IRCC makes it easier to mail IEC work permits in Canada. International Experience Canada (IEC) participants already inside the country can now receive their new work permits by mail, provided they meet certain eligibility requirements.

Previously, IRCC would not send IEC work permits to Canadian mailing addresses. This meant that anyone applying for another round of participation in IEC while still in Canada had to leave the country and then re-enter to activate their new IEC work permit.

Who Can Now Receive Their IEC Work Permit By Mail?

An IEC applicant is now eligible to have their work permit mailed to a Canadian address if they meet the following conditions:

  • The applicant was in Canada with a valid IEC work permit at the time of submitting their new participation application.
  • They currently possess a valid Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction and request the new permit before the POE LOI expires.
  • They must hold valid status in Canada at the time they request the mailing of their IEC work permit.

Maintaining legal status in Canada is critical. If a participant loses status at any point, they will not qualify for this new mailing process.

This temporary policy will remain in effect until December 1, 2025.

Applicants who do not meet these requirements must still leave Canada and return from another non-US or non-Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon location in order to receive a new IEC work permit.

Note: Depending on the reciprocal agreement between Canada and the applicant’s country of citizenship, individuals may be allowed to participate in IEC more than once. However, some countries impose waiting periods before a second participation is allowed.

Why IRCC Introduced The New Mail-Based Option?

IRCC makes it easier to mail IEC work permits in Canada. The main motivation behind this change is to make the process of obtaining a new IEC work permit more convenient for eligible participants wishing to remain in the country.

In the past, participants had to physically leave Canada and re-enter with a valid POE Letter of Introduction in order to obtain their new IEC permit—even if they were already legally in the country. For those planning to travel overseas or return to their home country temporarily, this posed little inconvenience.

But for participants who intended to stay in Canada, this requirement was an unnecessary burden. Many would opt for a practice known as flagpoling—leaving Canada briefly via the U.S. or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and immediately re-entering to have their permit processed at the border.

However, on December 24, 2024, IRCC introduced a flagpoling ban for most foreign nationals, including IEC participants. As a result, applicants could no longer simply leave through the U.S. and return the same day to activate their new IEC permit.

Now, under the updated rules, eligible IEC applicants can stay in Canada and receive their new work permit through the mail, avoiding the inconvenience and travel costs of leaving the country.

As of now, the processing time for mailed IEC work permits is approximately four to six weeks. Because of this timeline, participants should plan ahead and apply well before their current permit expires to avoid any disruption in their work authorization.

What Is International Experience Canada (IEC)?

IEC is a special program that allows young individuals from more than 30 partner countries to live and work in Canada temporarily. Depending on the country and age of the applicant, IEC permits are valid for up to two years.

This initiative promotes cultural exchange and offers young people a chance to gain international work experience in a Canadian setting.

IEC features three participation streams, each targeting different types of experiences:

  • Working Holiday: Participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work for any employer in Canada.
  • International Co-op (Internship): Designed for students seeking work placements in their field of study.
  • Young Professionals: Targeted at individuals with a job offer in their professional field, providing them with a closed work permit tied to a specific employer.

All participants must secure a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction before arriving in Canada. This letter must be presented to a border services officer in exchange for their IEC work permit.

With the latest changes from IRCC, the process has become more efficient for returning IEC participants already in Canada—helping them remain in the country legally while avoiding unnecessary travel.

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