Express Entry (EE) Permanent Residence Application Changes:

Sometime in Spring 2025, EE candidates will no longer receive points for having an offer of ongoing or future employment in Canada. Typically, job offers would add 50 or 200 points towards EE scores. It is our understanding that individuals who have already received an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence will not be impacted by this change. However, candidates with profiles in the EE pool on the effective date will likely have their points updated, removing all points towards having an offer of ongoing or future employment in Canada. Once further information is released, we will provide an update to clarify the changes as this will likely have a widespread impact on EE applicants.

Changes to “Flagpoling” at Ports of Entry Work:

The IRCC made immediate changes on December 23, 2024 to “flagpoling” at the Ports of Entry. “Flagpoling” occurs when temporary residents of Canada bypass the normal wait times involved in applying for a work or study permit online by leaving the country via a Port of Entry and then immediately re-enter to receive same-day immigration services (i.e., to obtain a new work permit).

Going forward, “Flagpoling” will only be permitted for the following:

• Applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• Professionals and Technicians under the following country-specific Free Trade Agreements:
  • • Professionals under the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement (CUSMA);
    • Professionals under the Chile agreement (CCFTA);
    • Contractual Service Suppliers or Independent Professionals under the agreement with South Korea (CKFTA);
    • Professionals under the agreement with Panama (CPFTA);
    • Professionals or Technicians under the agreement with Colombia (CCFTA); and
    • Professionals or Technicians under the agreement with Peru (CPFTA);
• Spouses or common-law partners of applicants under the free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia only;
• Truck Drivers; and
• Applicants with pre-scheduled CBSA appointments.

Foreign nationals who do not reside in Canada will have limited opportunities to apply for a work permit at a port of entry, exceptions will include:

• Visa-exempt individuals who are applying for LMIA-exempt or LMIA-based work permits; or
• Citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, regardless of whether the work permit is based on LMIA or is LMIA-exempt.

For individuals whose work permits expire while they are outside of Canada, IRCC has clarified that they are allowing them to apply at the port of entry if they satisfy the criteria above.

For more specific information, please reach out to the T&S Americas team at [email protected].