Young Professional Program for Next Generation Professionals instead of LMIA Workpermits
26 Jul 2024
The LMIA work permit is the first thing that most people think of when they think about working in Canada and eventually immigrating for the long term. The LMIA work permit is very important in order to be eligible to work and live in Canada legally, and the demand for this permit has been increasing in recent years. However, the LMIA currently takes about 6-7 months to be approved, so the wait for the work permit is longer than you might think. However, if you are 35 years old or younger, you can take advantage of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Young Professional program. Not only is it only available to young people due to the age limit, but it also doesn't require an LMIA, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to get a work permit.
The Young Professional program is part of the IEC, which helps young professionals develop their professional skills and careers in Canada. It is a program that allows young people to work and gain experience in Canada for a period of time in countries that have an agreement with Canada, and includes working holiday, next generation professional, and international internships. South Korea is another country that has an agreement with Canada, but as of this year, all three pathways are now available, although the awareness of the other two pathways is still not as high as the working holiday.
Unlike the other IEC categories, the Next Generation Specialist program is open to those who have a job offer from a Canadian employer and are available to work, and here are the requirements for applying. The job offer must be from a Canadian employer, and the work experience must be in a field related to the applicant's education, experience, or work history, and the work experience must contribute to the applicant's professional development. Therefore, the occupation must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, and only a subset of applicants in TEER 4 occupations for research purposes are eligible for the program. As with working holidays and international internships, the eligible age range is 18 to 35 years old, and you'll need to show proof of a minimum of $2,500 in living expenses. You can't bring dependents other than yourself, and you'll need to have health insurance to cover you for a certain period of time after you arrive in the country.
While both the Young Professional and LMIA work permits have the same requirements in terms of being offered a job and working for a specific employer in Canada, there are differences between the programs as they are designed to give young foreigners a taste of Canada and as temporary foreign worker programs. Most notably, the Young Professional does not require an LMIA, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to obtain a visa. Once approved, a Next Generation Professional Program visa is valid for 24 months, with one extension available, and is restricted to work in sectors related to the applicant's area of expertise, rather than all occupations, and the application process involves registering a profile in the IEC pool, receiving an invitation, and submitting documents for approval.
LMIA work permits, on the other hand, require Canadian employers to submit a labor market impact assessment to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for approval to hire international workers. Once LMIA approval is received, the applicant can then apply to Immigration for a work permit, which will allow them to work in Canada. The duration of the visa depends on the job and employment conditions, and can be up to two years. To be approved for an LMIA, the employer must prove that the talent for the job cannot be found among Canadian permanent resident or citizen workers, and once this is done, the worker applies to immigration for a work permit. The work can be in any field, with no restrictions, and the worker can bring their family with them.
Unlike the current IEC working holiday program, which is nearly full, the application pool for the next generation of professionals is still open and the chances of success are high: as of July 12, 2024, 260 spots remain, and based on the criteria set forth by the Department of Immigration, the applicant's chances of receiving an invitation are Excellent, which means there is an 80-99% chance. Therefore, if you are between the ages of 18 and 35, which is the program's applicant requirement, the Next Generation Professionals program could be a smart choice for you to work in Canada because of its fast-track process and high likelihood of receiving a work permit.
The LMIA work permit is the first thing that most people think of when they think about working in Canada and eventually immigrating for the long term. The LMIA work permit is very important in order to be eligible to work and live in Canada legally, and the demand for this permit has been increasing in recent years. However, the LMIA currently takes about 6-7 months to be approved, so the wait for the work permit is longer than you might think. However, if you are 35 years old or younger, you can take advantage of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Young Professional program. Not only is it only available to young people due to the age limit, but it also doesn't require an LMIA, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to get a work permit.
The Young Professional program is part of the IEC, which helps young professionals develop their professional skills and careers in Canada. It is a program that allows young people to work and gain experience in Canada for a period of time in countries that have an agreement with Canada, and includes working holiday, next generation professional, and international internships. South Korea is another country that has an agreement with Canada, but as of this year, all three pathways are now available, although the awareness of the other two pathways is still not as high as the working holiday.
Unlike the other IEC categories, the Next Generation Specialist program is open to those who have a job offer from a Canadian employer and are available to work, and here are the requirements for applying. The job offer must be from a Canadian employer, and the work experience must be in a field related to the applicant's education, experience, or work history, and the work experience must contribute to the applicant's professional development. Therefore, the occupation must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, and only a subset of applicants in TEER 4 occupations for research purposes are eligible for the program. As with working holidays and international internships, the eligible age range is 18 to 35 years old, and you'll need to show proof of a minimum of $2,500 in living expenses. You can't bring dependents other than yourself, and you'll need to have health insurance to cover you for a certain period of time after you arrive in the country.
While both the Young Professional and LMIA work permits have the same requirements in terms of being offered a job and working for a specific employer in Canada, there are differences between the programs as they are designed to give young foreigners a taste of Canada and as temporary foreign worker programs. Most notably, the Young Professional does not require an LMIA, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to obtain a visa. Once approved, a Next Generation Professional Program visa is valid for 24 months, with one extension available, and is restricted to work in sectors related to the applicant's area of expertise, rather than all occupations, and the application process involves registering a profile in the IEC pool, receiving an invitation, and submitting documents for approval.
LMIA work permits, on the other hand, require Canadian employers to submit a labor market impact assessment to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for approval to hire international workers. Once LMIA approval is received, the applicant can then apply to Immigration for a work permit, which will allow them to work in Canada. The duration of the visa depends on the job and employment conditions, and can be up to two years. To be approved for an LMIA, the employer must prove that the talent for the job cannot be found among Canadian permanent resident or citizen workers, and once this is done, the worker applies to immigration for a work permit. The work can be in any field, with no restrictions, and the worker can bring their family with them.
Unlike the current IEC working holiday program, which is nearly full, the application pool for the next generation of professionals is still open and the chances of success are high: as of July 12, 2024, 260 spots remain, and based on the criteria set forth by the Department of Immigration, the applicant's chances of receiving an invitation are Excellent, which means there is an 80-99% chance. Therefore, if you are between the ages of 18 and 35, which is the program's applicant requirement, the Next Generation Professionals program could be a smart choice for you to work in Canada because of its fast-track process and high likelihood of receiving a work permit.