International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) Cohort 5 2026–2027: Fully Funded 4-Month International Internships for Canadian Youth

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) Cohort 5 is now accepting applications from eligible young people in Canada seeking meaningful international work experience, professional development, and the opportunity to contribute their skills to international development projects abroad.

Jointly implemented by the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) and the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, the IYIP provides selected Canadian youth with a structured international internship experience with partner organizations in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Central America.

For young Canadians who have experienced barriers to meaningful employment, this program offers an opportunity to develop practical skills, gain international professional experience, expand their networks, and experience life and work in another country.

Applications for Cohort 5 are open from August 10 to August 30, 2026. Successful participants will undertake their international internship placements from February 1 to June 2, 2027.

Opportunity Overview

The International Youth Internship Program has been operating since 1997 and has a long history of supporting Canadian youth in gaining professional experience through international placements.

Since its launch, the program has sent more than 7,000 young people to work with partner organizations and institutions abroad in the field of international development.

The current IYIP program forms part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. The 2023–2028 program places particular emphasis on creating meaningful and transformative opportunities for young people who face barriers to employment.

The program is designed not simply as an opportunity to travel internationally, but as a structured professional development experience intended to help participants prepare for future employment or further education.

Participants have the opportunity to:

• Gain practical international work experience.
• Develop new professional and technical skills.
• Work alongside international development organizations.
• Contribute their existing knowledge and abilities to meaningful projects.
• Build professional and personal networks internationally.
• Experience living and working in a different cultural environment.
• Develop greater adaptability, independence, and cross-cultural awareness.
• Strengthen their preparation for future employment or further studies.

What Is the International Youth Internship Program?

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) provides young Canadians with international internship placements lasting four months.

The program combines pre-departure preparation, an international internship, and post-internship reflection and debriefing.

For Cohort 5, the overall commitment includes approximately five months of program activities:

1. Pre-departure training
2. Four-month international internship placement
3. Post-internship debrief in Canada

The international placement is carried out with a local partner organization in the host country.

This structure allows participants to receive preparation before travelling, gain hands-on experience during their placement, and reflect on their experience after returning to Canada.

Fully Funded Program Components

One of the major attractions of the IYIP is that the program costs are funded for selected participants.

According to the program information, funding covers important expenses associated with participating in the international placement, including:

• Airfare.
• Transportation costs.
• Visa fees.
• Pre-departure training.
• Post-internship training and debriefing.
• Other program-related costs.

In addition to these funded costs, interns receive a stipend while abroad.

This means eligible participants can undertake an international professional placement without having to independently finance the major costs associated with travelling and participating in the program.

International Internship Placement

The core of the IYIP experience is the four-month international internship.

Participants will be placed with a local partner organization in an international development setting.

The program operates across several regions, including:

• Africa
• The Caribbean
• Asia
• Central America

The internship provides participants with the opportunity to apply their existing knowledge while developing additional professional competencies through practical work experience.

Rather than being solely classroom-based, the program emphasizes learning through direct participation in an international work environment.

Who Is the Program Designed For?

The IYIP is specifically designed for young people in Canada who are looking to overcome employment barriers and gain meaningful professional experience.

The program is intended for youth who:

• Have experienced barriers to securing meaningful employment.
• Want to acquire new skills.
• Are interested in gaining professional experience abroad.
• Want to contribute their knowledge and abilities to meaningful international work.
• Are curious about different cultures and international environments.
• Are open-minded and willing to adapt to new circumstances.
• Are flexible and prepared to live and work outside Canada.
• Are interested in international development and cross-cultural experiences.

The current 2023–2028 program particularly focuses on providing opportunities to youth facing barriers to employment.

These include, among others:

• Youth with disabilities.
• Indigenous youth.
• Racialized youth.
• 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

The program’s focus on youth facing employment barriers is an important part of its current mandate and should be considered by prospective applicants when assessing whether the opportunity is appropriate for them.

Age Requirement

The IYIP has historically focused on Canadian youth aged 18 to 30.

