Extending a shortened IEC permit: Conditions and procedures

Have you activated your IEC permit (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op) and been given a shorter permit than the expected maximum duration? In this article, we explain the different reasons why you might receive a shorter permit duration, the scenarios in which you are eligible to apply to extend the expiry date, and how to apply for this extension.

Can an IEC permit be extended?

It is important to understand that you cannot extend your IEC permit beyond the maximum duration authorised for your citizenship.

For example, if you are a New Zealander on a Working Holiday permit, you are eligible for a permit that lasts 23 months. You cannot apply to extend your permit beyond these 23 months.

You can check the current maximum duration of participation for your citizenship here.

However, there are a few specific situations in which an extension can be requested if your initial permit was issued for less than the maximum permitted duration.

Note that “extension” here means an extension of your stay in Canada under the conditions of the initial permit. This article is not referring to applications for new permits or visas to extend your stay in Canada. To learn more about other permit/visa options, read All permit and visa options for going to Canada.

When is an IEC permit allowed to be extended?

The official website presents several scenarios where you would be eligible for an extension if your initial permit was issued with an expiry date shorter than the maximum duration allowed for your IEC category and citizenship.

Scenario 1: The immigration officer made a mistake

You can apply for an extension on your permit if the shorter expiry date was due to an error by the immigration officer, even though you had all the correct documents (i.e. insurance and passport) that were valid for the maximum possible duration.

Even if you’re excited to get out of the airport and start your Canadian adventure, take a few moments to double-check the information on your permit while in the immigration office. If there’s a mistake, report it immediately. The officer can, in some cases, correct the document on the spot. It’s always better to try and get the error changed at the airport!

Scenario 2: You renewed your passport

Your work permit duration cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your passport.

If you enter Canada with a passport that is valid for less time than the maximum period allowed for your citizenship (or for less time than the duration of your job offer for a Young Professionals or International Co-op permit), the authorities will not be able to issue you a permit for the full duration normally provided. Your permit will be shortened to the date that your passport expires.

If you apply for a passport renewal once in Canada, you can request that your IEC permit be extended to the full duration allowed for your citizenship once you receive the new valid passport. However, the process for extending an IEC permit once in Canada is lengthy and complex (read on for more details). It is strongly recommended that you renew your passport before you travel to Canada and activate your permit if your passport is going to expire while in Canada.

Read Passport validity when applying for a Canadian Working Holiday (or another IEC permit) for more info.

Scenario 3: Your job offer (for Young Professionals or International Co-op permits) has been extended (with no changes to the working conditions)

If you obtain a job offer or an internship agreement for a duration that is less than the maximum authorised duration for your citizenship, your IEC permit is issued with an expiry date that matches the expiry date of the job offer.

If your job offers to keep you on for longer and there has been no change in any of the working conditions, you can apply to extend, provided that the total duration of your stay does not exceed the maximum duration for your citizenship.

However, the extension is only possible if you continue to work:

• for the same employer
• in the same place
• on the same tasks
• under the same conditions as the initial job offer (salaries, hours, etc.).

This extension is only possible once. For example, your employer cannot offer you successive six-month renewals up to 24 months.

When is an extension not permitted?

Scenario 1: The duration of your IEC health insurance is insufficient

No matter how many times this information is repeated, many IEC participants still find themselves in this situation by not paying attention!

When travelling to Canada under the IEC program, you must present proof of insurance coverage for the entire duration of your planned stay when you arrive in Canada. If you were given a shortened permit because your insurance was not valid for the entire duration of your planned stay, you cannot apply for an extension of your current work permit.

So, if you are eligible for a two-year permit and you arrive with a six-month insurance policy, you will be issued a six-month permit and there is no chance to extend.

The Canadian authorities state on their website:

When a border services officer issues a work permit for a shorter period, they make a note in your file as to the reason why. This means you cannot try your luck and request an extension anyway; IRCC will see you were denied a full permit because of lack of insurance and refuse your request!

If you are in this situation and you wish to stay in Canada longer, you must look at options for a new permit. We cover this in How to extend your stay in Canada after a working holiday.

Scenario 2: Your job offer (for Young Professionals or International Co-op permits) has been extended (with changes to the working conditions)

Unlike the scenario described in the previous section, if you change any of the working conditions (employer, job duties, salary, hours, etc.) from when you initially activated your Young Professionals or International Co-op permit, you are not eligible for any extensions. The only way you can extend to the maximum duration allowed for your citizenship is by staying in the same work conditions.

How do I request an extension on my IEC permit?

If you fall under one of the scenarios where an extension is permitted, you need to request the extension by mail. The process takes a long time (i.e. many months!), so it is strongly recommended not to wait until the last minute to make your request. You must submit your request a minimum of 30 days before your permit’s expiry date.

If your shortened permit is due to an error made by the immigration officer, always try to get your permit corrected on-site to avoid going through this lengthy process.

Follow the instructions provided on the official website under International Experience Canada: Extend your participation or change your work permit. Select the reason for the extension that applies to you.

Here is the list of documents you will need to provide:

• A completed IMM5710 application form (Application to change conditions of stay, extend stay or remain in Canada as a worker). Read How to open Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada PDF forms if you have issues opening the file
• An explanatory letter stating:
  – that you are a participant in the IEC program
  – that you are requesting an extension of your participation
  – that you are benefiting from a fee exemption (you should not be charged any additional costs for an IEC permit extension but you must clearly state this in your letter)
  – the reason why you are requesting this extension
• A photocopy of the identification pages of your passport
• A photocopy of your current IEC permit and proof of your entry into Canada
• Proof of insurance covering the duration of your intended stay in Canada (the request will be refused if you do not include clear proof of insurance that covers the maximum possible duration of your stay).

Post your documents to:

Edmonton Case Processing Centre
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
c/o Work Permits – IEC, Station 404
9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4C3

Does my employer (Young Professionals and International Co-op permits only) need to do anything?

In some cases, the employer must complete some additional steps for your extension request to be valid. If your permit was shortened due to an administrative error by the Canadian authorities, your employer does not need to do anything.

However, if the duration of your permit was shortened for another reason (passport expiry date or the initial job offer was shorter than the maximum possible duration), your employer must:

• submit a new job offer via the employer portal
• pay the compliance fee (CA$230).

The employer can reuse the same profile they used for the initial offer. The new offer must meet the exact same working conditions (position, salary, location, hours, etc.), otherwise the request will be refused.