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Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a more convenient way for International Experience Canada (IEC) participants to secure their work permits. Until recently, IEC participants in Canada needed to exit and re-enter the country to activate or renew their IEC work permit. With this new work permit mailing policy, eligible applicants can now have their permits mailed directly to their Canadian address. This change, effective until December 1, 2025, is designed to simplify the process, particularly following the ban on flagpoling at the US and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon borders.
Let’s explore who qualifies, why the change was implemented, and how IEC participants can take advantage of this policy.
IEC applicants can now request their work permits to be mailed directly within Canada if they meet these strict conditions:
🔸The applicant was already in Canada holding a valid IEC work permit at the time they applied for a second participation.
🔸They possess a valid Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction (LOI), and they must request their work permit before this LOI expires.
🔸The applicant must have valid status in Canada at the time of the request.
IEC participants need to maintain continuous legal status in Canada throughout the process to be considered eligible.
Those who do not meet the above 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. This is due to the recent IRCC regulations that ban flagpoling—a previously common practice where foreign nationals could quickly process work permits by briefly leaving and re-entering Canada at specific border points.
Previously, IEC participants seeking to extend their stay for a second participation had to physically leave and re-enter Canada to activate the new work permit. While this posed little inconvenience to those who already had plans to visit their home country or travel abroad, it created unnecessary challenges for those intending to stay in Canada continuously.
This issue was exacerbated by the IRCC’s decision, effective December 24, 2024, to prohibit flagpoling for most foreign nationals, including IEC candidates. Since then, IEC participants would have been required to leave Canada and re-enter from a third country, adding time, cost, and complications to the process.
The new policy allowing work permits to be mailed eliminates this inconvenience and aligns with IRCC’s broader objective of streamlining immigration services.
IEC work permits issued via mail currently take 4 to 6 weeks or longer to process. Therefore, participants are strongly advised to apply well before the expiry of their current permit or LOI, ensuring they maintain legal status during the entire process.
IEC participants may be eligible for more than one participation depending on their country’s agreement with Canada. Some countries enforce a mandatory waiting period between participations. Applicants should always verify their eligibility before applying for a second IEC work permit.
At all times, foreign nationals must maintain legal status in Canada. Failing to do so could lead to the denial of the work permit application and might require the individual to leave Canada to resolve their status.
IEC is a bilateral program that allows young citizens, typically aged 18 to 35, from over 30 partner countries to live and work in Canada. The program’s goal is to promote cultural exchange and offer participants international work experience while immersing themselves in Canadian life.
IEC offers three main categories:
🔸Working Holiday: For those seeking open work permits to fund their travels in Canada.
🔸Young Professionals: For those with a job offer related to their professional field.
🔸International Co-op (Internship): For students who want to complete an internship in Canada as part of their academic curriculum.
Before entering Canada, participants must obtain a POE Letter of Introduction, which they present to border officials to receive their work permit.
The new International Experience Canada work permit mailing policy is a game-changer for IEC participants who wish to extend their stay in Canada without the hassle of leaving the country. It offers convenience, reduces uncertainty, and aligns with IRCC’s mission to provide accessible immigration services.
Applicants must still pay close attention to their legal status, ensure timely applications, and confirm eligibility under the new guidelines. By planning ahead, IEC participants can now smoothly transition to a second participation, enjoying their Canadian adventure uninterrupted.
For the latest updates, always refer to the official IRCC website.
Who qualifies for the IEC work permit mailing option?
Only applicants who are already in Canada on a valid IEC work permit when they apply for a new participation, have a valid POE LOI, and maintain status in Canada at the time of request are eligible.
What happens if my LOI expires before I request the new work permit?
You won’t be eligible to have your work permit mailed within Canada and would need to leave and re-enter Canada from a third country to activate the new permit.
Can IEC participants still use flagpoling to get work permits?
No. As of December 24, 2024, IRCC banned flagpoling for most foreign nationals, including IEC participants. They must use the mailing option if eligible.
How long does it take to process a mailed IEC work permit?
Current processing times are 4 to 6 weeks or more, so early application is crucial to avoid lapses in work status.
Can I stay in Canada while waiting for the new IEC work permit?
Yes, but you must maintain valid legal status during the entire processing period. If your current permit expires, you must apply to maintain status.
Does this policy apply to all IEC participants?
Only those who meet the specific eligibility criteria outlined by IRCC can have their work permit mailed. Others must follow the traditional route of exiting and re-entering Canada from a third country.
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