A port of entry (POE) letter is a document that some foreign nationals might obtain if they get permission to enter Canada as a temporary resident.

IRCC might provide a POE letter to foreign nationals who are approved for any of the following three TR permits or visas: 
  • A work permit
  • A study permit
  • A super visa 

IRCC notes that only TRs who applied online for any of the three permits/ visa types listed above & gave their email address in the application will obtain a POE letter. Moreover, visitors to Canada & other Temporary Resident applicants will not obtain or require a POE letter to enter the nation. 

A port of entry letter is issued to recipients through their online IRCC account. They permit entry to Canada by confirming the identity of the letter holder, thus authorizing the individual to Canada & providing the CBSA with the data it requires to issue the applicable permit to the individual. 

In fact, according to IRCC, if an applicant does not have a POE letter as they arrive at the port of entry, they will not get a permit. 

Note: A POE letter does not serve as a study/ work permit. 

The POE letter that a TR will obtain is officially called a Port of Entry letter of introduction. However, this document might also be a correspondence letter, introduction letter, or introductory letter. 

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding POE Letters

Below are the three common questions regarding the port of entry letters that foreign nationals often ask. 

  • How long is my POE letter valid? 

According to IRCC, POE letters remain valid for the requested length of a temporary resident’s work permit, super visa, or study permit in all cases except for those regarding participants in the IEC program. 

Moreover, extending a standard work permit is possible once a temporary resident arrives in Canada. 

The box titled ‘permit validity’ on the POE letter itself will note the validity period of each POE letter. Their validity date demonstrates the deadline before which the POE letter recipient must come to Canada. 

Temporary residents who do not enter the nation before the validity date on their letter must submit a new application to study in Canada, work in Canada, or come to Canada on a Super Visa. 

Note: IRCC cannot extend the validity date on a POE letter.

IEC Participants: POE letters issued to IEC participants are valid for 12 months. For IEC participants who undergo a medical exam, the POE letter they obtain will be valid for either 12 months or when their medical exam expires, whichever is sooner. 

  • What do I do with my POE letter once I arrive in Canada? 

Upon arriving at the port of entry in Canada, temporary residents with a POE letter must inform an immigration officer about their approved application. At this time, TRs can present either: 

  • A printed copy of their POE letter
  • An electronic version of their POE letter
  • The visitor visa in their passport 

  • What happens if I lose, delete, or damage my POE letter? 

You can handle lost, damaged, or deleted POE letters by using IRCC’s webform to ask the department to resend your letter to you.

IRCC notes that online POE letter applicants will obtain their recent letter via their IRCC account. Moreover, temporary residents who cannot access or link to their original application in the IRCC account should be sure to let IRCC know when they can reach out to the department through the web form.