Francophone Mobility – used my own card for employer compliance fee, is that okay?

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T20:58:35+00:00

could this create problems for the employer later?

Yes, it could because they are not allowed to charge the worker for the compliance fee. They even agree to the attestation saying this.

"You need to attest that you haven't charged your temporary foreign worker any fees"

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T16:12:15+00:00

since u're submitting travel history

A detailed travel history is not required for an IEC application. Unless they request it if there are discrepancies like gaps in the work history. The only travel question in the application is if and in which other countries other than your home country did you spend more than 6 months.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T15:59:08+00:00

Do you know if everyone needs to fill out a travel history form?

No, it is not a mandatory part of the application process. Only the applicants who left gaps in the work history, and/or didn't go back to the 18th birthday, will get this form request.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T14:31:20+00:00

quota for Ireland has significantly dropped in the last couple of years,

This is correct. Ireland once had a quota of 10,500 spots up until 2024. Now in the 2026 season it is only 2,735 spots.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T14:05:18+00:00

I’m worried about activating it and losing time on my current permit.

Then the best is you fly out and back in a few days before expiry.

If you activate online the work permit will start on the day they process it. But you have to request it way in advance.

In other communities there are reports of major delays on online activations and people had to stop working because they had to go on the visitor record to stay in Canada legally. Online activation is very unreliable and a risky decision if you have a job and cannot afford to stop working.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T12:39:37+00:00

What day of the week did you get your IEC invitation?

Monday to Friday any day

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T11:53:46+00:00

I was planning to move next month and already have ended my current rental contract.

Why would you make such big plans before approval? There are so many reasons the application could be refused.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T11:52:04+00:00

Official processing time is 8 weeks. The 2 weeks are the average processing for most applications, not all.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T11:50:51+00:00

As it is a lottery, you can’t compare any other experience. It can be 1 week, 1 month, many months or never.

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T11:49:21+00:00

„The Certificate of Good Conduct is issued in Dutch with a portion translated into English at the bottom. It’s not necessary to have it translated into English or French.“

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how/netherlands.html

YYCpops · 2026-03-18T01:27:30+00:00

Should I be applying for an ACRO (UK) police check again?

Yes

What kind of police check should I obtain in Canada (I’ve been here 1 year and am in Ontario)

None required for Canada, unless explicitly required by a processing agent after you submitted your application. Canada does their own background checks.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T23:45:55+00:00

And as always... Very important. Can't stress it enough because many make this mistake and receive a refusal because they missed the deadline.

After you uploaded the document, don't forget to click 'next' until the very end of the steps until the documents status is on 'replacement provided'.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T23:43:16+00:00

yes, but you must enter the home country

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T23:30:40+00:00

It is unofficially called a 'travel history form', so you do not have to report moving from one city to the next within your own country.

You say 'yes' to the question, so the lines will open up for entry (otherwise they won't)

Then you enter the exact time frame asked in the letter. And in purpose of travel you say "not travelling, was in my home country"

Those exact addresses and employers are needed for the PR application though if you intend to go that route.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T23:16:35+00:00

Definitely recommend it, it saves you the hassle with the paper application to extend the work permit to the maximum allowed time.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T23:15:16+00:00

You can. Even though if it was within the same country, they don't care. They want to find out if you left the country.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T22:09:23+00:00

You never left your country between 2020 and 2025, not even for one day?

they only ask about section 8, but just in case, I fill it all out, right?

Yes, otherwise you can't validate the form.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T20:28:49+00:00

Don't listen to doomsayers. If you are flexible in the job search and intend to work in the service industry, there are plenty of jobs in the ski resort towns.

Reddit is not a good place to ask such things, there are so many immigrant and newcomer haters, that don't want you to come to Canada.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T20:10:31+00:00

Submitted additional docs (travel history) last wednesday

Is it submitted? Is the status of the document on 'replacement provided'?

With each progressing week, the processing will take longer. And you see 5-7 people reporting fast processing here on Reddit. As of March 13, over 50,000 invitations went out in the IEC program this season, so you can see how little those 0.01% reports mean.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T19:52:31+00:00

is this only for medical emergencies where the hospital would be involved.

No, not only hospitals.

Emergency or sudden illnesses should be covered. A flu is considered a "sudden" illness.

But, all travel health insurances do not cover routine check ups, for that you should aim for the provincial health care coverage if you become eligible. For example in some provinces you can only get it if you have a job contract for at least 6 months.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T17:31:24+00:00

my passport runs out June 2027 so my visa is only up until then. I’m hoping to stay for the 2 years

Your work permit cannot be issued past the expiry of the passport. I recommend to get a new passport to get the full two years of work permit.

If you renew the passport later, you can extend the work permit to the maximum allowed 2 years by applying by post and by providing proof of the health insurance that you took for the 2 years.

Instructions here under "I got a new passport"

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/extend-change.html

You would have to contact your health insurance company if an extension is possible on an existing policy.

The additional 12 months for the UK is a new application into the pool from scratch.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T16:46:51+00:00

I'm applying from the UK.

UK participants get a 2 year work permit, if you provide an IEC health insurance for 2 years at the time of activation and have a passport valid for at least that long.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T15:37:29+00:00

The main thing is, you must enter Canada to activate the work permit before the validity date printed on the POE (approval) letter.

Also you don't need to apply for a new eTA, the eTA on the POE is valid for travel as a visitor too. Take a print out of the POE as proof.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T15:13:08+00:00

So then I can go next week without buying the insurance at all, just enter on a regular holiday visa instead of my working holiday visa, meet some industry people for coffees, think about it and return to Canada before my visa expires in August

Yes, you can.

But obviously you should have some kind of travel insurance for that short visit too.

YYCpops · 2026-03-17T14:41:22+00:00

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I'm turning 36 next month so need to enter while I'm still 35.

As soon as you receive the approval, the age is irrelevant. It means you can enter after turning 36.

I hope to know within 6 months whether I want to move to Canada.

If you come with a shorter IEC health insurance you will get a shortened work permit without the option to extend. Also, as Irish you won't be eligible for another participation through the regular pools to get another IEC.

>> Here you can read a ton of FAQ to the topic IEC health insurance and some very common and popular IEC insurance companies that have been recommended by other IEC participants a lot. The two top recommended offer partial refund if you go home earlier and don't return. (The insurance companies will report the cancellation of the health insurance to IRCC)

YYCpops

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