Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a major improvement for International Experience Canada (IEC) participants currently residing in Canada. Effective immediately and in place until December 1, 2025, eligible IEC applicants may now have their new work permits mailed directly to a Canadian address—eliminating the previous requirement to exit and re-enter the country.
Under the earlier rules, IEC participants wanting to apply for a second round of participation were required to physically leave Canada and re-enter in order to activate their new permit. This new policy removes a substantial logistical hurdle for many young travelers looking to extend their working holiday or international co-op experience.
To qualify for the new mailed work permit process, IEC participants must meet several conditions. Applicants must have been in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when they submitted their new application, hold a valid Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction at the time of request (prior to its expiry), and maintain valid status in Canada throughout the process. Legal status in Canada is a strict requirement for eligibility.
This policy offers significant convenience, especially for those who have no immediate plans to travel but want to continue working in Canada. Without this change, ineligible participants would still need to leave Canada and re-enter from a country other than the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to receive their permit.
The IEC program allows foreign youth from participating countries to gain work experience in Canada through one of three streams: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship). Depending on their country’s agreement with Canada, individuals may be able to participate in IEC more than once, although some nations impose waiting periods between applications.
IRCC has stated that this change is designed to make the process more accessible and less burdensome, especially for those applying for a second permit. With smoother transitions between participation rounds, the updated policy supports both the continuity of employment for participants and ongoing contributions to the Canadian labor market.
Maple News will continue monitoring updates from IRCC and reporting on developments that affect IEC participants and foreign workers in Canada.