Prospective applicants should carefully review the official Cohort 5 application requirements and eligibility criteria before applying to confirm that they meet the current age and other requirements for this cohort.

Where Can Participants Be Placed?

IYIP placements are international and may be located in partner organizations across several regions of the world.

The program identifies the following regions:

• Africa
• Caribbean
• Asia
• Central America

The organization has also made available a placement list for Cohort 5, allowing prospective applicants to review the available internship opportunities.

Because individual placements can differ considerably in terms of location, responsibilities, organizational setting, and professional focus, applicants should review the official Cohort 5 placement list carefully before submitting their application.

What Does the Program Involve?

The IYIP is more than a four-month overseas internship. Participants are expected to commit to the full program cycle.

1. Pre-Departure Training

Before travelling abroad, participants complete pre-departure preparation.

The program describes this as approximately one month of pre-departure training, consisting of:

• Six weeks of virtual training.
• One week of in-person training.

This preparation is intended to help participants understand and prepare for the international experience before beginning their placement.

2. International Internship

The second and central component is the four-month international internship placement.

Participants work with a local partner organization abroad and gain practical experience in an international development environment.

This gives interns an opportunity to:

• Apply their existing skills.
• Learn new professional competencies.
• Work in a multicultural environment.
• Develop international professional networks.
• Gain exposure to international development work.
• Improve their adaptability and independence.
• Build experience that can strengthen future employment or education applications.

3. Post-Internship Debrief

After completing the international placement, participants return to Canada for a three-day post-internship debrief.

This provides an opportunity to reflect on the experience, consider the skills and lessons acquired, and connect the international internship experience with future employment or educational goals.

Why Consider the IYIP?

International professional experience can be valuable for young people seeking to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive employment environment.

The IYIP offers several potential professional and personal benefits.

Gain International Work Experience

Participants receive practical experience working with an organization outside Canada.

International work experience can expose participants to different approaches to communication, project implementation, organizational management, community engagement, and international development.

Develop New Skills

The program is designed to help participants acquire skills that can contribute to their future employment and education goals.

Depending on the internship placement, participants may have opportunities to strengthen areas such as:

• Communication.
• Project coordination.
• Research.
• Community engagement.
• Administration.
• Program support.
• Cross-cultural communication.
• Organizational skills.
• Problem-solving.
• Adaptability.
• Professional collaboration.

The exact skills gained will depend on the specific placement and responsibilities assigned by the host organization.

Build an International Network

Living and working abroad provides opportunities to meet people from different professional, cultural, and national backgrounds.

Participants can build relationships with:

• Host organizations.
• Colleagues.
• International development professionals.
• Other interns.
• Local communities.
• Partner institutions.

These relationships may become valuable professional connections well beyond the internship itself.

Experience a New Country and Culture

The program gives participants an opportunity to live and work in another country rather than simply visiting as tourists.

This can provide deeper exposure to:

• Local communities.
• Different cultures.
• International workplaces.
• New perspectives.
• Different social and professional environments.

The experience can help participants develop greater cultural awareness and adaptability.

Receive Financial Support

Selected interns do not have to independently cover all of the major expenses associated with participating in the program.

Program funding includes airfare, transportation costs, visa fees, and training-related costs.

Interns also receive a stipend while abroad.

Program Dates for Cohort 5

Applicants should pay close attention to the following dates.

Application period: August 10–30, 2026

Application deadline: August 30, 2026

International internship placement: February 1–June 2, 2027

Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.

Online Information Sessions

ACIC is also providing online information sessions for prospective applicants.

The listed sessions include:

Monday, August 10, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM Atlantic Time

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM Atlantic Time

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM Atlantic Time

Prospective applicants who are uncertain about the program, its requirements, or whether the opportunity is suitable for them can use these information sessions to learn more.

How to Apply

Applications for IYIP Cohort 5 are being accepted online.

Interested applicants should begin by reviewing the official program information and the available Cohort 5 internship placements.

Applicants should then complete the official application form and submit it before the stated deadline.

Application deadline: August 30, 2026.

APPLY HERE

 

Applicants should ensure that the information provided in their application accurately reflects their background, skills, experience, interests, and suitability for an international internship.

