Effective May 8, 2020, some International Experience Canada (IEC) visa holders are exempt from Canada’s coronavirus travel restrictions.

Only IEC participants who have a valid job offer and a port of entry letter of introduction are now able to come to Canada, according to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), although IRCC advises such individuals to continue to check its website for updates.

Canada has deemed anyone arriving to the country for work during the coronavirus period to be an “essential” traveler.

Get help with Canadian work permits

IEC participants with a job offer should take note that they are legally required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving to Canada and need to provide authorities with a self-quarantine plan.

Only four Canadian airports are currently receiving international flights: Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Montreal (YUL), and Toronto (YYZ).

The IEC enables youth, generally between the ages of 18-35, to obtain open work permits in Canada for between 1-2 years.

These youth are citizens of Canada’s peer countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Costa Rica, most European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

Need assistance with the Temporary Work Permit application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com.

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