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Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about travel and work in Canada?
The following are common questions about lnternational Experience Canada as well as traveling and working in Canada. If you have any other questions, please email us at:
iec@canada.de.
Eligibility Criteria and Application FAQ
- Is the number of places limited? What is the quota?
- How old must I be to be eligible?
- My IEC application has been approved, but I will soon turn 31. Do I have to enter Canada before my birthday? Will my birthday limit the validity of my work permit?
- I am not a citizen of the Netherlands. Can I participate in the IEC?
- How long does my passport have to be valid for in order to apply?
- Can I apply for the International Experience Canada (IEC) Initiative if I am not in the Netherlands?
- Do I need to go through a "Work & Travel" agency in order to apply to the IEC?
- How long does it take for approval of my application?
- Do I need to have a job lined up in Canada before I apply?
- What type of insurance must I buy before leaving for Canada?
- Can I participate in the Canadian IEC Initiative more than once?
- If I am issued an IEC Letter of Introduction but do not use it, will I get back the program participation fee? Can I apply again in subsequent years?
- Can I include my family members (my spouse, my common-law partner, my child) on my IEC application?
- I would like to work in child care, in primary/secondary school teaching or in the health services field while on a Working Holiday work permit. Is this possible?
- What if I don't answer all the questions on the online application form?
How to apply FAQ
- May I submit my application by e-mail, fax or in person?
- I have replaced the passport under which my Letter of Introduction was issued (because it was damaged / lost / stolen / I got married) and am about to travel to Canada. May I still use the Letter of Introduction to obtain my work permit?
- I have applied for a new passport but have not received it. May I send in my application now and mail a photocopy of my new passport at a later date?
- How can I obtain a Dutch certificate of good conduct (VOG)?
- I have applied for a certificate of good conduct (VOG) but have not received it. Can I send in my application now and mail my original VOG at a later date?
- Will the participation fee be refunded if I did not activate and use my Letter of Introduction?
- What happens if I have not paid the correct participation fee?
- I currently hold a valid IEC work permit, but would like to apply for another IEC work permit under a different category. How can I do this?
General FAQ
- Why should I participate? What's in it for me?
- Is my home country participating in these programs?
- Do you provide financial assistance?
- What kinds of jobs can I find in Canada?
- I am not a student. Can I still participate?
- What is a Letter of Introduction?
- What is the difference between a work permit issued through IEC and any other kind of work permit?
- What documents do I need to present when arriving in Canada? How much money am I expected to have?
- I applied to participate to the IEC Initiative. Can I travel to Canada as a tourist before receiving my Letter of Introduction?
- I have received my Letter of Introduction. My plans have changed and I cannot use it. Can I withdraw from the Program?
- May I enter Canada with my Letter of Introduction on a one-way ticket?
While-in-Canada FAQ
- Can I volunteer while in Canada?
- I currently have a valid IEC work permit. Can it be extended?
- Is it possible to enrol in a course during my stay in Canada while participating in the IEC Initiative?
- I am currently in Canada with a work permit issued under the IEC Initiative. My employer would like me to continue working after the permit expires. Is this possible under IEC? What should I do?
- Can I change my status (from worker to visitor / from worker to student / from student to worker / from IEC participant to another category of temporary worker through Citizenship and Immigration Canada) while I am in Canada?
- I have already received my work permit but on the document it is written “This does not authorise re-entry”. Am I allowed to leave and re-enter Canada?
- Does the time on my work permit go “on hold” if I temporarily leave Canada?
- I have obtained my work permit. Are there any other requirements for working in Canada?
Eligibility Criteria and Application FAQ
- Is the number of places limited? What is the quota?
A: There is a limit of 600 places for 2012, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. - How old must I be to be eligible?
A: International Experience Canada (IEC) is open to people aged 18 to 30 (on or after your 18th birthday or prior to your 31st birthday) If you are about to turn 18, or will soon turn 31, please note that the age criteria are assessed as of the date your application was received by the Embassy of Canada to Germany. - My IEC application has been approved, but I will soon turn 31. Do I have to enter Canada before my birthday? Will my birthday limit the validity of my work permit?
A: No to both questions. Your Letter of Introduction is valid for presentation at a Canadian port of entry for one year from the date of issue and is not affected if you turn 31 within its validity period. - I am not a citizen of the Netherlands. Can I participate in the IEC?
A: In order to apply for a work permit under IEC at the Embassy of Canada in Berlin, you have to be a citizen of Germany or the Netherlands. You can visit International Experience Canada to see whether your country of citizenship is covered by a similar arrangement. - How long does my passport have to be valid for in order to apply?
