Can I come to Canada before I receive my POE letter?

We strongly recommend you wait until you receive your port of entry (POE) letter of introduction (LOI) before travelling to Canada. If you do not have your POE letter when you arrive at a Canadian port of entry, you will not get a work permit. The border services officer will decide if you may be admitted as a visitor (tourist). As a visitor, you are not allowed to work.

If you’re in Canada as a visitor when you receive your POE letter of introduction, you must leave Canada and re-enter from a country other than the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to activate your work permit.

See also I received my IEC POE letter of introduction, but I don’t want to work yet. Can I enter Canada as a visitor for now?