With the Irish economy improving, the impetus to travel overseas in search of employment has dwindled for many.
However, experts at VisaFirst.com say that while some people no longer feel “forced” to move away, Ireland’s love affair with travel has certainly not gone away and an estimated 6,500 Irish workers are expected to sign up for the 2016/2017 Canadian Working Holiday programme, which has just opened its doors to applicants.
The migration experts say that every year there are disappointed applicants to the 3 stage application process, but that, in the main, this is largely down to poorly completed and tardy application forms.
Since the programme opened 1 week ago, VisaFirst have received over 100 calls from potential applicants who are struggling to get their head around the application process, and/ or who are worried they may not fill in their application properly and scuppering their chances of success.
VisaFirst.com say that Canadian employers are very much in favour of candidates from the Irish workforce and many offer lucrative attractive packages to entice people to relocate to Canada – often with their families, evidenced by the large swathes of workers applying for Permanent Residency in the country, which will allow themselves & their family to stay there for the foreseeable future.
VisaFirst.com say that over the last 10 years the numbers of Irish travelling to Canada on temporary work visas had risen significantly, but that as a result of the upturn in the economy the last couple of years have seen the numbers fall somewhat.
However, VisaFirst.com says that while temporary visa figures appear to be falling, Ireland was still ranked the 11th highest country to be issued work permits in 2014.
Manager with www.visafirst.com, Edwina Shanahan commented, "The Irish have a good reputation abroad – they are seen to have a strong skill-set and a great work ethos. Canada and Australia are both vying for popularity amongst those looking to travel – with the latter recently increasing the age threshold to 35 for their working holiday programme to match that already in existence in Canada. We estimate that between the IEC and the general working holiday visa programmes approximately 7,500 Irish workers will travel to Canada this year."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
