On December 1st, 2022, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced a 20% increase in the number of eligible applicants in the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program for 2023. This is yet another step by the government of Canada to welcome as many immigrants as possible in Canada to uplift its economy which is facing a hike in the labor shortage. IEC aims to create a global environment in Canada where youths from other countries can gain meaningful work experience.
With this increase, about 90,000 applicants will be able to work in Canada, hence enriching various sectors. The application process will be starting on January 9, 2023. In this arrangement, Canada has collaborated with 36 countries from where immigrants will be eligible to work in Canada for up to 2 years.
What is Canada Experience class? Know everything about Canada Experience Class
Applicants with Working Holiday permits can work under any employer in the country because of an open work permit. On the other hand, international Co-op applicants will have a closed employer-specific work permit under various internships to gain field-specific work experience in the country. Similarly, Young Professional participants will enjoy a closed work permit to have first-hand professional experiences. The age range for these applicants will vary between 18-35, depending on the country they belong to.