Assistance with Work Permit at Land Border

Activate Your Canadian Work Permit: Paper Applications

Submitting a paper application at the border used to be popular, but most (almost all) temporary work permits must now be submitted online. The situations where a paper application is available are extremely limited, with one exception being if the applicant has a disability preventing them from applying online.

But that’s about the application stage; our focus here is on activating your Canadian work permit having submitted by paper.

If you applied for your Canadian work permit by paper and from within Canada, you will, if approved, received a letter in the mail from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) informing you that your Canadian work permit application has been approved. Thereafter it’s simply a short waiting game to receive the actual, physical work permit to your mailing address. When you receive it, you can consider it activated. You have nothing left to do (except enjoy working in Canada, of course).

If you applied for your Canadian work permit by paper and from outside Canada, you will, if approved, receive an approval letter (the letter of introduction) with instructions on how to obtain your actual, physical work permit upon presentation of this letter and other key documentation at a Canadian port of entry.

Applying At The Border

You may be eligible to apply for a work permit at a Canadian border in very limited circumstances, and you must be from one of the visa exempt countries listed on the table below. If this applies to you, you will need to bring all the supporting documents showing that you are eligible for the permit. This is risky compared to an online application.

Online applications undergo a completeness check quite quickly, and many applications fail these checks. Applicants then need to go and get the missed documents and reapply. If you’re applying at the border, you’re likely a long way from home if you need any additional documents or information.

That being said, if you are eligible and you apply at the border, you will likely receive your work permit on the spot and you can start work immediately once you enter Canada.

Practical Steps: Tips For Crossing The Canadian Border

When you enter Canada, tell the Canadian border services officer that you have come here to work.

If you have received a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction indicating that you are approved to work in Canada, bring it with you. This letter is not a travel document or a work permit, but you must show it when you arrive in Canada.

If you’re coming into Canada on an employer-specific (closed) work permit, you should also have supporting documents, such as:

• 1. proof that you meet requirements of the job, such as proof of work experience and education, and
• 2. a copy of your employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Once the Canadian border services officer has checked your documents and confirms that you can enter Canada, the officer will print the actual Canadian work permit for you.