ottawa –
Immigration measures announced as part of Canada’s border response to President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs are beginning to take effect, starting with a ban on so-called “flag polling.”
This is when a person who was in Canada on a temporary visa leaves for the United States and immediately re-enters Canada to receive immigration services at the port of entry.
Restrictions on the granting of work and study permits to flagpolers come into effect from today.
Immigration Minister Mark Miller said last week that temporary visa holders will need to apply online to extend their stay in Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency processed more than 69,300 flagpole workers in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
There are still rare exceptions such as international truck drivers with work permits, professionals under certain free trade agreements, and U.S. citizens who meet the flagpole definition but are still granted work or study permits. .
Mr Miller first announced plans to ban the practice on December 17, alongside Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who pledged $1.3 billion worth of border control measures.
This includes removing the point value for obtaining a job in Canada’s Express Entry immigration system. The goal of this change is to reduce and prevent immigration fraud.
Miller said in a social media post that this is expected to go into effect in the spring and is a temporary measure.
An extensive review of the Express Entry program is underway and a future decision on the value of jobs under the system will be made at that time.
The Labor Market Impact Assessment is an important document required by employers when hiring foreign workers, and is currently worth between 50 and 200 points in the Express Entry system.
Although applicants should not pay these fees, a black market has emerged where people charge tens of thousands of dollars for these documents.
Applications that are already in progress will not be affected when this change takes effect.
Miller also said at a Dec. 17 press conference that the government is looking at ways to streamline Canada’s asylum system. This includes considering options to “quickly address” unreasonable charges.
The government’s extensive border measures plan to respond to President Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs also includes increased air surveillance and drug detection.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2025.
