Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for international young adults looking to combine real-world work experience with language learning and professional development. Wide open spaces, an outstanding quality of life, a multicultural society, and a thriving job market — Canada has everything it takes to turn a gap year into a life-changing chapter.
At Freepackers, all our Canada programmes are Work and Study or Study Abroad programmes. Unlike many of our other destinations, Canada is not a humanitarian mission destination — it stands out for its unique offer of professional and cultural immersion, fully structured and internationally recognised.
A Work and Study Canada programme combines a language or professional training course with a paid work experience in Canada. Both components reinforce each other: you sharpen your English skills while building a real professional track record in an international setting.
Study Abroad: intensive English courses, professional training programmes (hospitality, tourism, business, environment…), immersion in the Canadian education system.
Work Abroad: paid employment with a local employer, internship within a professional organisation, hands-on experience on a ranch or in the outdoor hospitality sector.
These programmes are designed for students, young professionals on a career break, and anyone looking to strengthen their international profile with tangible, on-the-ground experience.
Canada is one of the few countries that offers young internationals straightforward access to work legally during their stay — through the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme, which includes the Working Holiday Visa (WHV), the Young Professionals stream, and the International Co-op (internship) stream.
Depending on your programme, your visa allows you to work full-time or part-time throughout your stay — a real asset to help fund your experience and return home with a valuable professional reference.
Key reasons to choose Canada for a work and study experience:
For paid jobs, professional training, and gap year programmes in Canada, Freepackers works with its partner Realstep. Several programmes are available depending on your goals and the length of your stay:
Every programme is fully supported from start to finish: pre-departure recruitment process, visa assistance, accommodation and on-site integration.
For all visa-related enquiries for a study or work stay in Canada, visit the official International Experience Canada website.
Comprehensive travel insurance — covering accidents, illness, repatriation and third-party liability — is required for all Freepackers programmes. Our partner CHAPKA offers tailored cover for study and internship stays abroad, with a 5% discount available via this link. The Cap Student plan specifically covers internships and study programmes abroad: subscribe to Cap Student.
All information and applications for visas to Canada on the International Experience Canada site
You can consult the Institut Pasteur's recommendations by destination on this link.
For any international project, Freepackers requires the subscription of travel insurance including coverage for accidents, illness, repatriation and which includes civil liability in the event of damage to third parties.
You can subscribe online with our partner CHAPKA, which offers 5% reduction on this link. If you take out another insurance, we will ask you to send us a copy of your certificate in English.
For complete protection during studies or an internship abroad, you can take out Cap Student insurance online by following this link. This insurance also includes civil liability in the context of an activity abroad.
