---
title: Can I flagpole to activate my work permit?
description: Yes. US citizens are exempt from Canada's flagpoling restrictions, so you can leave and re-enter Canada to activate an IEC work permit.
---
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# Can I flagpole to activate my work permit?
## US citizens are exempt from Canada's flagpoling restrictions.
Yes. US citizens are exempt from Canada's flagpoling restrictions.
**How activation works:** To activate a second permit, or a first permit if you're already in Canada, you need to leave Canada and re-enter at a border port of entry. The timing is up to you, so plan it around your permits, job and life. We're happy to talk through your plans with you.
**What flagpoling is:** Since you have to exit Canada anyway, some people use it as a chance to visit home. Others cross the border for a very short time and then turn around to re-enter Canada. That's what's known, colloquially and now officially, as "flagpoling."
**The December 2024 change:** Canada recently restricted flagpoling for non-US foreign nationals, which has caused some confusion. The [Government of Canada announcement](https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2024/12/ending-flagpoling-for-work-and-study-permits-at-the-border.html) says that "In very limited circumstances, work and study permits may still be granted at a port of entry to individuals who otherwise meet the definition of flagpoling. The exemptions include: Citizens and lawful Permanent Residents of the United States of America." Print the page or keep it handy when you cross.
**Traveling with someone who isn't a US citizen?** The rules are different for them, so think about how that could affect each of your border experiences.
Most border stops take a few minutes.
*This information is not legal advice and doesn't guarantee a particular experience at the border.*
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