Good News for IEC Participants in Canada: Easier Work Permit Renewals

Previously, IEC participants wanting to extend their stay for another round of the program had to leave and re-enter Canada to receive their new work permit, as IRCC did not mail these permits within the country.

Who Qualifies for Mail-in Work Permits?

IEC applicants can have their new work permit sent to them in Canada if they satisfy all of the following conditions:

• They were in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when they applied for another IEC participation.
• They currently possess a valid IEC Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction (LOI) and apply for their new work permit before this LOI expires.
• They have valid immigration status in Canada when requesting the work permit by mail.

Maintaining legal status in Canada throughout the application process is crucial for eligibility.

This updated process is in effect until December 1, 2025.

Those who do not meet these criteria will still need to leave Canada and re-enter from a country or territory other than the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to get their new IEC work permit.

It's important to remember that depending on the agreement between Canada and their country of citizenship, individuals may be able to participate in the IEC program more than once. Some countries may also have a waiting period after the first work permit expires.

Why the Policy Shift?

This change addresses the inconvenience faced by IEC participants wishing to remain in Canada for a second term. Previously, the only option to get a new work permit was to leave and re-enter the country.

While leaving Canada for a vacation or a visit home before a second IEC term wouldn't pose a major issue, the need to re-enter solely for a work permit was cumbersome for those wanting to stay in Canada.

A common practice known as "flagpoling," where individuals would briefly exit and immediately re-enter Canada (often via the US border) for quick work permit processing, was largely discontinued on December 24, 2024. This meant IEC candidates could no longer rely on this method and would have to undertake more significant travel to obtain their new permits.

By allowing eligible applicants to receive their work permits by mail, IRCC has eliminated the need for this disruptive travel.

Given that IEC work permit processing can currently take four to six weeks (or longer), participants intending to stay in Canada for another IEC term are strongly advised to apply for their new work permit well before their current one expires to avoid losing their legal status.

About International Experience Canada (IEC)

The IEC program provides young adults from over 30 partner countries with the opportunity to live and work in Canada for up to two years, depending on their age and the specific agreement with their country.

The program aims to promote cultural exchange and provide young people with valuable international work experience while they explore Canada. IEC offers three categories:

• Working Holiday
• Young Professionals
• International Co-op (Internship)

To participate, individuals must first obtain a POE Letter of Introduction, which they present to border officials upon arrival in Canada to receive their work permit.

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To know more and apply for visa in Canada in 2025, through relevant immigration program, you may contact our seasoned and registered Canada Migration Expert at Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar