Inland IEC Work Permit Activation Has Arrived – But You Might Still Want to Activate at a Border…

Until December 1, 2025, IEC applicants who have received a Letter of Introduction for another participation can apply to receive the IEC work permit by mail to an address in Canada. This is a huge benefit, since previously you would have needed to leave Canada and activate the work permit at the border when you returned (and you’re no longer able to do that via the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.  

Key Takeaways 

• It usually takes up to six weeks to receive your work permit by mail, so you need to either apply early or consider activating at an international airport instead.  

• You must meet eligibility criteria AND submit your application via the prescribed steps to receive your work permit by mail.  

• See the guidance from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) here. 

Eligibility For an IEC Work Permit by Mail 

You need to meet three eligibility requirements to receive your work permit by mail:  

1. You were in Canada with a valid IEC work permit when you submitted your IEC work permit application for another participation. 
2. You have a valid IEC POE letter of introduction (LOI). In other words, you must request your work permit via the webform before your LOI expires. 
3. You have valid status in Canada when you request your IEC work permit be mailed to you. This can be as a visitor or on your current IEC work permit that has not yet expired, or any other form of legal status.  

If you do not meet these conditions, you will need to leave Canada and re-enter to activate your new work permit. We do not recommend re-entering from the U.S. or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. 

How Long Does It Take To Receive Your New Work Permit? 

This is where the news is bittersweet.  

It usually takes up to 6 weeks (although it can take longer) to receive your work permit in the mail after approval in Canada. So, the process of applying for your IEC work permit via mail and receiving it can take quite a while.  

AND, you will not have maintained status while you wait for the work permit. So, if your first IEC work permit expires while you’re waiting for your work permit to arrive in the mail, you will need to stop working until your new work permit arrives. If you’re in this situation, you will also need to maintain legal status in Canada during this time – likely by applying for a visitor record.  

In other words, this option is best-suited to IEC applicants whose work permit expires in more than 6 weeks.  

If your work permit has expired or is expiring very soon, you’ll need to determine whether you want to stop working, apply for visitor status, and then resume work once you receive your new permit OR leave Canada and activate your new permit at an international airport. 

Reminder that if you choose this option, we strongly recommend that you do not travel to the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to activate your work permit. There is a high likelihood that the border official will refuse to activate your work permit. Read our article on the  flagpoling ban for more details.  

Can You Work While You Wait For Your New IEC Work Permit? 

If you have a valid work permit, you can work until that expires.  

If you do not have a valid work permit, you must stop working when the work permit expires and apply for a visitor record before midnight Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on the day the work permit expires. If you did not apply for a visitor record by this time, you will also need to apply to restore your legal status in Canada.  

How To Apply For A Mailed IEC Work Permit 

Here are IRCC’s instructions for IEC applicants who want to receive the IEC work permit by mail. Follow them carefully, and check the IRCC page before submitting since the requirements can change at any time!  

Step 1. Submit an IRCC webform via this link: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/ClientContact/en/Application/Form/72  

Step 2: For the question “What did you apply for?”, select “Temporary Residence” 

Step 3: For the question “What application did you submit?”, select “International Experience Canada” 

Step 4: Under the “Tell us about your request” box, there is mandatory text you MUST include to receive your work permit by mail. It’s important to follow these instructions very carefully.  

Working Holiday Work Permits 

If you’re receiving a working holiday work permit, include the following language (but replace the relevant sections with your details – do not make other changes):  

A112025: I am requesting an A11 examination and the issuance of my work permit from within Canada. My application number is [W#########]. I submitted my IEC application on [DATE]. I received my POE letter of introduction and it is valid until [DATE]. 

My current contact information in Canada is as follows: 

Telephone:
Mailing address:
Residential address: 

Open Work Permit: I attest that my circumstances remain the same and I still meet the requirements of the open work permit program I was approved for. 

Young Professionals Work Permits 

If you’re receiving a working holiday work permit, include the following language:  

A112025: I am requesting an A11 examination and the issuance of my work permit from within Canada. My application number is [W#########]. I submitted my IEC application on [DATE]. I received my POE letter of introduction and it is valid until [DATE]. 

My current contact information in Canada is as follows: 

Telephone:
Mailing address:
Residential address: 

Employer Work Permit: My employer, [name], located at [address], may be contacted at [contact telephone or email] to confirm my continued employment offer. I intend to begin work for this employer as soon as my work permit is received. 

Step 6: Attach the required documents 

You will also need to attach the following documents to your request:  

1. Proof of IEC-eligible health insurance that covers you for the entire duration of your stay. (Yes, you must include this even if you have provincial health cover and/or private health insurance through your workplace). 
2. A copy of your IEC work permit that was valid when you submitted your IEC work permit application.  

Proof of Funds For Another Participation 

IRCC does not require that you submit your proof of funds with your webform, but we suggest that you attach it anyway to reduce the risk of refusal or follow-up questions, in case this was an omission on their part.  

Your proof of funds should be:  

1. Issued no more than one week earlier; and 
2. Show at least $2,500 or more if you don’t have a return ticket out of Canada booked already.  

IEC Health Insurance Requirements 

You can review the IEC health insurance requirements on our dedicated page. But if you are already living and working in Canada, then BestQuote is likely to suit your needs. It’s a Canadian-based insurer that offers affordable IEC insurance to participants who are already living in Canada. (Many insurers won’t offer insurance to those who have left their country of residence.) 

Get your free quote here.