline.lt; www.cvmarket.lt; www.cvbankas.lt.

Useful links

Application procedure for persons wishing to go to Canada under the Youth Exchange Programme:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/index.asp

Office of the Embassy of Canada to Lithuania in Vilnius:

Verslo centras 2000
Jogailos g. 4
LT-01116, Vilnius
Lithuanian
Tel. No.: (+370) 5 2490950
Fax No.: (+370) 5 2497865
E-mail: [email protected]