Prepare for arrival

On this page

• Arriving in Canada
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of funds
• Review your work permit

Arriving in Canada

When you arrive in Canada, you’ll be greeted by a border services officer. Tell them that you have come here to work.

Be prepared to show the following documents:

• your passport
• your port-of-entry (POE) letter of introduction (LOI)
• proof of health insurance
• proof of funds
• a ticket for your departure from Canada or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
• copies of the documents you provided in your work permit application

You’ll get a work permit if the border services officer is satisfied that you are admissible to Canada.

If the officer isn’t satisfied, you may be asked to return to your country on the next flight at your own expense.

Proof of health insurance

The border services officer may ask you for proof of health insurance.

You may be refused entry if you don’t have insurance.

Your insurance must cover:

• medical care,
• hospitalization
• repatriation (returning you to your country in the event of severe illness, injury or death)

When you arrive at the port of entry, you must have health insurance valid for your entire stay in Canada. Having a valid provincial health card is not enough. Repatriation isn’t covered by provincial health insurance.

If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, we’ll issue you a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance.

If this happens, you won’t be able to apply to extend your work permit at a later date.

Proof of funds

The border services officer may also ask for proof of funds.

You must present a statement of your bank account issued no more than 1 week before your departure for Canada. It must clearly show that you have enough money to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada (the equivalent of CAN$2,500).

If you arrive in Canada with the equivalent of CAN$10,000 or more, you must tell the border services officer. If you don’t, you could be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of:

• cash
• securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
• bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders

Review your work permit

Check your work permit carefully before leaving the port of entry. Make sure you understand all the information on the permit.

If you think there’s a mistake on your work permit, tell the border services officer right away.

What to look for on your work permit

Make sure your name is spelled correctly.

Check the expiry date shown under the “Valid until” box.

Your work permit won’t be valid past:

• the amount of time indicated in the agreement between Canada and your country
• the expiry date of your passport
• the expiry date of your biometrics
• the expiry date of your health insurance
• the end date of your work contract (Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship) participants)

Check for medical restrictions. If you passed an immigration medical exam, you shouldn’t have medical restrictions on your work permit.

Working Holiday participants

Your work permit should show:

• “open” employer, and
• “unknown” location.

Open employer and unknown employment location means you have an open work permit.

As long as your work permit is valid, there are no restrictions on:

• how long you can work, or
• how many hours you can work.

Young Professionals or International Co-op (Internship) participants

The validity period of your work permit normally matches the period your employer requested in your job offer.

Your work permit should indicate the name and location of your employer.

You can only work in the location and for the employer specified in your work permit. The employer’s name and location are based on the offer of employment submitted.