IRCC eases rules for IEC work permits within Canada. Now, International Experience Canada (IEC) participants who are already in the country can have their work permits mailed directly to them if they satisfy specific conditions.
Prior to this policy update, IRCC required IEC participants to leave and re-enter Canada to receive a new work permit, as they did not mail permits to domestic addresses.
Eligibility Criteria
An IEC candidate can now receive their work permit at a Canadian address if they meet the following requirements:
- The candidate was physically in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when they submitted an application for another IEC participation.
- They possess a valid IEC Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction (LOI), and must request their new permit before the LOI expires.
- They continue to maintain valid status in Canada when requesting the work permit.
To qualify, legal immigration status must be upheld at all times while in Canada.
This updated policy is valid through December 1, 2025.
Candidates who do not fulfill the outlined requirements will still need to exit Canada and re-enter from a country.
Note: Depending on their country of citizenship, individuals may be allowed to participate in IEC more than once. However, some countries require a waiting period between participation.
Rationale Behind The Policy Change
IRCC eases rules for IEC work permits within Canada to simplify the process for those seeking a second IEC participation while already in the country. Previously, individuals were required to exit and re-enter Canada to obtain a new IEC permit.
While re-entry may have been convenient for participants planning overseas travel or visiting home, others who wished to remain in Canada faced challenges.
Until December 24, 2024, many candidates used a process called ‘flagpoling,’ where they exited Canada briefly to re-enter and activate their new permit. However, this practice is now banned for most foreign nationals.
With the flagpoling route closed, candidates previously had to travel to a third country (excluding the U.S. and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) just to return and complete their permit process.
This policy change allows eligible candidates to bypass that inconvenience and receive their permits by mail instead.
As of now, IEC work permits typically take four to six weeks to be processed.
IEC participants who plan to extend their stay should begin the work permit application process well before the expiration of their current permit to avoid any disruption in legal work status.
What Is International Experience Canada (IEC)?
The IEC program gives young citizens from 30 partner nations the chance to live & work in Canada for two years.
The goal is to promote cultural exchange and offer international work experience to young adults.
IEC is divided into three primary categories:
- Working Holiday
- International Co-op
- Young Professionals
To participate, candidates must obtain a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction before arriving in Canada. This document is then presented to a border officer upon arrival to obtain the actual work permit.
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