Make changes to your work permit in limited cases

My job was extended and I’m eligible for a longer work permit

Depending on the country you’re from, you may be eligible for either a 12- or 24-month participation. Check the eligibility requirements for your country.

You can apply to change your IEC work permit to match the duration of your new job offer if:

• you’re a Young Professionals or International Co-op (Internship) participant
• your original offer of employment was for a shorter amount of time that you’re eligible for
• you’ll be working for the same employer at the same location
• your job duties won’t change and
• your new offer of employment does not put you over the maximum amount of time that you’re eligible for
  • For example, if you’re eligible to work in Canada for 12 months and your first work permit was valid for 6 months, your new work permit can be valid only for a maximum of 6 more months.

You can’t change your IEC work permit if you want to work for the same employer but in a different job or at a different address.

Fees

You don’t have to pay a new IEC or work permit fee.

In your letter of explanation, make sure you tell us that you’re fee exempt because your job offer has been extended.

How to change your work permit

1. Complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710](opens in a new tab) 
2. Gather documents for the Document Checklist [IMM 5556](opens in a new tab) 
3. Include a letter of explanation telling us:
   • that you’re an International Experience Canada participant,
   • you’re applying because your job has been extended, and
   • you’re fee exempt.

4. Mail your completed application to the address below.

   Case Processing Centre Edmonton
   Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
   c/o Work Permit- IEC Station 404
   Suite 55 9700 Jasper Avenue NW
   Edmonton AB T5J 4C3

If your work permit expires before we process your application, you can

• stay in Canada and
• work under the same conditions of your original work permit until we process your application

You can apply to change your work permit only once per IEC participation.

If your application is approved, the expiry date of your new work permit will match whichever comes first, the:

• expiry date of your passport,
• expiry date of your health insurance,
• expiry date of your biometrics,
• end date of your offer of employment, or
• maximum length of stay listed in the agreement between Canada and your country.

I need to change my employer

If you have a work permit under the Working Holiday category, you have an open work permit. This means that you can change employers whenever you want or need to.

Under the Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship) categories, you can change your employer only if you have a valid reason. Your new job must still meet the requirements of the Young Professionals or International Co-op categories.

Examples of valid reasons to change your employer include:

• you were working for a company that has closed
• you’re not receiving the wages you were promised
• your working conditions are not safe or as promised
• you have been fired or laid off

You can’t change your employer because:

• you’ve been offered better wages by a different employer
• you would like to work in a different location
• you don’t like your job or employer

If you aren’t eligible to change your employer and stay in the IEC program, you may be eligible to apply for

• a different type of work permit
• other immigration programs

If you’re eligible to change employers, you may be able to request authorization to work while you wait for your new employer-specific work permit. Follow these steps to start working after you apply for a work permit.

How to change your employer

1. Submit a request using the web form.
2. Select “Temporary Residence” in the “What did you apply for” drop-down menu.
3. Select “International Experience Canada” in the “What application did you submit?” drop-down menu.
4. Clearly explain the reasons why you need to change your employer and how your new job contributes to your professional development or studies.
5. Submit supporting documents to prove your claim.
6. Include a letter of offer from your new employer.

We’ll review your request to change employers. If you have a valid reason and are still eligible for IEC, we’ll send you instructions on how to submit a new work permit application. You don’t have to pay a fee to change your employer for valid reasons.

In some cases, we may need to involve law enforcement agencies to investigate your employer.

Your new work permit will only be valid for the time remaining on your current IEC work permit. For example, if you request a change 3 months into a 12-month approved stay, your new work permit will be valid for a maximum of 9 months. The 2 work permits will count as a single participation, even if you don’t use the new work permit.

The expiry date on my work permit is wrong

You can only change your work permit if the expiry date on your work permit is wrong because we made an error.

You can’t change your work permit if, when you entered Canada, you didn’t have health insurance for the entire duration of:

• your offer of employment, or
• the maximum length of stay listed in the agreement between Canada and your country.

Your original work permit won’t be valid beyond the expiry date of your health insurance.

Fees

There are no fees to correct an error we made.

In your letter of explanation, make sure you tell us that you’re fee exempt because you’re applying to correct your IEC work permit.

