Canada has recently updated the police certificate requirements for foreign nationals applying for work permits through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.

The new instructions specify that the applicant’s police certificate for their current country of residence must have been issued within six months of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receiving their work permit application.

Additionally, candidates who have lived in another country for six months or longer since turning 18 must ensure that their certificate was issued after the last time they lived there.

These updated guidelines also apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents applying for an IEC-specific work permit, as well as individuals from countries that do not typically require a police certificate upfront but are requested to provide one by an immigration officer.

The revised instructions were made public on June 17, 2026, on the immigration department’s website.

It is important to note that police certificates play a crucial role in determining the admissibility of IEC candidates to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Candidates with a criminal record that leads to inadmissibility may face challenges in obtaining an IEC approval.

Most participants in the IEC program are mandated to submit a police certificate when applying for a work permit, covering any region where they have resided for six or more consecutive months since the age of 18.