Work Permit Application Status
Work permit application process for Italian applicants in International Experience Canada between the ages of 18 and 35.
Application packages for International Experience Canada (IEC) are processed in the order in which they are received. The postmarked date on the envelope is not relevant. It normally takes eight weeks to process a complete application package from the date it is received at the Embassy of Canada.
If your IEC application and declaration form is approved, you will receive an email telling you that you have passed the first stage of the application process, and that your application package has been sent to the Visa and Immigration section of the Embassy of Canada to Italy for processing of your work permit application. This email will also contain a World Tracking Number. This is the IEC tracking number for your IEC application, which you should mention in all future correspondence with the Embassy of Canada to Italy .
The Visa and Immigration section of the Embassy of Canada to Italy will verify your application as per Canadian immigration law and regulations.
You will be required to undergo medical examination if:
- you foresee working with children, at the elementary or secondary level, or in health services;
If you intend to seek employment in these occupations, you should indicate that on your IEC application and declaration form, in order that the Visa and Immigration section may provide you the appropriate medical instructions once your application has been received. You may not work in these occupations in Canada without having completed the relevant medical examinations. Please be aware that processing time may be extended up to 4 weeks.
The Visa and Immigration section of the Embassy of Canada to Italy may ask you for additional documents. For example, if you have lived in another country for more than six months, you will be asked to provide a police certificate from that country.
At any time during the processing of the application, Citizenship and Immigration Canada may request additional information or documents to determine your admissibility to Canada.
Letter of Introduction
We recommend that you wait until you receive your Letter of Introduction (which will be sent to you by email) before you pay for any travel to Canada, buy health-care insurance for your stay in Canada, or make commitments to your prospective employer in Canada (provided you have one).
The Letter of Introduction is not your work permit. Rather, it will identify you at the port of entry to Canada as being eligible to receive a work permit under International Experience Canada. As such, you must be sure to present the Letter of Introduction to a border service officer at the port of entry. Your Letter of Introduction will be valid for 12 months from its date of issue. The final date upon which you can present the letter at a Canadian port of entry and receive a work permit will be shown on the letter.
The issue of your Letter of Introduction completes the processing of your IEC application package.
ATTENTION : The letter of introduction will be sent by e-mail. Candidates are kindly asked to add the e-mail address romevisa@international.gc.ca to their safe senders list and to print immediately the letter of introduction once received.
On Arrival in Canada
The expiry date of the Letter of Introduction will be clearly shown, and you must present the letter at a port of entry on or before its expiry. This expiry date cannot be altered, extended or changed under any circumstances. You cannot transfer your Letter of Introduction to any other person or name.
You must present your Letter of Introduction and passport to a border service officer at the port of entry upon arriving in Canada.
If the officer is satisfied that your entry is consistent with the Immigration and Refuge Protection Act and Regulations, you will receive a work permit.
Check your work permit carefully before leaving the border service officer. Make sure you understand all the information on it. Check the date of expiry on the work permit. If you think there is a mistake, tell the officer who issued it immediately. It is your responsibility to check your work permit thoroughly at the time it is printed.
Reminder: The border service officer may ask you for proof of health-care insurance (covering medical care, hospitalization and repatriation), for the minimum funds to help cover your expenses at the beginning of your stay in Canada and for the return ticket (or sufficient funds to purchase one). Your insurance policy must be valid for the duration of your stay in Canada. We recommend that you wait until you receive your Letter of Introduction before you book or pay for any travel to Canada or buy health-care insurance for your stay in Canada.
You may be refused entry if you do not have insurance. If your insurance policy is valid for less than 6 months, you may be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. In this case, you may not apply for an extension of your work permit at a later date.
Your work permit will be stapled into your passport at the port of entry. It will show:
- A validity period of up to 6 months from the date you enter Canada.
- Under the Working Holiday category, your work permit will indicate “open” employer and “open” employment location. This means you can work for any employer in Canada at any geographic location in Canada. There is no restriction on the length of time or the number of hours you can work, as long as your work permit is valid.
- The work permit will also include the words: “This does not authorize re-entry.” This means that the permit allows you to work in Canada but does not act as a visa or passport to allow you to re-enter Canada. If you hold an Italian national passport, this provision does not affect you because you are visa-exempt.
To work in Canada you will need to meet any Canadian federal or provincial registration or licensing requirements that are relevant to your occupation. Thus, if you are offered work in construction, in a medical field, as a mechanic or engineer, or in any other skilled area, you should find out whether you need to meet any provincial licensing or regulatory requirements. For further information, please visit Working in Canada.
To work in Canada and have access to government programs and benefits, you must also have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). For information on how to apply to get a SIN, please visit Service Canada website.
The work permit obtained through International Experience Canada is not valid beyond the expiry date printed on it.
If you wish to stay in Canada as a tourist once your work permit expires, you should visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or call (in Canada) 1-888-242-2100 to check the requirements for changing your status from a worker to a visitor. You should make your inquiries while your work permit is still valid.
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