How long does it take to get my work permit approved?

Plan for 6�8 weeks from the time we receive your application in our system to your approval from the Government of Canada. Many people hear back much faster, but individual circumstances can change the timing and nobody can guarantee a processing time.

What we usually see after you submit your work permit application:

• 25% of applicants are approved within 1 week
• 50% are approved in 2�3 weeks
• 25% are approved in 4�6 weeks

These estimates are based on participant data from the current and previous year. There's no way to predict how long your own application will take.

The government's estimate: According to the Government of Canada processing times page, the most recent IEC average is 6 weeks. The government's estimates tend to be conservative, and what we see in practice is usually quite a bit faster, often 2�3 weeks or less. To check the latest figure, select "Temporary Residence" > "International Experience Canada" (not "work permit").

Keep an eye on your account. You're responsible for monitoring your own GCKey account and application status. If IRCC asks you for more information, follow their instructions and refer to your guidelines.

If you hit 8 weeks: In rare cases where processing reaches the 8-week mark, you can submit an inquiry through the IRCC WebForm. We don't have the authorization to mediate or intervene in IEC processes, so the WebForm is the way to reach them directly.

What approval looks like: Approval means receiving your Letter of Introduction (LOI). It may also be called a "Pre-Approval" or a "Port of Entry Letter (POE)." They're three names for the same letter.

Tell us when you're approved. As soon as you get your LOI, let us know and we'll send you resources for your move and border entry. If you're trying to move faster, have a travel date far in the future, or need help before then, contact us at workabroad@interexchange.org or (800) 597-3675 or come to an orientation if you haven't already.