A: You must hold a valid passport at the time you submit your application. If you have been accepted as a participant and you are preparing to enter Canada through IEC, the validity period of your passport should cover the whole time you plan to stay in Canada (up to one year). The validity period of your work permit may not extend beyond the validity period of your passport. - Can I apply for the International Experience Canada (IEC) Initiative if I am not in the Netherlands?
A: Providing you are eligible to the IEC Initiative, you can submit an application while you are temporarily outside the Netherlands (e.g. if you are in another country on a youth exchange or study program). You must send it to the Embassy of Canada to Austria. You must provide a mailing address in the Netherlands. If your application is successful and you are already in Canada, you must exit Canada and re-enter through a port of entry with your Letter of Introduction to have your work permit issued. Re-entry may occur from any Canadian port of entry. - Do I need to go through a "Work & Travel" agency in order to apply to the IEC?
A: No. Applications for all IEC categories can be directly submitted to the Embassy of Canada to Germany by mail by the applicants themselves. - How long does it take for approval of my application?
A: It normally takes about eight weeks to process your complete application package from the time you first submit it. If you are required to undergo a medical examination, please ensure you do so in a timely fashion following the notification from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in order to avoid delays. - Do I need to have a job lined up in Canada before I apply?
A: That depends. If you are applying under the Working Holiday category, you do not need to have a job lined up in Canada before you apply.
However, if you are applying under the Young Professionals category, you need to have obtained a pre-arranged contract for a job, work placement or internship in Canada. The Embassy of Canada to Germany cannot help you locate prospective employers in Canada. You can find an employer through travel and work abroad organizations, recruitment agencies, Internet job sites or newspapers. - What type of insurance must I buy before leaving for Canada?
A: IEC requires you to buy and maintain health-care insurance (covering medical care, hospitalization and repatriation) for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. We recommend that you buy this insurance only after you have received your Letter of Introduction, confirming that your IEC application was successful.
You may be refused entry if you do not have insurance. If your insurance policy is valid for less than 12 months, you may be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. In this case, you are not eligible to apply for an extension of your work permit at a later date. - Can I participate in the Canadian IEC Initiative more than once?
A: Yes, you may participate in the IEC Initiative twice under the Canada-the Netherlands youth mobility arrangement; however, each participation must be under a different IEC category. - If I am issued an IEC Letter of Introduction but do not use it, will I get back the program participation fee? Can I apply again in subsequent years?
A: No, fees are not refundable once the Letter of Introduction is issued. In addition, each individual may participate in the IEC Initiative only twice under the Canada-the Netherlands youth mobility arrangement. You are considered a participant once you are issued a Letter of Introduction. - Can I include my family members (my spouse, my common-law partner, my child) on my IEC application?
A: None of your family members may be included on your IEC application. If your family members wish to stay longer than six months as tourists, they must submit separate applications through Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner may submit a separate IEC application package if he or she is eligible. School-aged children require study permits. Pre-school children require temporary resident visas. - I would like to work in child care, in primary/secondary school teaching or in the health services field while on a Working Holiday work permit. Is this possible?
A: Yes, this is possible but you will need to undergo a medical examination prior to your departure for Canada. The participant has to pay the extra charges associated with this medical examination. If you intend to work in the above mentioned fields, please make sure to indicate this by completing this extra form and adding it to your application package. Procedures for the medical examination will be sent to you once your application is being processed. These instructions cannot be sent in advance.
If the extra form is not sent in with your application form, you will have a remark on your Working Holiday work permit indicating that you are not authorized to work in the above mentioned fields.
If you are applying for the Young Professionals category, the medical examination instructions will automatically be sent to you if your job/internship offer is in the above-mentioned fields.
Note that you undergo the medical examination at your own expense and at your own risk. Completing a medical examination does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. - What if I don't answer all the questions on the online application form?
A: For the field entitled “Details of Intended Work in Canada” on page 2, select “International Experience Canada Program” in the drop-down menu. For applications in the “Working Holiday” category, subfields 2a), b and 3) can be left blank. Those applications in the “Young Professionals” category please provide the details of your placement – i.e. Job or Internship offer. Under 4) please provide the category for which you are applying (“Working Holiday or “Young Professionals”).
Please leave the following blank: Page 1, 1) "UCI/Client ID" & Page 3, 6) "LMO No." When you have completed the form, click on "validate".
Your application cannot be accepted if the barcode page is missing!
How to apply FAQ
- May I submit my application by e-mail, fax or in person?
A: No. Applications to the IEC can only be sent in by post. All applications will be processed in the order they have been received. - I have replaced the passport under which my Letter of Introduction was issued (because it was damaged / lost / stolen / I got married) and am about to travel to Canada. May I still use the Letter of Introduction to obtain my work permit?
