Avoid the line at the border: Access immigration services online

Need to renew your work or study permit? Extend your temporary resident status? Confirm your permanent residence? Many immigration services are available online. You do not need to come to a port of entry (official border crossing) for most immigration services if you plan ahead.

Access immigration services online

If you apply online to renew your work or study permit in advance, you may receive your new one in the mail before the current one expires. If your current permit expires while you are waiting for your new one to be processed, you can continue to work or study as you will have "maintained status."

Services available online:

• become a permanent resident
• extend temporary resident status
• obtain a new work or study permit
• renew a work or study permit

Find an Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application or form now.

To provide your biometric information, please book an appointment using the eServiceCanada Appointment Booking Tool or find a collection site near you.

More information: Immigration and citizenship

Immigration services at the border

Some temporary residents of Canada leave Canada and re-enter within 24 hours to receive immigration services.

If you decide to come to a port of entry for immigration services, you may find long lineups and your turn may not come before the end of service hours. We highly recommend you use IRCC's online services.

Foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit at the border. Applications can only be submitted online.

Locations and hours for obtaining immigration services

While immigration services can be accessed at all designated ports of entry, the following sites have specified hours and requests will only be processed during these times:

Quebec region

Armstrong
Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm

Saint Armand/Philipsburg
Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 3 pm

Saint Bernard-de-Lacolle
Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm

Stanstead Route 55
Monday to Thursday, from 8 am to 5 pm

Southern Ontario region

Fort Erie (Peace Bridge)
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Queenston-Lewiston Bridge
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Pacific region

Abbotsford-Huntingdon
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Aldergrove
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Boundary Bay
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 2 pm

Douglas
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Pacific Highway
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm