Canada Bars Six Foreign Groups from Work Permit Applications

In 2026, the Canadian government, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced that six categories of foreign nationals are barred from applying for work permits at a Port of Entry (POE). The disqualified groups include: 1) individuals needing a visitor visa to enter Canada, 2) citizens from countries on Canada's visa-required list, 3) International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, 4) applicants under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme (SAWP), 5) those applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), and 6) individuals re-entering Canada from the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon specifically to access immigration services unless they meet certain conditions.

This guidance is particularly significant for international students and seasonal agricultural workers. Those in these categories must submit work permit applications through alternative channels, such as online applications, rather than at physical border points.