---
title: What if my passport expires soon?
description: Your passport needs at least one year of validity during your application. Renew first, since a short-validity passport can limit your work permit.
---
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1. [Working Abroad - Participants](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad?hsLang=en-us)
2. [Work & Travel Canada](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us)
3. [Applying](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#applying)
# What if my passport expires soon?
## Your passport needs at least a year of validity. Renew it before you apply if you can.
Renew it before you apply if you can. Your passport needs at least one year of validity during the application process, and at least 6 months of validity past your intended stay when you enter Canada.
**Why it matters.** If you apply for your work permit with a passport that expires in less than a year, the border official could issue a permit that's only valid until your passport expires. It's hard to change the conditions on your work permit after that.
**If you renew partway through.** You'll need to bring a copy of your old passport plus your new one to the border every time. IRCC explains [how to update your passport information](https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=861&top=25).
Past participants say it's much easier to go through the whole process with just one passport.
See our [2026 IEC Working Holiday application instructions](https://iex-website.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/2026-IEC-Working-Holiday-Application-Instructions.pdf) for more.
- [General](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/general?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
- [Program Basics](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/general?hsLang=en-us#program-basics)
- [Work & Travel Canada](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
- [After You Apply](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#after-you-apply)
- [Costs & Payment](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#costs-payment)
- [Second Year & Young Professional](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#second-year-young-professional)
- [Arriving in Canada](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#arriving-in-canada)
- [Getting Started](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#getting-started)
- [Applying](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#applying)
- [Living & Working in Canada](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-canada?hsLang=en-us#living-working-in-canada)
- [American Summer Exchange](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/american-summer-exchange?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
- [Program Basics](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/american-summer-exchange?hsLang=en-us#program-basics)
- [Germany](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/germany?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
- [Program Basics](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/germany?hsLang=en-us#program-basics)
- [Work & Travel Australia](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-australia?hsLang=en-us#main-content)
- [Visa](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-australia?hsLang=en-us#visa)
- [Program Basics](https://knowledge.interexchange.org/working-abroad/work-travel-australia?hsLang=en-us#program-basics)
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