Canada Simplifies Process for Certain IEC Participants

On May 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published details of a new procedure whereby eligible International Experience Canada (IEC) participants who are already in Canada can receive their work permit by mail at a Canadian address.  The new system is effective immediately and until December 1, 2025.

Key Changes

Previously, IEC work permit holders already in Canada who were granted a new IEC work permit had to leave Canada to obtain their new work permit. Until last year, it was possible to have the new work permit processed at the border after a brief visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, but this practice (“flagpoling”) was banned, effective December 24, 2024.

Now, IEC participants can get their IEC work permit mailed to a Canadian address if they meet all three of the following requirements:

• They were in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when they submitted their IEC work permit application for another participation;
• They have a valid IEC POE letter of introduction (LOI);
  • They must request their work permit before their LOI expires;
• They have legal status in Canada when they request to get their IEC work permit by mail;
  • Submitting a request to have their work permit printed in Canada does not maintain their legal status;
  • If their work permit will expire before they get their new work permit in the mail, they must apply for a visitor record before their current work permit expires;
  • They can only start working again once they get their new IEC work permit in the mail.

Most complete requests are processed within five business days. Once the request is processed, the participant will get a notification in their IRCC secure account.

• If the request is approved, IRCC will mail the IEC work permit to the Canadian address given. The mailing time is not included in the five-day processing and is based on Canada Post’s service standards.
• The IEC work permit becomes active when it’s printed and mailed. If the old work permit expired, the participant can’t start working until they get their new permit in the mail.
• To request a new IEC work permit delivered by mail within Canada, participants must follow the instructions here.

Participants who do not meet the above conditions must leave Canada and re-enter from a country or territory other than the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon to activate their new work permit.