A: Yes, as long as the validity period of the Letter of Introduction has not expired. When entering Canada, you must notify the border services officer of this change so that your work permit can be issued in accordance with your current passport information. We recommend that you bring a photocopy of your previous passport along with your current valid passport for presentation at the port of entry. If you changed your passport because you got married, please also bring a copy of your marriage certificate. - I have applied for a new passport but have not received it. May I send in my application now and mail a photocopy of my new passport at a later date?
A: No. You have to submit your application with a photocopy of the passport with which you will travel to Canada. - How can I obtain a Dutch certificate of good conduct (VOG)?
A: In some cases the Dutch Ministry of Justice requests that documents be filled out and signed by the Embassy of Canada before they accept the application for a certificate of good conduct.
You need to fill in section A of the VOG and send the form to us together with a self-addressed return envelope. We will also fill in what is required from our side and return the stamped form to you together with a letter of support. The letter is not available on the website and will be provided by us. Next you need to submit both documents at your local town hall in order to obtain a clearance certificate. The original has to be included in your application documents.
Please do not provide any Dutch stamps. We will take care of mailing costs.
The following CIC webpage explains what you need to do
Please be advised that the police certificate must not be older than 12 months and that you must enclose the original with your application package. - I have applied for a certificate of good conduct (VOG) but have not received it. Can I send in my application now and mail my original VOG at a later date?
A: No. You have to send your ORIGINAL VOG with your application
(no photocopies are accepted). Please note that your VOG must not be older than 12 months and it must be enclosed WITH your application package. - Will the participation fee be refunded if I did not activate and use my Letter of Introduction?
A: No. The participation fee will ONLY be reimbursed if the applicant is not eligible, if the IEC quota has been filled, or if the applicant withdraws before the Letter of Introduction has been issued. - What happens if I have not paid the correct participation fee?
A: If you have transferred the wrong amount of money you will be notified and asked to pay the difference. Please be aware that the participation fee is related to the exchange rate and can therefore fluctuate. Please do not transfer money until you have checked the website for the latest fee information. - I currently hold a valid IEC work permit, but would like to apply for another IEC work permit under a different category. How can I do this?
A: It is not possible to hold two valid work permits at the same time. You may, however, submit an application prior to the expiry date of your current work permit. If your application is accepted, your Letter of Introduction can ONLY be sent to you once your current work permit expires. If you are in Canada when you receive your new Letter of Introduction, you will have to travel back to a Canadian port of entry in order to activate your new work permit.
If you wish to cancel your current work permit, you will have to leave Canada and send in your original work permit with your new application. From the moment you mail in your work permit, you are not permitted to stay and/or work in Canada.
*Please note that the IEC programs are not designed to offer you an uninterrupted right to work in Canada. There can be a delay between the expiry of your first permit and the start of your second work permit. We cannot guarantee you in advance the length of this delay. You should take this interruption into account when making plans with employers.
General FAQ
- Why should I participate? What's in it for me?
A: What you learn from other cultures and the self-reliance you gain from living and working abroad are highly marketable assets in a global economy. Companies with international operations often seek employees who are able to communicate effectively in more than one language, and who can understand the nuances of a different culture and its values. An international experience in Canada can help you build these skills and more! - Is my home country participating in these programs?
A: IEC is available in several countries and we are adding new ones all the time. Please see the list of all participating countries on the International Experience Canada website. - Do you provide financial assistance?
A: A travel and work year in Canada can be a very rewarding experience, but it can be expensive. Plan accordingly. International Experience Canada does not provide any financial assistance. You are responsible for your own journey including your travel arrangements, airfare, participation fee, accommodation costs and finding employment in Canada. - What kinds of jobs can I find in Canada?
A: All kinds! It depends on what you want to do and how hard you want to look for employment. Many of our participants find work in the tourism and hospitality industries (for example, in restaurants, pubs and hotels), where Canadian employers are willing to offer temporary work. You can also get work experience in a variety of other fields such as science, law, education, commerce or administration. - I am not a student. Can I still participate?
A: Of course! International Experience Canada is open to students and non-students aged between 18 and 30 who want to travel and work in Canada. - What is a Letter of Introduction?
A: A Letter of Introduction is a document issued by the Visa and Immigration section of the Embassy of Canada to Austria, confirming that your application for a work permit has been approved. It notifies you that you may enter Canada in order to work.
The Letter of Introduction is not a work permit in itself. You must present this document, along with other required documents, to a border services officer at a Canadian port of entry (international airport, land crossing). The officer will then issue the work permit. - What is the difference between a work permit issued through IEC and any other kind of work permit?
