Flagpoling — what the rules are now
Flagpoling meant leaving Canada, usually by driving to a US port of entry and turning straight back, to have a new work or study permit issued on re-entry. For most people that route closed on 23 December 2024. Attempting it now generally means a wasted trip, and occasionally something worse.
What changed
Effective 23 December 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET, CBSA stopped issuing work permits and study permits to flagpolers at ports of entry. PGWP flagpoling had already been ended separately in June 2024. The stated reason was pressure on border resources — officers were spending time on applications that could be processed online.
This is not a discretionary matter an officer can waive because you have driven a long way. If you do not fall within an exception, the permit will not be issued, whatever the circumstances.
The five exceptions that remain
- ● Citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
- ● Professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with the United States and Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia and South Korea.
- ● Spouses or common-law partners of those professionals and technicians — but only under the agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea. Not CUSMA, Chile or Peru. Many websites overstate this.
- ● International truck drivers holding a work permit who must leave Canada for their work and who applied to renew before departing, so hold maintained status.
- ● Anyone with a pre-existing CBSA appointment booked for permit processing.
What to do instead
Apply online, from inside Canada, before your current status expires. Do that and you keep maintained status while the decision is pending, which means you can generally continue working or studying under the same conditions. That is a better position than flagpoling ever offered, because it does not depend on a border officer's availability.
- ● Work permit extension: apply online, $155, plus $100 if it is an open permit.
- ● Study permit extension: apply online, $150.
- ● Both take considerably longer than a border crossing did — plan months, not days.
- ● If your status has already expired, restoration is possible within 90 days, at a higher fee and with no guarantee.
The risk people underestimate
Leaving Canada when your status is precarious can cost you the ability to return. If you are on maintained status and you exit, you may not be able to resume that status on re-entry, depending on your circumstances and your visa. A trip to the border that was routine two years ago can now leave someone unable to get back to their job.
If someone has told you to "just go flagpole", check first. It takes ten minutes with a licensed RCIC and it is the cheapest advice you will get all year.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I still flagpole for a work permit?
Not unless you fall within one of the five exceptions. Since 23 December 2024, CBSA does not issue work or study permits to flagpolers at ports of entry. The exceptions cover US citizens and permanent residents, certain free trade agreement professionals and technicians, some of their spouses, certain international truck drivers, and people with a pre-booked CBSA appointment.
Does the exception cover my spouse if I am a CUSMA professional?
No. The spousal exception applies only under the free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea. It does not extend to spouses of CUSMA, Chile or Peru professionals. This is one of the most commonly overstated points online.
What happens if I turn up at the border anyway?
You will normally be refused the permit and told to apply online. The more serious risk is what happens to your status: if you left Canada while on maintained status, you may not be able to resume it on return, which can mean losing the right to work while your application is pending.
How do I renew my permit now?
Online, from inside Canada, before your current status expires. Applying before expiry gives you maintained status, so you can usually keep working or studying under the same conditions while you wait. That protection is lost if you apply late.
My permit expires next week and processing takes months. What do I do?
Apply now — today, if possible. An application filed before expiry preserves maintained status regardless of how long the decision takes. An application filed after expiry does not, and puts you into the 90-day restoration window instead. The difference between those two positions is measured in weeks of eligibility, not paperwork.
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