Gain experience and points toward permanent residency with Working Holiday and Young Professionals
16 Nov 2024
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a leading program that provides international youth with the opportunity to travel, work, and build their professional careers. The Working Holiday and Young Professionals programs have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for Koreans, due to their easy accessibility. Both programs are open to applicants between the ages of 18 and 35, and offer up to four years of diverse experience and work experience in Canada. The ability to work on an open work permit through Working Holiday and the ability to obtain a Young Professional visa through a job offer without the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process are attractive to many, especially as the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) has become more difficult to obtain.
Working holidays give you the freedom to experience the culture and work in a variety of jobs in Canada. The Open Work Permit allows you to work anywhere in Canada without being tied to a specific employer, which is a huge benefit of the program, as it allows you to be job or location agnostic. For those who are unable to obtain the PGWP, working holidays have become an alternative route to work and live in Canada with a relatively simple process, especially with the recent tightening of the requirements for obtaining the PGWP. This makes working holidays an ideal visa for young people looking to experience life in Canada for the first time, as it allows them the flexibility to travel and work at the same time. However, career development can be limited, as most jobs are likely to be short-term contracts or limited to occupations that do not allow for professional development.
Young Professional is a great program for those looking to advance their professional careers, and is especially useful for those who are looking to immigrate or develop a long-term career. The program functions the same as the Closed Work Permit, but the main advantage is that it does not require an LMIA. Typically, an LMIA is required for employers to prove that they cannot find suitable talent within Canada, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. It can also be difficult to obtain due to restrictions on wages and employment ratios. However, the Young Professional program bypasses this process, allowing employers to hire talent quickly and applicants to work in Canada without the hassle, resulting in significant time and cost benefits for both parties.
In addition, if you have at least one year of professional experience in Canada through Young Professionals, you may be eligible for additional points when applying for permanent residency. This is a positive for qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program in Express Entry, especially if you have a job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, as you can receive up to 200 points (TEER 0) or 50 points (TEER 1, 2, or 3) in Express Entry, which can be used towards permanent residency. Another great benefit of Young Professional is that it allows you to build your network in Canada through professional experience and increase your chances of long-term employment. It's a strategic pathway that allows you to develop your career and prepare for immigration at the same time, while providing stable employment through a contract with a specific employer.
Working holidays and Young Professional programs can be very useful options depending on your goals and circumstances. A working holiday is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in Canadian culture through a free-flowing experience, and is an important alternative for those who do not have a PGWP. Young Professional, on the other hand, offers the time- and money-saving benefits of not needing an LMIA, and is recommended for those looking for a long-term pathway to professional development, permanent residency points, and job security. Both programs can be a great starting point for new opportunities in Canada, and we encourage you to choose the right one for you based on your goals.
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a leading program that provides international youth with the opportunity to travel, work, and build their professional careers. The Working Holiday and Young Professionals programs have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for Koreans, due to their easy accessibility. Both programs are open to applicants between the ages of 18 and 35, and offer up to four years of diverse experience and work experience in Canada. The ability to work on an open work permit through Working Holiday and the ability to obtain a Young Professional visa through a job offer without the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process are attractive to many, especially as the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) has become more difficult to obtain.
Working holidays give you the freedom to experience the culture and work in a variety of jobs in Canada. The Open Work Permit allows you to work anywhere in Canada without being tied to a specific employer, which is a huge benefit of the program, as it allows you to be job or location agnostic. For those who are unable to obtain the PGWP, working holidays have become an alternative route to work and live in Canada with a relatively simple process, especially with the recent tightening of the requirements for obtaining the PGWP. This makes working holidays an ideal visa for young people looking to experience life in Canada for the first time, as it allows them the flexibility to travel and work at the same time. However, career development can be limited, as most jobs are likely to be short-term contracts or limited to occupations that do not allow for professional development.
Young Professional is a great program for those looking to advance their professional careers, and is especially useful for those who are looking to immigrate or develop a long-term career. The program functions the same as the Closed Work Permit, but the main advantage is that it does not require an LMIA. Typically, an LMIA is required for employers to prove that they cannot find suitable talent within Canada, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. It can also be difficult to obtain due to restrictions on wages and employment ratios. However, the Young Professional program bypasses this process, allowing employers to hire talent quickly and applicants to work in Canada without the hassle, resulting in significant time and cost benefits for both parties.
In addition, if you have at least one year of professional experience in Canada through Young Professionals, you may be eligible for additional points when applying for permanent residency. This is a positive for qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program in Express Entry, especially if you have a job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, as you can receive up to 200 points (TEER 0) or 50 points (TEER 1, 2, or 3) in Express Entry, which can be used towards permanent residency. Another great benefit of Young Professional is that it allows you to build your network in Canada through professional experience and increase your chances of long-term employment. It's a strategic pathway that allows you to develop your career and prepare for immigration at the same time, while providing stable employment through a contract with a specific employer.
Working holidays and Young Professional programs can be very useful options depending on your goals and circumstances. A working holiday is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in Canadian culture through a free-flowing experience, and is an important alternative for those who do not have a PGWP. Young Professional, on the other hand, offers the time- and money-saving benefits of not needing an LMIA, and is recommended for those looking for a long-term pathway to professional development, permanent residency points, and job security. Both programs can be a great starting point for new opportunities in Canada, and we encourage you to choose the right one for you based on your goals.