Citizens of these countries get priority access to work permits in Canada | ImmigraCan

Citizens of these countries get priority access to work permits in Canada

On June 28, 2026, Canada's immigration landscape saw a relevant update for Brazilians who are planning to apply, or already have an application in progress, with IRCC. The information comes from CIC News (original source), a network specialized in Canadian immigration.

IEC (International Experience Canada) is the youth mobility program — and one of the best routes for Brazilians aged 18 to 35 to experience Canada with the right to work legally for up to 2 years.

How it works for Brazilians

Brazil has had an agreement with Canada since 2009. There are 3 categories:

• Working Holiday — open work permit (any job, any employer) for up to 24 months
• Young Professionals — for a job offer already secured that relates to your field
• International Co-op — for students who need an internship as part of their program

Essential requirements

• Age: 18–35 years old at the time of application
• Brazilian passport with enough validity to cover the entire work permit
• Funds: CAD 2,500 minimum (to arrive and support yourself)
• Health insurance: coverage for the full duration of your stay
• No dependents accompanying you through IEC (a spouse can apply separately)
• Never have completed IEC successfully before (the current rule allows up to 2 participations in different categories)

Realistic timeline for Brazilians

1. Create a profile in IRCC (free) — a few hours
2. Enter the pool — automatic once the profile is approved
3. Wait for an invitation (IEC ITA) — the pool has annual quotas, and invitations are drawn by round
4. If invited, you have 20 days to accept
5. After accepting, you have 60 days to submit your work permit application + fee (CAD 172 + CAD 100 open work permit holder fee)
6. Processing: 8–12 weeks for Brazilians
7. Entry into Canada: you have 12 months to land after the POE letter is issued

Advantages of IEC vs. other routes

• No prior job offer needed (Working Holiday)
• No LMIA
• No medical exam (in most cases, unless you'll be working in healthcare or with children)
• Low cost compared to a study permit or LMIA-based work permit
• Lets you pivot to PR via CEC after 12 months of Canadian work experience at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3

If you're over 35

IEC isn't your path — but there are alternatives. Take the free quiz to find out your best program.

Next steps

• Check all the details on the official IRCC website
• If you're planning to use IEC as a bridge to PR, calculate how much CRS you'd have after 12 months in Canada

Conclusion

IRCC policy changes affect Brazilians differently depending on their profile, application timing, and current status. This is just a snapshot of an update from June 28, 2026 — for the full picture of your case, take the ImmigraCan free eligibility quiz.

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*This content is informational and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. ImmigraCan is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Always confirm official data on canada.ca and, for your specific case, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a specialized lawyer. Source: CIC News.*