How to change your IEC work permit

1. Complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710](opens in a new tab) 
2. Gather documents for the Document Checklist [IMM 5556](opens in a new tab) 
3. Include a letter of explanation telling us:
   • that you’re an International Experience Canada participant,
   • you’re applying to correct your IEC work permit
   • you’re fee exempt, and
   • the reason why you’re applying for a correction.

4. Mail your completed application to the address below.

   Case Processing Centre Edmonton
   Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
   c/o Work Permit- IEC Station 404
   Suite 55 9700 Jasper Avenue NW
   Edmonton AB T5J 4C3

If your work permit expires before we process your application, you can

• stay in Canada and
• work under the same conditions of your original work permit until we process your application

You can apply to change your work permit only once per IEC participation.

If your application is approved

The expiry date of your new work permit will match whichever comes first, the:

• expiry date of your passport,
• expiry date of your health insurance,
• expiry date of your biometrics,
• end date of your offer of employment (Young Professionals and International Co-op participants only), or
• last day of the maximum amount of time that you’re eligible for.

For example, if you’re eligible to work in Canada for 12 months and your first work permit was valid for 6 months, your new work permit can be valid only for a maximum of 6 more months.

I got a new passport

You can apply to change the expiry date of your IEC work permit if:

• your work permit was valid only until your passport expired
• your current work permit is not valid for the full period you’re eligible to stay in Canada
• you were issued a new passport

Fees

You don’t have to pay any fees.

In your letter of explanation, make sure you tell us that you’re fee exempt because you’re applying to change the expiry date of your IEC work permit.

How to extend your participation

1. Complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710](opens in a new tab) 
2. Gather documents for the Document Checklist [IMM 5556](opens in a new tab) 
3. Include a letter of explanation telling us:
   • that you’re an International Experience Canada participant,
   • you’re applying to change your IEC work permit because you got a new passport, and
   • you’re fee exempt.

4. Mail your completed application to the address below.

   Case Processing Centre Edmonton
   Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
   c/o Work Permit- IEC Station 404
   Suite 55 9700 Jasper Avenue NW
   Edmonton AB T5J 4C3

If your work permit expires before we process your application, you’re authorized to

• stay in Canada, and
• work under the same conditions of your original work permit until we process your application.

You can apply to change your work permit only once per IEC participation.

If your application is approved

The expiry date of your new work permit will match whichever comes first, the:

• expiry date of your passport,
• expiry date of your health insurance,
• expiry date of your biometrics,
• end date of your offer of employment (Young Professionals and International Co-op participants only), or
• last day of the maximum amount of time that you’re eligible for.

For example, if you’re eligible to work in Canada for 12 months and your first work permit was valid for 6 months, your new work permit can be valid only for a maximum of 6 more months.

I need to remove medical restrictions

You need to remove medical restrictions if you

• have received a work permit or port-of-entry letter,
• have not passed a medical exam, and
• now want to work in a job that requires a medical exam.

There are 2 ways to do this, depending on whether or not you’ve already arrived in Canada.

I’ve extended my health insurance

If your health insurance was going to expire while you were still in Canada and you didn’t receive the maximum length of stay listed in the agreement between Canada and your country, you can’t apply to change your work permit, even if you extend your health insurance after entering Canada.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you have adequate health insurance for the entire length of your stay in Canada before arriving in the country.

I want to change my IEC work permit for other reasons

There are specific situations where you can change your work permit.

You can change your work permit only if:

• your job has been extended and you’re eligible for a longer work permit,
• you need to change your employer,
• the expiry date on your work permit is wrong,
• you’ve received a new passport, or
• you need to remove medical restrictions.

If this doesn’t apply to you and you want to stay in Canada as a worker, you have two options.

Option 1: Submit a new IEC profile

You can submit a new International Experience Canada profile and you may receive another invitation to apply, if

• you’re eligible for International Experience Canada, and
• your country of citizenship allows more than one participation.

Option 2: Apply for a different work permit

Learn more about other types of work permit.

If you apply for a new work permit, you should submit your application at least 30 days before your International Experience Canada work permit expires. This will ensure that you don’t lose legal status in Canada.

If your work permit expires before we process your application, you can keep working in Canada until you receive a decision on your application. This is known as maintained status.

If we refuse your application for a new work permit, you must leave Canada before the date indicated on the letter we send you.