What’s different when applying for a Working Holiday Permit from within Canada?

Most Working Holiday permit applicants complete the application process from their country of residence, but it’s perfectly legal to apply from Canada if you’re already there. Read on to discover what’s different when you’re applying for a Working Holiday permit to Canada… from Canada.

Note that the following information also applies to the other two IEC categories, Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship).

The two main differences are the way biometrics collection is handled and how you activate your permit after it’s granted.

Paying the biometrics fee separately AFTER receiving the Invitation to apply

IEC applicants who are already in Canada can submit their fingerprints and photo to a designated Service Canada office allowed to collect biometrics for immigration purposes. Normally, the biometrics fee is paid during the application process, but applicants who are already in Canada will not be asked to pay the biometrics fee at the end of their application—it must be paid separately.

More info: Submitting biometrics.

Where should I go to give my biometrics in Canada?

You will have to go to a designated Service Canada office—“designated” is the key word here because not all Service Canada locations collect biometrics.

Go to Where to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) to find the closest location.

Important:

• Remember that it’s important to take the application process step by step! After submitting your profile to a pool, you may get an Invitation to Apply during a round of invitations. This is the beginning of the process. Next, you will have to submit your full application. Only then you will receive the biometrics instruction letter (or not, see above… regardless, biometrics is one of the final steps!). Read our step-by-step application guide for a refresher and this will make a lot more sense!
• You have to make an appointment to give your biometrics at a designated Service Canada centre.
• You will see either “SCO” or “POE” next to the biometrics collection sites listed here. You have to use an “SCO” (Service Canada Office) location. “POE” (Port of Entry) sites, i.e. airports and land border offices, don’t accept biometrics collection for IEC applicants. Read the “Notes” section carefully as well, as some sites only collect biometrics for specific immigration categories—you will see the note “Most applicants are not eligible to give biometrics at a POE.”

Plan a quick trip to exit Canada and re-enter to activate your permit

At the end of your successful IEC permit application, you will receive your Port of Entry (POE) Letter. This is the document you have to show when you arrive in Canada to activate your IEC permit.

The thing is… you’re already in Canada.

Flagpoling, i.e. going to a US land border, turning round and coming straight back to Canada just to get your permit activated, has been a thing for decades. However, it’s now prohibited!

Applicants now have to fly internationally to activate their permit. Some choose to return to their home country for a few days or go on vacation to South America, for example.

In any case, it is up to the individual Canadian immigration officer welcoming you back to Canada to decide whether to issue your work permit or not. They will determine whether your trip was a “legitimate vacation” or a “disguised” flagpole attempt.