Work Permit Application Status
Work permit application process for New Zealand applicants in the International Experience Canada, Working Holiday category.
Application Evaluation
The application process to participate in the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative involves two stages:
- IEC Assessment: to determine whether you meet the IEC eligibility criteria, following the steps outlined, and;
- An assessment of your admissibility to Canada and eligibility for a work permit. This stage is submitted using the Come to Canada wizard and a secure MyCIC account.
In this section, we will explain to you the:
Status of your application during processing
There are two stages of assessment of your application: the IEC assessment for program eligibility; and the immigration assessment, using MyCIC. It normally takes an accumulated period of eight weeks for the entire application process from the date it is received until you receive your <Letter of Introduction>.
IEC assessment
Once you have submitted an application, received your World Tracking Number (WTN) and paid your participation fee, IEC will start assessing your application against the program eligibility criteria. IEC will assess applications in the order they are received.
If the assessment is positive, IEC will send you an conditional acceptance letter. This letter will include instructions on how to proceed with stage two of the application process. If the assessment is negative, IEC will send you a letter, explaining the reasons and refund procedures. Stage one (the IEC assessment) normally takes two weeks.
You will need to have obtained an IEC conditional acceptance letter before you can proceed with stage two of the application process, which is assessment of your admissibility to Canada and for a work permit. Stage two of the application process will be conducted by using MyCIC.
Immigration assessment
Stage two of the application process is an immigration assessment. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will assess your admissibility to Canada and eligibility for a work permit as per Canadian immigration legislation. If the assessment is positive, CIC will send you an IMM 5665<Letter of Introduction> through your MyCIC account.
To communicate with the visa and immigration service, email their services directly. Always include your World Tracking Number in any correspondence.
Letter of Introduction (Immigration form IMM 5665)
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 must have a Permit validity date. This is the final date upon which you can present the letter at a Canadian port of entry and receive a work permit.
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 circumstance. 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 Refugee 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. Under the Working Holiday category, the expiry date should be one year after your date of entry into Canada. If you think there is a mistake, immediately tell the officer who issued it. 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). 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 12 months, you may be issued a work permit that 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 provided at the port of entry. It will show:
- A validity period of up to 12 months from the date you enter Canada, under the Working Holiday category.
- If you are participating 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, where you are offered a position. 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 have a notation "This does not authorize re-entry." This signifies that the permit allows you to work in Canada but does not act as a visa or passport to allow you access to Canada. If you hold a New Zealand national passport, this provision does not affect you because you are visa-exempt.
To work in Canada, you will need to meet all 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 requirement. For further information, please visit Working in Canada.
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, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or call (within 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 permit is still valid.
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