If you happen to plan on moving to Canada by the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, which includes the popular Working Holiday category, you could be wondering when it is best to get the ball rolling — especially in case you don’t plan on moving within the next few months.
Now, with a purpose to decide the very best timing in your process, first it’s essential to know the age limit in your country of citizenship:
- 18-35: Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Eire, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan
- 18-30: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom
If you’re within the age range, it’s now time to determine what to do subsequent.
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Scenario 1: You’re within one year of the age limit for IEC
(For instance, if you are Australian and 34 or 35 years old, or British and 29 or 30 years old. See above for the precise age range in your nation).
You don’t have much time to waste. The IEC pools are usually open from December to September, with downtime around October and November (during which time it isn’t doable to create a profile and start the process). So, for most of the year Canada is welcoming new IEC candidates.
Read also: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Eligibility Criteria
When you’re approved you’ll have 12 months to land in Canada and your age will be “locked in”, which means an Australian approved at age 35 may very well land in Canada after her 36th birthday, or a British particular person approved at age 30 may land after his 31st birthday.
Once more, see above for the age range in your country.
If you’re inside one year of the age limit however don’t plan on moving to Canada within the next 14 months or so, you’ll have to both alter your plan with a purpose to bring ahead your move slightly, or work out one other solution to transfer to Canada.
Don’t financial institution on Canada altering the age vary in your nation sooner or later — such modifications are extremely rare.
Situation 2: You plan on moving to Canada within the next 14 months
If you fall within the range for your country and the IEC pools are open — as they’re generally from December through to September, so for most of the year — it’s a good idea to create your IEC profile as quickly as possible.
This way, the Authorities of Canada will know you need to move and also you’re effectively putting your hand up to be invited when the Government conducts its weekly “draws” or “invitation rounds” (the same thing).
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The sooner you create your profile, the more draws you’ll open yourself up to, thereby rising your probabilities of being invited to use for a work permit.
When you are invited, you’ll have as much as 10 days to accept, then 20 more days to submit your full utility, then the Government will take a couple of weeks (usually round eight weeks) to course of every little thing and — hopefully — approve your big move. As soon as accredited, you’ll have 12 months to land in Canada and start living and working here.
So, in case you plan on moving within the next 14 months, it’s time to create your profile.
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Scenario 3: You plan on transferring to Canada 15 or more months in the future
(For example, if you are Australian and 33 years outdated or younger, or British and 28 years old or younger, and you plan on moving to Canada 15 or extra months in the future. See above for the exact age range in your country).
If you were to start the process quickly (i.e. during the present year) and are invited after which approved, you’d have to truly move inside a year.
Read also: Best working ways to immigrate to Canada after 35
If you had been to let the approval letter lapse (i.e. not land in Canada inside a 12 months of approval), this could still count as participation in the IEC program. You’d have used up your probability, even with out moving!
For these causes, some early planners wait a while before creating their IEC profile. In essence, you need to be approved for an IEC work permit within 12 months of your meant arrival date. It takes an additional two months or so of processing time before this year-long validity interval kicks in.
Some extensions to the approval letter (known as a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction) validity interval have been granted during the coronavirus pandemic, however these are assessed on a case-by-case basis and solely due to the extraordinary circumstances.
There’s no expectation that Canada might approve extensions after the pandemic and its associated restrictions on international travel.
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If you decide to wait a while before creating your IEC profile, please note the following caveats:
- While it’s probably that people out of your country will still be eligible in the future, it’s not utterly assured. In recent years, Canada has positioned its IEC agreements with Mexico “under review” for years on end.
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These multi-year pauses in all probability aren’t random and are maybe due to safety issues of allowing Canadian youth to maneuver to these nations. IEC is a reciprocal program; in case you can transfer to Canada by IEC, it also means Canadians can transfer to your nation.
- Even in case you are eligible sooner or later, there is no assure that you’ll be invited to use. Countries’ quotas can change annually, and for some nations demand typically outpaces provide, leaving some candidates with out an invitation. The exception right here is Australia, which has an unlimited quota.
Who can participate in the IEC
To take part
- your country or territory of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada or
- you may be able to use a recognized group
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Some countries solely assist you to participate once. Others assist you to participate twice, but in several pools. Because every country is completely different, it’s essential that you just check to see if you’re eligible to use.
Even in case you’re issued an invite to use, you can’t take part extra occasions than your nation permits. Be sure to learn and perceive all the requirements earlier than you submit an application.
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Even in case you hold a refugee travel document issued by a country that has a youth mobility agreement with Canada, you’re not eligible to participate.
IEC Dependants
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Your dependants can’t include you to Canada below the IEC program. However, they might apply to visit, study or work in Canada. We’ll look at your utility separately from theirs.
RECOMMENDED LINKS:
Choosing the right study program in Canada
Visitor to Canada Health Insurance : Best Guide
Be sure to check out the official Canada Web site here.