Canada updates police clearance requirements for International Experience Canada work permit…
The Government of Canada announced an update to the police clearance requirements for International Experience Canada work permit applicants on June 24, 2026. The update is set to take effect immediately, affecting all new applications submitted from this date forward. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada made the announcement as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the application process for International Experience Canada participants.
This update matters because it marks a significant change from the previous requirements, which had been in place since 2015. Prior to this update, applicants were required to obtain police certificates from every country where they had lived for six months or more in the past five years. The new requirements bring Canada's policies more in line with those of other countries, which have similar youth mobility programs. Historically, the International Experience Canada program has been popular among young people from countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and France, who come to Canada to gain work experience and travel.
The specific mechanics of the updated police clearance requirements are as follows: applicants will now be required to provide police certificates from their country of citizenship and any country where they have lived for six months or more in the past five years, but only if they have lived in a country other than their country of citizenship for more than six months. The certificates must be issued by the relevant authorities in the applicant's country of citizenship or residence, and must be less than six months old at the time of application. Applicants will also be required to upload their police certificates to their online application, and to provide a detailed explanation of any convictions or charges they have received.
"Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada" did not provide a direct quote on the update, but the department's website outlines the new requirements in detail.
The updated police clearance requirements will affect International Experience Canada work permit applicants from countries such as Ireland, Japan, and South Korea, among others. These applicants will need to ensure they meet the new requirements in order to have their applications processed. The update may also impact applicants who have previously been convicted of a crime, or who have charges pending against them, as they will be required to provide additional information and documentation as part of their application.
Applicants who are affected by the update should check their IRCC online account for the most up-to-date information on the new requirements, and should ensure they upload all required documents, including their police certificates, to their application. The deadline for submitting applications under the new requirements is not specified, but applicants should be aware that their applications will not be processed until all required documents have been received. For more information on the updated police clearance requirements, applicants can visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.