What Is a Port of Entry Letter of Introduction and Why Does It Matter?

If you've had a work permit or study permit application approved from outside Canada, the approval notice you receive usually isn't the permit itself. Instead, it's a document called a port of entry letter of introduction — and what you do with it when you land in Canada matters more than most applicants realize.

Losing it, misreading it, or not understanding what it's for can turn a routine arrival into an unnecessarily complicated one. This article explains what the letter is, who receives one, and how to handle it correctly.

What the Letter Actually Is

When IRCC approves certain applications made from outside Canada — most commonly work permits and study permits — it typically doesn't issue the final permit document by mail. Instead, it sends a letter confirming the approval "in principle," which you're expected to present to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada. The officer then reviews it, confirms your eligibility on the day, and issues the actual permit at the port of entry.

In other words: the letter is a confirmation of approval, not the permit itself. The permit only comes into existence once a border officer processes it at your point of entry.

Who Receives One

This letter is generally issued to people whose work permit or study permit application was approved while they were still outside Canada — for example, someone who applied online from their home country and received approval before booking their flight. It is not the same thing as:

• A visitor visa or eTA (those are separate travel-authorization documents)
• The physical work permit or study permit card or document itself
• A guarantee that entry will be authorized without further examination

Even with a letter of introduction in hand, you still go through a normal port of entry examination. The letter tells the officer what was approved; it doesn't remove their authority to ask questions or confirm your circumstances haven't changed.

What Happens With It at the Border

1. Present the letter along with your passport at primary inspection, or when directed to the appropriate counter for permit processing (often a secondary or dedicated immigration area at larger airports).
2. Answer the officer's questions confirming the purpose of entry matches what was approved — for instance, the same employer and job details for a work permit.
3. The officer verifies your admissibility on the day, since approval "in principle" doesn't override a border officer's independent examination.
4. The officer issues the permit, typically a printed document you should review immediately for accuracy — job title, employer name, permit conditions, and expiry date.
5. Keep both documents — the original letter of introduction and the permit issued at the border — until you're confident everything is correct and, ideally, for your records afterward.

Why You Should Keep a Copy

• [ ] Photograph or scan the letter before you travel, in case the physical copy is misplaced
• [ ] Carry it in your carry-on, not checked luggage
• [ ] Bring a printed copy even if you received it by email — some officers may want a paper version
• [ ] Double-check the permit details issued at the border against the letter before leaving the counter
• [ ] Keep the letter after receiving your permit — it's evidence of the original approval terms if a discrepancy comes up later

What If You Lose It Before You Travel

If your letter of introduction is lost or you can't locate it before your flight, don't assume you're out of options. IRCC accounts typically retain a copy of correspondence sent, so checking your online application account first is a reasonable starting point. If you can't recover it in time, contact IRCC to confirm the best way to proceed — arriving without it doesn't automatically undo an approval already on file, but it can slow down processing at the border and is best avoided.

Frequently asked questions