Immigration Update for the Week

Key immigration news from around the world, for the week of December 21, 2023.

Canada

The International Experience Canada (IEC) pool is now open. Applications are being accepted for 2024. An announcement made by the Canadian government through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Canada IEC offers a route to a Canadian work permit. To be eligible, you must be a citizen (aged 18 to 35 years) of a country with a Youth Mobility Arrangement with Canada. Nationals of more than 30 countries across the world will be among the 90,000 applicants that are accepted under IEC in 2024.

Similar to the Express Entry system, IEC also runs through an application management system. An expression of interest is the first step of the process. Following a review of the application by IRCC, an invitation to apply is sent out to the applicant. They can then apply for a permit to work in Canada as a temporary skilled foreign worker.

The IEC benefits Canada by helping the country deal with labour shortages. Immigration is a prime source for filling the gaps in the Canadian labour system. Under the IEC, Canada works with partner countries to provide young labour to the key sectors in Canada. The IEC pathway allows Canadian and foreign youth the opportunity to acquire international work experience.

Australia

On December 11, 2023, Australia announced a new Migration Strategy. Outlining a new vision for Australia immigration, the Migration Strategy states the mission of the Australian Government for the years to come.

Going ahead, there will be five core objectives in the migration system of Australia. The Strategy aims at making migration work for the nation and building a secure and prosperous Australia.

The five core objectives are -

1. Raising the living standards through boosting productivity, addressing skills shortages, and supporting exports.
2. Ensuring fair chance in the workplace through complementing jobs, wages and conditions for all workers. Migrant worker exploitation to be prevented.
3. Building stronger Australian communities. Better planning of the migration intake. Migrants to get the opportunity to invest in their lives in the country through Australia PR and citizenship.
4. Strengthening international relationships. Stronger economic and social connections to be built with the region and international partners.
5. Making the Australian immigration system work by making it fast, efficient, and fair for both migrants and Australian employers.

According to the Migration Strategy, “It is time for Australia to once again adapt its migration policy to the nation’s changing needs and to reconnect migration with the aspirations of Australians.”

The eight key actions in Australia’s Migration Strategy -

1. Targeting temporary skilled migration for addressing skills needs and promoting worker mobility
2. Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity
3. Strengthening the integrity and quality of Australian international education
4. Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system
5. Planning migration to get the right skills in the right places
6. Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Maker Program for supporting regional Australia and its workers
7. Deepening people-to-people ties in the Indo-Pacific
8. Simplifying the migration system to improve the experience for migrants and employers

An ambitious roadmap has been set. The Australian government will take up a phased approach for delivering on its many commitments.

Hungary

Effective January 1, 2024, there are expected significant changes in the Hungarian immigration laws. The new changes will affect how third-country nationals enter and stay in Hungary.

There will be three categories of work permits -

1. for skilled workers,
2. guest workers, and
3. investor’s permit, also referred to as the Hungary Golden Visa.

Golden Visa application will be accepted from July 2024. There will also be introduced new residency types and categories for skilled workers.

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