A: A work permit (code C-21) obtained through IEC is issued only to persons who meet the specific IEC eligibility criteria and who are admissible to Canada. For other work permits, you require an offer of employment in Canada. In most cases, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada must also provide a Labour Market Opinion. - What documents do I need to present when arriving in Canada? How much money am I expected to have?
A: You should present your valid Dutch passport with your Letter of Introduction. The border services officer at the port of entry may also ask to see your return ticket, your health insurance and proof of available funds. Proof of $2,500 will demonstrate to the officer that you will be able to establish yourself in Canada before you find a job. If you plan to do an unpaid internship, you will need to prove an additional amount of $833 per month.
Proof of funds may include: a photocopy of your bank statement and credit card limit, a photocopy of your internship or job offer (if applicable), or a letter of confirmation from another person who is able to financially support you. - I applied to participate to the IEC Initiative. Can I travel to Canada as a tourist before receiving my Letter of Introduction?
A: If you travel to Canada before receiving your Letter of Introduction for your temporary work permit, it will be up to the border services officer at the point of entry to Canada to determine whether you will be admitted as a visitor (tourist). This person must be convinced that you will respect the conditions of a temporary stay in Canada and not work without the authorization to do so. If you are in Canada when you receive your Letter of Introduction, you will have to leave the country with this letter and present it to an border services officer at a port of entry to Canada (i.e. at the border to the USA) in order to obtain your temporary work permit. - I have received my Letter of Introduction. My plans have changed and I cannot use it. Can I withdraw from the Program?
A: No. You cannot cancel your application once your Letter of Introduction has been issued. Once it has been issued, you have also lost your right to participate in this category again. For example, if you applied to the Working Holiday category and received your Letter of Introduction but do not use it, you cannot re-apply to the Working Holiday category. - May I enter Canada with my Letter of Introduction on a one-way ticket?
A: Yes, you may enter Canada on a one-way ticket. However, you must be able to prove that you have sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket.
While-in-Canada FAQ
- Can I volunteer while in Canada?
A: Yes. You may volunteer during your stay in Canada under the Working Holiday category. However, participants in the Young Professionals category should be careful because they do not have “open” work permits and some types of volunteer work may not be allowed. If you have any concerns, you can call Citizenship and Immigration Canada at 1-888-242-2100 to discuss your options. - I currently have a valid IEC work permit. Can it be extended?
A: No, your current work permit obtained through IEC cannot be extended, nor can you apply for a new work permit under the same IEC category. However, you may apply for a new work permit under another category in which you have not yet participated. - Is it possible to enrol in a course during my stay in Canada while participating in the IEC Initiative?
A: Yes, but the course (or courses) must be completed within a six-month period. You may not sign up for a course that is part of a program lasting more than six months (such as a two-year program or four-year degree). In this case, a separate study permit would be required. The working holiday experiences through International Experience Canada may not be combined with formal studies. For more information about studying in Canada and work opportunities as a student, visit the Council of Ministers of Education website, and for scholarships, visit the International Scholarships website. - I am currently in Canada with a work permit issued under the IEC Initiative. My employer would like me to continue working after the permit expires. Is this possible under IEC? What should I do?
A: A work permit cannot be renewed or extended under the same IEC category. If you wish to prolong your stay in Canada under a second IEC category, you must submit a new application to the Embassy of Canada to Germany by mail for a second IEC participation. The application process will take at least eight weeks. When you receive your new Letter of Introduction, you will have to leave Canada and re-enter to get your new work permit. This work permit cannot be obtained through Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Vegreville, Alberta. - Can I change my status (from worker to visitor / from worker to student / from student to worker / from IEC participant to another category of temporary worker through Citizenship and Immigration Canada) while I am in Canada?
A: You must go to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or call 1-888-242-2100 to check the requirements for changing the conditions of your work permit or extending your stay in Canada. You should make your inquiries after entry to Canada, while your document is still valid. - I have already received my work permit but on the document it is written “This does not authorise re-entry”. Am I allowed to leave and re-enter Canada?
A: This notation does not affect German / Dutch passport holders. If you keep the work permit stapled in your passport, you will be able to leave and re-enter Canada as long as your work permit remains valid. - Does the time on my work permit go “on hold” if I temporarily leave Canada?
A: No, the time on your permit continues to run out. The time cannot be put on hold. - I have obtained my work permit. Are there any other requirements for working in Canada?
A: You are required to register for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) after your arrival in Canada. The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada. Detailed information and application forms will be given to you upon arrival.
General information regarding Canadian income tax can be obtained from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Any questions regarding your personal income tax should be addressed to the International Tax Services Office.
