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Highlights: Canada plans to increase the visa application fees from December 01, 2024

• IRCC will increase the application and processing fees from December 1, 2024.
• The fee change will applicable for some Canadian visa.
• The application and processing fees will increase for several types of visitor, worker, and student applications.
• IRCC will increase the fees for applicant who wants to extend or enter the country.

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IRCC increased visa application fees

Canada plans to increase the application and processing fees for several types of visitor, worker and student applications. IRCC will increase fees for multiple applications to enter the country, including:

• Restoring the temporary resident status applications (workers, visitors, and students)
• Authorization to return to Canada applications
• On application for a TRP (Temporary Resident Permit)
• Applications for Criminal rehabilitation

Current fees of the Canada visa application

Below mentioned are the current application fees of Canada visas:

Candidates who paid old application fees

Candidates who submitted old application fees will not have to worry about the fee change. While applying online, the application is received immediately, ensuring that the valid submission can be confirmed instantly soon or after the submission.

If an application is sent by mail, there will be a delay between when the applicants send the needed documents and when IRCC receives them.

In most of the cases, the application won’t be rejected if the applicant:

• Paid the complete old fee;
• Submitted a complete application
• I mailed the application before the fee change occurred

IRCC will inform the applicant of the procedure for paying the adjusted application fee if the applicant needs to submit an additional payment due to a fee increase.

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Steps to pay the IRCC application fee after the fee change

Applicants who apply on paper are more likely to pay the old application fees after the fee change and will have to pay the fee difference. They will also receive instructions on submitting the receipt.

Step 1: Calculate the fee difference

Step 2:  Pay the application fees

Step 3: Choose the Make an application payment option or pay the other fees category in IRCC.

Step 4: Mention the fee difference

Step 5: Pay and receive the payment

Step 6: Submit the receipt

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Canada Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading visa and immigration consultancy in Australia!

For recent immigration updates on Canada, Check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration News!

Highlights: Sweden to streamline the EU Blue Card Process from Jan 2025

• Sweden plans to ease the EU Blue Card process for skilled foreign workers from 1st Jan 2025.
• The salary requirements for the EU Blue Card will be lowered to €4,304 for foreign nationals.
• The new rule for the EU Blue Card will also decrease the required length of the employment contract from 1 year to 6 months.
• The Swedish government also decided to shorten the processing time of the EU Blue Card from 90 to 30 days.

*Want to apply for an EU Blue Card? Sign up with Y-Axis for end-to-end support. 

New Rules to be Implemented for the EU Blue Card

Sweden plans to introduce new rules to ease the procedure for foreign professionals to obtain an EU Blue Card. The new rules are expected to become effective from January 1, 2025.

The new EU Blue Card changes that will be implemented in 2025 are as follows:

• Reduce the minimum salary requirement from 1.5 times (€5,165) to 1.25 (€4,304) times the average wage.
• Reduces the length of the employment contract from one year to six months.
• The current EU Blue Card holders can switch from one job to another without applying for a new document.
• The holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state can work in Sweden for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Also read…

Sweden reduces EU Blue card processing times to 30 days. Apply now!

Sweden reduced the processing time for the EU Blue Card 

As per the Swedish authority, the Swedish government has planned to shorten the processing time of the EU Blue Card. The processing time of EU Blue Card for highly qualified foreign nationals will be reduced from 90 to 30 days. According to recent data, in 2023, 89037 EU Blue Cards were issued to foreign nationals.

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Sweden Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Australia. 

For recent immigration updates, check out Y-Axis Immigration News!

Highlights: Employment in Canada rose by 303,000 in October 2024

• As per the latest StatCan report, employment rose by 303,000 in October 2024.
• The employment increased by 1.2% among the Canadian youth. 
• The average hourly wages increased by 4.9% among the employees on a year-over-year basis in October 2024.
• Alberta and New Brunswick were two Canadian provinces that witnessed increased employment in October 2024.

*Want to work in Canada? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance.

Employment rate rises among the youth

Employment increased by 33,000(1.2%) among youth aged between 15 and 24 in October 2024. The youth employment rate rose by 0.45 percent to 54.4% in October, the first increase for the group since April.

Employment changed among core-aged men (25 to 54 years old) in October. Whereas the employment rate for people aged (55-64) the employment rate was held steady in October compared with 12 months.

The employment rate also increased in business, building, and other support services, rising by 29,000 (4.2%), while the overall employment rate in the Canadian industry was up by 33,000 (+4.8%).

*Looking for jobs in Canada? Avail Y-Axis Job Search Services to find the right one!

Employed rose in two Canadian provinces

Employment increased in two Canadian provinces in October 2024:

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Canada Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Australia. 

For recent immigration updates, check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration News!

Highlights: 100,000 individuals obtained German Citizenship in 2023

• In 2023, 100,000 candidates obtained German Citizenship.
• The newly naturalized German citizens were from Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Romania, and Afghanistan.
• In June 2024, the German government implemented a new rule of granting dual Citizenship for migrants
• Germany has the sixth strongest passport in the world, allowing visa-free entry to 105 countries.

*Want to check your eligibility to migrate to Canada? Try the FREE Y-Axis Germany Skilled Immigration Points Calculator to get instant results!

Germany introduced the New Citizenship rule

The number of people who obtained German citizenship has shown an all-time high, issuing German naturalization to 100,000 individuals. According to a survey of 25 German cities, Germany hit the highest record of foreign nationals obtaining citizenship in the last 23 years. In 2023, 200,100 individuals acquired German citizenship. The newly naturalized German citizens were mostly from Syria, Turkiye, Iraq, Romania, and Afghanistan. 

The increase in citizenship applications is also because of the new changes introduced by the German government. The new rule allows dual citizenship for migrants allowing them to have their previous citizenship along with the German citizenship after residing in the country for five years.  On June 24, 2024, the German government implemented the Dual citizenship rule to attract foreign nationals.

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Germany Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Australia. 

For recent immigration updates, check out Y-Axis Immigration News!

Highlights: Canada ranked as the Top Country for Job seekers

• Canada is ranked as the No.1 destination by Job seekers worldwide.
• Canada is most popular among job seekers from Germany, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
• Australia was the most searched country for job seekers after Canada, followed by Switzerland and the United States in third place.
• According to the latest reports, Canada, Australia, and the US have strong job markets with high GDPs, making them a top choice among job seekers.

*Want to work in Canada? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance.

Top countries chosen by Job seekers to work overseas

The Jobseeker platform examined the social trends of job aspirants willing to work overseas and selected 30 countries with a strong job markets and high GDP.

After Canada, Australia was the top destination for job seekers followed by Switzerland and the United States at the third place.

Below is the list of countries along with the number of times they were featured on the top by overseas job seekers from 30 different countries:

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What makes Canada the top destination for job seekers? 

Canada's Express Entry program and other Federal Immigration Programs make the country a top choice among skilled foreign immigrants. The Express Entry program regularly sends Invitations to apply for a Canada PR to top-ranking eligible candidates. At the same time, Canada’s economic immigration program ranks candidates based on objective criteria, including work experience, education, and language skills.

In September 2024, Canada was ranked as the 4th best country with the overall best index score of 94.1.

Factors that helped Canada to gain the position are its:

•             Quality of life

•             Entrepreneurship social purpose

•             Strong economy

•             Publicity funded Healthcare system

•             Diverse culture

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for Canada Immigration? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Australia.

For recent immigration updates, check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration News!