Travel to Canada as a visitor first
The POE letter is a letter that confirms your application for an IEC work permit has been approved. This letter does not guarantee entry into Canada or guarantee a work permit.
I received my POE; but I want to visit Canada as a tourist without activating my IEC
When you enter Canada you will be entering as a ‘visitor’. As a visitor, you are generally allowed to stay for up to six months. However, the exact duration depends on the discretion of the border officers.
According to the IRCC website, you may enter Canada as a visitor before activating your work permit. Below is the official wording provided by IRCC. If a border officer asks about your POE, be honest and clear about your plans.
Official government Source
What are the risks of travelling as a visitor first?
Risk of being denied boarding
- If you haven’t received your POE letter yet and plan to travel to Canada as a visitor, you must first apply for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which costs $7.
- If you already have your POE letter, your eTA number and validity is on the first page. Make sure to present this at airline check-in.
Important: An eTA is not a visa and does not grant entry rights. It’s simply an electronic approval to travel to Canada by air.
Also keep in mind, that traveling on a one-way ticket to Canada as a visitor can cause issues. Some airlines may deny boarding if you don’t have proof of a return flight.
Tip: To avoid complications, book a return ticket or bring documented proof of your intent to leave Canada within six months.
Risk of being denied entry
After you arrive in Canada, Canadian Border officers have the final say on whether you’re allowed entry. If officers suspect that your travel plans are unclear or that you may intend to work illegally, they can deny you entry. What many travellers don’t know: Border officers can check your phone or laptop to see if you’ve been applying for jobs in Canada.
Officers may ask for:
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay without working
- A return flight ticket showing your plan to leave Canada within six months
- A clear travel itinerary including accommodation bookings and plans for tourism or visiting friends/family
You might run into financial problems
Since you cannot legally work in Canada, you won’t be able to earn an income. That’s why it’s crucial to bring enough savings to support yourself during the first few months. Plan ahead to cover basic expenses, as the cost of living can be significant, especially in major cities like Toronto or Vancouver.
For instance, rent and the required initial deposit (often first and last month’s rent or a security deposit) could quickly total around $6,000 or more within the first two months. This doesn’t include everyday essentials such as groceries, transportation or a phone plan.
Tip: Consider budgeting for at least 3-4 months of living expenses in advance.
You could miss out on job opportunities because you can't legally start work
After applying to several jobs, you finally made it to the final round and received an invitation to a job interview. Everything seems to be going well, until you’re asked the crucial question: “How long is your work permit valid for?”
If you’re unable to provide proof of a valid work permit, it could cost you the opportunity. Some employers may choose another candidate simply because your work eligibility is unclear. It’s important to remember that the Port of Entry (POE) letter is not a work permit. Although it confirms that your permit has been approved, it does not grant you the right to start working.
To legally start working in Canada, you must first activate your work permit by entering the country and receiving the physical document at the border.
You can't activate the work permit from inside Canada
If you’re already in Canada and haven’t activated your work permit, you’ll need to leave the country and return to do so. To activate your permit, you must travel to a country other than the U.S. and re-enter Canada from there.
This process can become costly, especially during peak travel seasons like summer. Flights, accommodations, and related expenses can add up quickly, so make sure to plan and budget accordingly.
Can I activate my IEC work permit by flagpoling at the U.S. border?
Due to recent changes on December 24, 2024 flagpoling at the U.S. land border is no longer allowed.
Additionally, making a short visit to the U.S. either by land or by air, is no longer an option, as the definition of “flagpoling” has been updated to include these types of entries.
The Government of Canada defines:
“Flagpoling occurs when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada, leave Canada and, after a visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services at a port of entry.”
Many IEC participants have shared positive experiences after flying to Mexico and returning to Canada to successfully activate their work permits.
Can I travel to Canada and wait for the IEC approval there?
Short answer: No, it’s not recommended.
Until your IEC application is officially approved and you receive your Port of Entry (POE) Letter your application can still be refused. It might feel like you’re close to the finish line, but until that approval letter is in hand, nothing is guaranteed.
Common reasons for refusals include:
- Missed document submission deadlines
- Incomplete or incorrect documents
- Ineligibility based on program requirements
- Medical or criminal inadmissibility
My advice: Wait until you receive your Port of Entry (POE) before booking flights or making any non-refundable arrangements. Even IRCC advises against making travel plans early.
Official government Source
Can I come to Canada before I receive my POE letter? – We strongly recommend you wait until you receive your port of entry (POE) letter of introduction (LOI) before travelling to Canada.
Over the past 10 years of being active in the Work and Travel community, I’ve seen a few situations where families made plans for their move to Canada before they received the POE (approval). In some cases, they quit their jobs, sold their homes, and even booked flights, only to face a sudden and unexpected setback.
For instance, just days before their flight, one partner received a refusal due to inadmissibility, which was due to a past conviction. Understandably, the rest of the family didn’t want to travel without their loved one. So they decided to cancel their Canadian dream.
This timeline might help you in your decision
At the beginning of each International Experience Canada (IEC) season, typically around January, processing times are much faster. In some cases, you may receive an approval within just a few days. This is because of the low number of applications in the system.
However, as the season progresses, more applicants get invited and the workload for processing officers increases. As a result, the average processing time will increase. Officers must now process and review more and more applications.
By the middle of the season, usually around May, average processing times rise to about 5 weeks. As the season nears its end, typically around October, they often reach the full 8-week processing window.
If you’re close to receiving your POE letter and want to prepare everything else in the meantime, you can find an IEC checklist here.
A very important information for your plans
If you enter Canada before activating your work permit and plan to activate it later, you must make sure your IEC health insurance covers you while already abroad.
Standard travel insurance policies often require you to start coverage from your home country. If you’re already in Canada or another country, a new IEC health insurance policy may be invalid.
When you sign up for the IEC health insurance, you must choose an “already travelling” or “coverage while abroad” policy.
If you are from the UK or Europe, check out True Traveller.
For another option while in Canada check out Best Quote. They are quite popular for Aussies and Kiwis.