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Participants Coming to Canada

Obtaining Your Canadian Work Permit

What documents must I present when I land in Canada?

The following checklist will help ensure you have all of the required documents for entry into Canada. Upon arrival in Canada, you must present these to a Border Services Officer at the airport before you can be granted your official Canadian work permit:

Up-to-date Passport
Letter of Introduction from the Canadian Visa Post approving your participation in International Experience Canada
Declaration Card from Canada Border Services (completed and signed on the plane)
Proof of Private Healthcare Insurance with coverage extending for the duration of your stay in Canada
Proof of Sufficient Funds to support yourself for two months
Proof of Canada-approved Medical Examination and Medical Clearance** arranged through the Canadian Visa Post in your home country prior to your trip.

** Applicable for certain countries only in order to qualify for an open work permit that does not include employment restrictions. Check with your Embassy before traveling to see if this requirement applies to you.

Note: All participants seeking work in the following fields require medical clearance before arriving in Canada: child-care, health services, in-home care services, and primary or secondary school education.

What should I do with my Canadian Work Permit once I receive it?

Once you receive your Canadian Work Permit, check that the following form fields have been completed accurately by a Border Services Officer (BSO) before claiming your baggage and exiting the airport.

For Open Work Permits:

Employer Section indicates “Open” or “Any Employer”
Employer Location is left blank
Expiry Date is correct (Note: BSOs are authorized to issue work permits that may only cover a portion of a working holiday)

For Employer-Specific Work Permits:

Employer Name and Location is completed accurately (Note: If you change employers after the permit has been issued, notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada at 1-888-242-2100)
Expiry Date is correct (Note: BSOs are authorized to issue work permits that may only cover a portion of a working holiday)

Can I go to school on a Canadian Work Permit?

Holding either type of work permit does NOT entitle you to enroll in a Canadian university or college program; to do this you require a study permit. You may, however, take short-term non-credit special interest courses, provided they are less than six months in duration. If you have been granted an open work permit you may apply for a study permit while you are in Canada, however you may not hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time.

Download the full Guide For Participants Coming To Canada (PDF^* 570 KB) brochure.

For more information about International Experience Canada, please contact us.

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