Port of entry
Statutory definition
Section 11(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27, requires a foreign national to apply to an officer for a visa or other document required before entering Canada. A CBSA officer at the port of entry is the officer who determines whether the person may enter and what conditions apply.
Explanation
A port of entry (POE) is where the legal act of entering Canada occurs. Even a person holding a valid visa can be refused entry at the POE if an officer is not satisfied that they meet all entry requirements at the time of arrival (health, character, purpose of travel, financial resources).
At the POE, a CBSA officer may:
- Allow entry and issue a temporary resident record
- Issue or amend a work permit or study permit
- Make a refugee claim referral if one is made at the border
- Refer the person for a secondary examination
- Prepare an inadmissibility report and detain the person
- Refuse entry and issue a removal order
How this term is used
Foreign nationals should carry all relevant immigration documents when crossing the border: visa or eTA, work or study permits, invitation letters, proof of funds, and any other supporting documents. Officers have broad discretion at the POE and may question travellers about the purpose, duration, and circumstances of their visit.