Can You Get A Second Work Visa For Canada
The answer is yes, you can get a second work visa for Canada in certain cases. But there are some details to consider.In this article I’m going to address Canadian work visa changes, as well as provide a step-by-step information guide of what you can do to get a second Canadian work visa.
My husband and I are in our 40s with 2 kids and have been living in Canada for almost 10 years. We are still on the first work visas issued to us when we arrived. When we renewed them 30+ days ago (we have to every 2 years) we were told that if we wanted to stay longer, we should apply for permanent residency. I know about the rule of thumb that tells you that you must spend at least 1 year out of Canada when you get your second work visa, but does anyone know if this is only temporary or a hard rule?
Can You Get A Second Work Visa For Canada
If you’re a citizen of a country other than Canada and you want to work in the country for more than six months, you need to get a work permit, regardless if the job is full-time or part-time. Depending on whether or not the employer hires a temporary foreign worker, they will either request a work permit exemption or apply for it. If an employer applies for an exemption, they can hire someone to work in Canada on behalf of their company.
IEC agreements with provisions for two participations
Canada has signed International Experience Canada agreements with 33 countries. Each agreement comes with its own set of requirements and benefits, and some have unique perks. For instance, citizens from Chile, Croatia and San Marino can participate in IEC twice under the Working Holiday permit category.
Modified IEC agreements
Occasionally, agreements have been modified and some allow citizens who were granted a Working Holiday permit before the changes came into effect could be candidates again after the changes.
Citizens from the following countries may be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday permit to Canada:
- Irish citizens who were granted only one of the IEC permits before 2013 can apply for another IEC permit in any category.
- British and French citizens who were granted only one of the IEC permits before 2015 can apply for another IEC permit in any category.
- Australian citizens who were granted one or more IEC permits before 2015 can apply for another IEC permit in any category.
The dual citizenship exception
Citizens who hold two passports from countries that have signed IEC agreements with Canada can apply for the Working Holiday permit twice.
For instance, a citizen of both Germany and Ireland can get their first Working Holiday permit with her German passport and a second Working Holiday permit with her Irish passport.
For more information regarding dual citizenship and IEC, check the IEC Help Centre.
The Recognized Organizations
You can contact a recognized organization and might be able to apply for a second Working Holiday permit to Canada.
Can I participate in International Experience Canada more than once?
You may be able to participate in International Experience Canada (IEC) more than once. It depends on the agreement between Canada and your country of citizenship.
If you’re allowed to participate a second time, you may have to wait a specific period of time before doing so. This waiting period applies to citizens of the following countries:
- Croatia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Mexico
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Spain
The waiting period starts after your first IEC work permit expires. If you apply for an IEC work permit before the waiting period ends, we’ll refuse your application.
Check the eligibility requirements to find out:
- if you can participate a second time, and
- how long you need to wait before participating a second time (if this applies to you).