Changes to the Working Holiday program in Canada, specifically for British citizens. Here's a breakdown of the key points:
Upper Age Limit Increase: The upper age limit for participation in the Working Holiday program has been raised from 30 to 35 years old.
Participation Duration: Participants can engage in the program for an initial period of 24 months. After that, they have the option to apply for a second participation with a duration of 12 months.
IEC Program: Both Working Holiday and Young Professionals participations can be done through the regular International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
Invitation Start Date: Invitations for the program are set to begin on January 8, 2024.
Quota and Competition: There is a quota of 9000 Working Holiday spots. With thousands more people now eligible, there may be increased competition for these spots, potentially making it harder to secure a quick invitation and application. Quota of 900 for Young Professionals spots.
Young Professionals (YP) Program: The Young Professionals program, which was previously only available through Recognized Organizations, is now open without this requirement. This could provide a boost of 50 valid job offer points in Express Entry if applicants have close to one year of skilled work experience with a Canadian employer.
Alternative to LMIA: The YP program is presented as a great alternative to the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Employers don't need to advertise, and there is a reduced cost with a $230 Employer Compliance Fee compared to the $1000 LMIA processing fee.