In Canada, most work permit applications are submitted online to IRCC before the foreign national travels to Canada. However, for certain categories of worker, it is possible to apply for a work permit at a port of entry (POE) — an airport, land border crossing, or marine port — when arriving in Canada. A CBSA officer can issue the work permit at the border if the applicant is eligible and brings the required documents. The POE process is also relevant to applicants who have already received IRCC approval for a work permit — those applicants receive a letter of introduction from IRCC, which they present to the CBSA officer at entry; the officer then prints the actual work permit document. An important restriction introduced in June 2024 is that Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) can no longer be applied for at the POE — PGWP applicants must apply online. This page explains who can apply at a POE, what the letter of introduction is, the PGWP restriction, and the limits of POE work permit issuance.

For current POE work permit eligibility and procedures, refer to the IRCC work permit at POE page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s 18 — CBSA officers at ports of entry have the authority to examine persons seeking to enter Canada; this examination power includes the authority to issue or refuse work permits at the POE
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s 198 — the conditions under which a work permit may be issued at a POE by a CBSA officer, including the categories of foreign nationals eligible to apply at the border
• IRPR, s 11(1) — foreign nationals generally must apply for a work permit before entering Canada; the POE application pathway is an exception for eligible categories
• IRCC: Changes to PGWP applications — June 21, 2024 — PGWP applications at POE were removed from June 21, 2024; applicants must apply online before arriving in Canada
• IRCC: Work permit at port of entry — canada.ca/work-permit-poe
• IRCC: Applying for a work permit at a port of entry — how to apply — canada.ca/work-permit-poe-apply

Two distinct scenarios at the POE

Two different situations arise when a foreign national arrives at a Canadian POE in connection with a work permit:

1. Applying for a work permit at the POE (no prior IRCC approval): the foreign national is eligible to apply for the work permit on arrival, without having obtained prior IRCC approval; they present the required documents to the CBSA officer, who assesses the application and, if approved, issues the work permit
2. Activating a pre-approved work permit (letter of introduction): the foreign national has already applied online and IRCC has approved the work permit; IRCC issues a Port of Entry (POE) letter of introduction confirming approval; the applicant presents this letter to the CBSA officer at the POE, who then prints and issues the actual work permit document

In both cases, the CBSA officer has independent authority to refuse entry or refuse to issue the work permit if admissibility requirements are not met.

Who is eligible to apply at the POE

Not all work permit categories are eligible for POE application. The categories most commonly eligible for a direct POE application include:

• CUSMA/USMCA professionals (T24): US and Mexican citizens applying under CUSMA Chapter 16 in eligible professional occupations can typically apply for their work permit at the POE; this is one of the most common POE work permit categories
• Intra-company transferees (C61/C62/C63): some intra-company transferees may be eligible to apply at the POE depending on the documents available and the category
• Certain International Mobility Program (IMP) workers: some LMIA-exempt workers who do not require prior IRCC online processing may be eligible to apply at the POE — the specific eligibility depends on the exemption category and the IRCC instructions in force at the time
• International Experience Canada (IEC) participants: approved IEC participants who have received a port of entry letter of introduction travel to Canada and activate their open work permit at the border

For current eligibility by work permit category, refer to the IRCC POE work permit page.

The letter of introduction

When IRCC approves a work permit application that was submitted online, the applicant receives a letter of introduction rather than the work permit itself. Key points about the letter of introduction:

• The letter of introduction is an IRCC document confirming that the work permit application has been approved and setting out the terms of the approved permit (employer, occupation, period of work)
• The letter of introduction is not the work permit — the applicant cannot work on the basis of the letter alone
• The letter must be presented to the CBSA officer at the POE, who verifies admissibility and then prints and issues the actual work permit document
• If the CBSA officer refuses admission at the POE — for example, because the applicant's circumstances have changed or there is an admissibility concern — the work permit will not be issued even if IRCC has approved it

PGWP — cannot be applied for at POE since June 21, 2024

From June 21, 2024, Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications can no longer be submitted at a Canadian port of entry. Previously, international student graduates who were eligible for a PGWP could apply at the POE on their return to Canada (if they had graduated and their student visa was still valid). This option has been removed. PGWP applicants must now apply online through IRCC before their student status expires. For current PGWP eligibility and application requirements, see the PGWP page.

Documents to bring to the POE

Whether applying for a work permit at the POE or presenting a letter of introduction, the applicant should bring to the POE:

• Valid passport and, if applicable, Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA confirmation
• The letter of introduction (if a prior IRCC approval was obtained)
• Job offer letter, employment contract, or other evidence of the work arrangement
• Evidence of LMIA exemption (if applicable), such as an offer of employment number from the IRCC Employer Portal
• Education credentials (for occupational categories that require qualification verification)
• For CUSMA applicants: proof of citizenship (US or Mexico), and evidence of the specific CUSMA professional occupation

CBSA officer's authority — refusal is possible

A CBSA officer at the POE has independent authority under IRPA to examine persons seeking entry to Canada. Even if IRCC has issued a letter of introduction, the CBSA officer may:

• Refuse to issue the work permit if the officer determines the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria
• Refuse entry to Canada entirely if the applicant is found to be inadmissible (for example, on criminal or health grounds)
• Issue the work permit with conditions different from those requested, in some circumstances
• Refer the applicant to a secondary examination for further assessment

Prior IRCC approval reduces but does not eliminate the risk of refusal at the POE — the CBSA examination is a separate layer of the process. For details on what happens during POE examination, see the port of entry examination page.

The POE work permit option is particularly important for CUSMA professionals — US and Mexican citizens in eligible occupations have historically been able to obtain work permits at the land border or airport with minimal advance preparation, making the process more similar to a business traveller process than a formal immigration application. However, the preparation requirements (documentation, employer portal offer number for IMP categories, credential evidence) should not be underestimated — officers who encounter applicants without adequate documentation may refuse the application on the day. The removal of the PGWP POE option from June 2024 affected a significant number of students who previously relied on returning to Canada and applying at the border after graduating abroad. International students planning to apply for a PGWP should apply online well before their student permit and status expires. For current POE work permit eligibility categories, required documents, and the letter of introduction process, refer to the IRCC work permit at POE page.