The International Co-op (Internship) IEC work permit!

What happens next when I arrive in Canada?

Technically, you will arrive in Canada with the Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction and the actual work permit will be issued by a border services officer.

You will go through immigration at the airport and border officers will ask for:/

•  Your passport, valid for the entire length of your stay in Canada.
• Your Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction.
• Proof of funds, with a statement from your bank account issued no more than one week before showing the equivalent of CAN$2,500.
• Proof of health insurance coverage for the entire length of your stay in Canada. This is mandatory (read on for more info!).

It is mandatory to buy insurance coverage. Your policy must cover medical care, hospitalization and repatriation and be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Canada.

If you don’t have proof of health insurance, the border services officer may refuse to issue your work permit. And if your insurance policy is valid for less time than your expected stay in Canada, you may be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance. International Co-op work permit holders, like all IEC participants, are eligible for Globe WHV insurance solutions.

Since the International Co-op work permit is an employer-specific work permit, it will be stated that you can only work for the employer named on the document for the length of time specified. Check your work permit carefully before leaving the border services office—spelling of your name, expiry date, etc. If you notice a mistake (it happens!), inform border services right away.