For more information about this opportunity visit the ACIC website HERE

For more internship opportunities visit OFY Website HERE

Tips for Prospective Applicants

Because the program is designed around professional development and meaningful international work experience, applicants should approach the application strategically.

1. Review the Available Placements

Do not apply without first understanding what internship opportunities are available.

Review the Cohort 5 placement list and identify placements that correspond with your:

• Academic background.
• Professional experience.
• Skills.
• Career interests.
• International development interests.
• Long-term goals.

2. Connect Your Experience to the Placement

When preparing your application, demonstrate how your previous experience can contribute to the organization you are applying to join.

Academic qualifications alone may not tell the full story. Consider relevant:

• Work experience.
• Volunteer activities.
• Community involvement.
• Leadership experience.
• Professional skills.
• Research experience.
• Administrative experience.
• Communication skills.
• Project experience.

3. Demonstrate Adaptability

International placements require participants to adjust to new environments.

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that they can approach unfamiliar situations with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

4. Explain Your Motivation Clearly

A strong application should communicate why the applicant wants to participate in an international internship and how the experience connects to their future goals.

Applicants should avoid relying solely on a desire to travel.

Instead, they should explain the professional, educational, and personal development goals they hope to achieve through the experience.

5. Pay Attention to the Deadline

Applications close on August 30, 2026.

Applicants should allow enough time to complete the application carefully and address any issues before submission.

Previous Participant Experience

The program highlights the experiences of previous participants to demonstrate the potential impact of an international placement.

One former participant described their experience in Kenya as life-changing, noting that the opportunity contributed to their personal growth and helped them develop lasting connections with people they met and lived with during the placement.

This illustrates one of the central elements of IYIP: the program is intended to provide more than professional experience. Living and working internationally can also create lasting personal, cultural, and professional relationships.

Who Can Apply?

The primary target group for IYIP Cohort 5 is young people from Canada, particularly those who have faced barriers to meaningful employment.

The program’s historical eligibility framework focuses on Canadian youth aged 18–30.

The current program places particular emphasis on youth facing employment barriers, including:

• Youth with disabilities.
• Indigenous youth.
• Racialized youth.
• 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

Applicants should verify the complete current eligibility requirements in the official Cohort 5 application materials before applying.

Countries and Regions

It is important to distinguish between where applicants come from and where internships take place.

The IYIP is designed for eligible Canadian youth.

The international placements, however, take place with partner organizations in regions including:

• Africa
• The Caribbean
• Asia
• Central America

Therefore, this is not an opportunity where applicants from any country around the world can independently apply for an overseas internship. The program is specifically structured around eligible youth from Canada.

Opportunity Category

Category: Internship

Eligible Applicant Category

Who qualifies: Young people in Canada who meet the program’s eligibility requirements, with the program particularly targeting youth who have faced barriers to employment.

Age: The IYIP has traditionally targeted youth aged 18–30; applicants should confirm the current Cohort 5 requirements.

Nationality/residence: The opportunity is designed for Canadian youth.

Priority groups under the current program: Youth facing employment barriers, including youth with disabilities, Indigenous youth, racialized youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

Internship regions: Selected participants may undertake placements with partner organizations in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Central America.

Conclusion

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) Cohort 5 provides an opportunity for eligible young Canadians to gain meaningful international work experience while developing professional skills, building international networks, and contributing to organizations working in international development.

The program is particularly significant for youth who have faced barriers to employment because it combines professional training, international work experience, financial support, and structured preparation and reflection.

Selected participants will complete pre-departure training, undertake a four-month international internship with a partner organization, and participate in a post-internship debrief. Major participation costs such as airfare, transportation, visa fees, and training are funded, while interns also receive a stipend during their international placement.

With placements available across Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Central America, the program can provide a transformative opportunity for young Canadians interested in international development and professional growth.

Applications for Cohort 5 close on August 30, 2026, and the international internship placements are scheduled for February 1 to June 2, 2027. Prospective applicants should review the official eligibility requirements and available placements carefully and submit their applications before the deadline.