Flagpoling is the practice where foreign nationals already in Canada leave the country — typically to the United States or to the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon — and then immediately re-enter at a Canadian port of entry (POE) in order to access immigration services directly from a CBSA officer. Historically, flagpoling was commonly used to obtain or renew work permits and study permits at the border, bypassing the need to wait for IRCC to process the application by mail or online.

Effective December 2024, the Canadian government ended flagpoling for most work and study permit renewals. Persons who attempt to flagpole for a work or study permit are generally directed by CBSA officers to submit their application to IRCC through the standard channels instead. For current guidance, refer to the CBSA announcement.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and associated regulations — the authority of CBSA officers to issue permits at ports of entry
• CBSA: Ending flagpoling for work and study permits at the border — canada.ca/ending-flagpoling-dec-2024
• IRCC: Ending PGWP flagpoling (June 2024) — canada.ca/pgwp-flagpoling-ended-2024
• IRCC: How to apply for a work permit at a port of entry — canada.ca/work-permit-poe

How flagpoling worked historically

Before December 2024, temporary residents in Canada who needed to extend or change their work or study permit could travel to the US or St. Pierre/Miquelon and immediately re-enter Canada at a land border crossing. At the POE, a CBSA officer had the authority to issue the new permit on the spot — meaning the person could walk in, wait briefly, and walk out with a new work permit or study permit, often the same day. This was significantly faster than submitting an application to IRCC and waiting weeks or months for processing.

Why flagpoling was ended

The practice created congestion at border crossings, delays for travellers with legitimate cross-border travel, and equity concerns — persons who lived near the US border had an advantage over those who did not. The June 2024 change (targeting PGWP holders) and the December 2024 change (broader) ended the practice for most permit types to direct applications through IRCC's normal channels.

Current position — what happens when flagpoling is attempted

Persons who attempt to flagpole for a work or study permit at a POE will generally be told by the CBSA officer to submit their application to IRCC through the standard online process. CBSA officers will not issue work or study permits in these circumstances (subject to the exemptions below). The trip to the border does not result in the permit being issued — it results in being directed back through normal channels.

Limited exemptions — when POE permit processing still applies

In very limited circumstances, work and study permits can still be issued at a POE even under the current rules:

• US and Mexican citizens and lawful permanent residents: Citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States and Mexico can still obtain certain work permits at the POE (as they are not required to obtain IRCC approval in advance under CUSMA and related rules)
• CUSMA/FTA professionals and technicians: Professionals and technicians qualifying under free trade agreements (CUSMA with the US and Mexico, and bilateral FTAs with Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia, and South Korea) can apply for work permits at the POE
• Spouses of FTA professionals: Spouses or common-law partners of CUSMA professionals from Panama, Colombia, and South Korea
• International truck drivers with maintained status: Truck drivers who hold a work permit, needed to depart Canada for employment purposes, and maintained status by applying to renew before departing
• Pre-existing CBSA appointments: Persons who booked a permit processing appointment with CBSA before the policy change took effect

The recommended alternative

The standard approach for work and study permit renewals in Canada is to apply to IRCC online through the IRCC portal. IRCC advises applicants to submit their renewal application at least 30 days before the current permit expires. Applying before expiry preserves the applicant's maintained (implied) status — the right to remain in Canada on the existing conditions while the renewal application is being processed. See the implied/maintained status page for details on how this works.

For processing times for work permit renewals, refer to the IRCC processing times tool.

Persons who relied on flagpoling in the past should be aware that the December 2024 change represents a permanent policy shift — it is not a temporary measure. Planning ahead and applying to IRCC with sufficient lead time before permit expiry is now the standard required approach for most temporary residents in Canada. The CUSMA exemption remains in effect for qualifying professionals — refer to the CUSMA Chapter 16 professionals page for who qualifies under this category.