IRCC updates police certificate requirements for International Experience Canada (IEC) | ImmigraCan

IRCC updates police certificate requirements for International Experience Canada (IEC)

On 2026-06-22, the Canadian immigration landscape saw a relevant update for Brazilians who are planning or already in process 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 an already-secured position related to your field
• International Co-op — for students who need an internship as part of their program

Essential requirements

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

Realistic timeline for Brazilians

1. Create an IRCC profile (free) — a few hours
2. Enter the pool — automatic once your profile is approved
3. Wait for an invitation (IEC ITA) — the pool has annual quotas, invitations are drawn in rounds
4. If invited, you have 20 days to accept
5. After accepting, 60 days to submit the work permit application plus fee (CAD 172 plus 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, except if you'll be working in healthcare/with children)
• Low cost compared to a study permit or LMIA-based work permit
• Allows you to switch to PR via the CEC after 12 months of Canadian experience at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3

If you're over 35

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

Next steps

• Check all the details on the official IRCC website
• If you're planning to use the IEC as a bridge to PR, calculate what your CRS score would be after 12 months in Canada

Conclusion

IRCC policy changes affect Brazilians differently depending on profile, application stage, and current status. This is just a snapshot of a 2026-06-22 update — for the full picture of your case, take ImmigraCan's 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 information at canada.ca and, for your specific case, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a specialized lawyer. Source: CIC News.*