Canada ends flagpoling for those seeking work and study permits at the border
Canada Ends Flagpoling for Work and Study Permits at Ports of Entry
In a recent announcement, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that work and study permits will no longer be available for flagpolers at ports of entry in Canada. Flagpolers are foreign nationals holding temporary resident status in Canada who leave the country and re-enter to access immigration services, such as work or study permits, at a port of entry rather than submitting a renewal application through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
According to the CBSA, more than 69,300 flagpolers were processed between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, primarily in the Pacific, southern Ontario, and Quebec regions. This change aims to streamline activities at ports of entry and allow border officers to focus on border enforcement.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty stated, “This change will enable us to further streamline activities at our ports of entry and allow Canadian and American border officers to focus on what they have been expertly trained to do — border enforcement.”
This decision is part of a broader move to strengthen Canada’s border security ahead of the inauguration of the U.S. president-elect on Jan. 20. Canada has been enhancing its border security to dissuade potential tariffs on Canadian goods and address concerns about border security, migrants, and illegal drugs.
The Liberal government has allocated $1.3 billion for a border security package over six years, which includes acquiring helicopters and drones to monitor the shared border more effectively. Former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet due to disagreements over handling Trump’s tariff threats.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong Canada-U.S. relationship to ensure the safe movement of people and goods while protecting both sides of the border. Flagpoling is considered unnecessary and diverts resources from critical enforcement activities.
The CBSA clarified that in limited circumstances, work and study permits may still be administered to certain individuals, such as U.S. citizens and permanent residents, truck drivers, professionals and technicians under free-trade agreements, and spouses or partners of professionals under specific agreements. Individuals who do not meet these criteria will be redirected to submit their application through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
