The short answer
At the border, be ready to show your passport, port-of-entry letter, proof of health insurance, proof of funds, a departure ticket or funds to buy one, and copies of your application documents. Your work permit is issued at the border, so check it before you leave.
We advise on immigration status and strategy, not job placement. We don’t sell jobs, job offers or LMIAs, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Official requirements (Government of Canada)
Source: Government of Canada (IRCC). Official Government of Canada, Provincial and/or Territorial Requirements change; each item is dated and linked when verified.
- Passport validity, and how it can limit the permit’s length
- Port-of-entry letter of introduction
- Proof of funds (as of October 14, 2026, IRCC: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/eligibility/eligibility-by-country.html)
- Insurance for the full stay
- Return ticket or funds
- Medical and work conditions printed on the permit
- Social Insurance Number
- Provincial health coverage differs by province:
- Alberta: if you come on a work permit, you must establish residency and intend to stay 12 months or longer; the permit must name an Alberta employer and location or be open, and can’t expire in less than 6 months. Apply within 3 months of establishing residency (as of October 14, 2026, Government of Alberta: alberta.ca/ahcip-temporary-residents)
- British Columbia: new residents wait the rest of the month they become resident plus two more months before MSP coverage; some Working Holiday permit holders with permits valid for six or more months may be deemed residents (as of October 14, 2026, Province of British Columbia: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol/coverage-wait-period)
- Ontario: there’s no longer a waiting period for OHIP if you’re eligible; the work-permit route needs full-time work in Ontario for an Ontario employer for at least 6 months (as of October 14, 2026, Government of Ontario: ontario.ca/page/apply-ohip-and-get-health-card)
- Quebec: RAMQ lists a person holding an open work permit as an example of an ineligible person for health insurance, with exceptions (as of October 14, 2026, RAMQ, Gouvernement du Québec: ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/health-insurance/know-eligibility-conditions)
Official source: Apply for an IEC work permit (canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/apply-work-permit.html)
What this means for your strategy
Practitioner analysis, signed by both RCICs: Sean G. McKinsley and Kimberly J. White. Not an Official Government of Canada, Provincial and/or Territorial Requirement. Before you leave the border, read your permit. Check your name, dates, permit type and conditions. Errors are much easier to fix there than later. A permit that’s shorter than you expected is often down to passport or insurance dates.
After you arrive, set up banking, a phone, temporary accommodation, and a driver’s licence. Then book a date to review your PR options. We suggest doing it early.
Related questions
What if my permit is wrong? When should I start thinking about PR?
Read next: Working Holiday · Young Professionals · IEC to permanent residence · Compare destinations · UK hub
Main site: Work permits · Express Entry · About us · Privacy · Terms
Who you’ll speak with
Two RCICs, co-counsel.
- Sean G. McKinsley, RCIC, CICC R529731 — Founder, Canada Immigration and Visa Services; Co-Counsel with Kimberly J. White. Sean is a dual British and Canadian citizen. Profile
- Kimberly J. White, RCIC, CICC R712483 — Founder, Kimberly White Immigration Consultants; Co-Counsel with Sean G. McKinsley. Profile
Both are listed as active RCICs, entitled to practise, on the CICC public register (as of October 14, 2026, CICC public register: register.college-ic.ca) (as of October 14, 2026, CICC public register: register.college-ic.ca).
Next step
A consultation is a 30-minute video call, CAD $250 plus applicable GST; the video call is included, with no separate fee. Government fees and any later professional services are not included in the consultation fee. Booking is free: you pick a time, read the Initial Consultation Agreement and add your details, then review and accept. Sean G. McKinsley, RCIC, our senior practitioner, conducts your first video consultation. The fee is earned only after your RCIC has performed substantive review of the information you provide when booking (and any documents we later request through our secure client process), issue identification, program analysis and preparation for your video call; opening a file alone doesn’t earn it. We invoice completed services, and payment must be made online through Stripe before your video call. We email you the video link before your call. Please don’t send documents through the website; after you accept the agreement, we request your documents and questionnaire through our secure client process and review them before your call.
Book a consultation · Questions first? Email info@civs.ca, message Sean directly on WhatsApp at +1-587-891-6778, or use the contact page. Fees: flat-fee services.
— Official Government of Canada, Provincial and/or Territorial Requirements are summarized from Government of Canada and provincial/territorial government sources and dated where they change. Practitioner analysis is our view, not an Official Government of Canada, Provincial and/or Territorial Requirement, and isn’t advice for your situation until we’ve reviewed it. We don’t sell, find or arrange jobs, and we can’t guarantee an invitation, a permit, entry to Canada, employment or permanent residence.
What clients said
Reviews from the Canada Immigration and Visa Services Google listing (opens in a new tab).
As a British national, I worked with Sean, Kimberly, and their team on my permanent residence application. They were professional, responsive, and clear throughout the process, and their guidance helped make everything much easier. I would highly recommend them to others from the UK or anywhere looking to move to Canada.
Reviews reflect individual experiences; results depend on each case and are not guaranteed.