Canada eases work permit process for IEC applicants

International Experience Canada (IEC) participants already in Canada can now receive their new work permits by mail, if they meet certain eligibility conditions. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) introduced this option to help participants avoid leaving and re-entering the country to obtain a new permit, as per a report by CIC News.

To qualify, applicants must have been in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when they applied for another participation. They also need to hold a valid Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction and must request their new work permit before the letter expires. Legal status in Canada must be maintained throughout the process. This policy is effective until December 1, 2025.

Applicants who do not meet these criteria must leave Canada and re-enter from a country other than the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to receive a new IEC work permit.

According to the CIC News report, until December 2024, many applicants used a method known as "flagpoling"—leaving and quickly returning to Canada—to get a permit issued. But IRCC has since banned flagpoling for most foreign nationals, including IEC participants. This change makes the mail delivery option the only alternative for those who wish to remain in Canada while securing a second IEC work permit.

IEC work permits currently take four to six weeks or more to process. IRCC recommends that eligible applicants submit their new applications well before their current permits expire to avoid losing legal work status.

The IEC program offers youth from over 30 countries the chance to live and work in Canada for up to two years. It includes three streams: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship). A POE Letter of Introduction is required before arriving in Canada to obtain the work permit at the border. Applicants must ensure they meet all conditions to qualify for the mail delivery option.