Travel to Canada and coronavirus (COVID-19): latest updates

Canada’s borders are currently closed to the vast majority of foreign nationals. Certain exemptions to the travel restrictions are in place.

As per initial announcements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will have the ability to cross into Canada, whether by aircraft or by the land border with the U.S. However, several exceptions were confirmed through IRCC’s announcement. The following groups can cross the border into Canada whether by air or by land:

• immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who are travelling to Canada for non-discretionary reasons*;
• immediate family members of temporary residents of Canada may be able to enter Canada with written authorization from IRCC;
• temporary workers who hold a valid work permit or who are approved for a work permit but have not yet been issued the work permit (holding a Letter of Introduction);
• IEC participants who have not yet activated their work permits must have a valid job offer in order to enter, this job offer does not need to be in an essential sector (Source: IRCC);
• IEC participants who have already activated their work permits and were outside the country temporarily do not require a valid job offer in order to re-enter (Source: IRCC; note that anecdotal reports suggest airline staff may still request to see proof of employment when boarding);
• international students who held a valid study permit, or had been approved for a study permit, when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020;
• permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada

There are a handful of other exceptional exemptions listed here.

(Sources: IRCC, Governor in Council – U.S., Order in Council – International)

*The following types of family members are considered “immediate”:

• the spouse or common-law partner of the person;
• a dependent child of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner;
• a dependent child of a dependent child;
• the parent or step-parent of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner; or
• the guardian or tutor of the person.
• IRCC has confirmed that in order to be considered non-discretionary, a family member’s travel must be “for 15 days or more and they are travelling with or to be with their CC/PR family member.”

A source at CBSA has confirmed some people who are eligible for exemptions to travel restrictions are being denied boarding on flights or turned away at the border, especially if they cannot provide a plan for self-isolation upon arrival or provide evidence that their travel to Canada is necessary at this time. Please bear this in mind if you choose to travel to Canada.

According to CBSA, immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who do not have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 are “exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada if entering to be with an immediate family member for a period of at least 15 days.”

Immediate family members of temporary residents of Canada may be able to enter Canada with written authorization from IRCC.

The following types of family members are considered “immediate”:

• the spouse or common-law partner of the person;
• a dependent child of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner;
• a dependent child of a dependent child;
• the parent or step-parent of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner; or
• the guardian or tutor of the person.

Regardless of the legal ability to do so, COPR-holders should consider the public health crisis in Canada. If it is at all possible to delay travel to Canada, it is advisable to do so.

The answer to this question depends on when your COPR was issued. According to official guidelines published by IRCC, individuals who meet the following conditions may still enter Canada:

Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before 12pm EDT on March 18, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada.

The answer to this question depends on the type of work permit or study permit you’ve received and your date of issue. According to official guidelines published by IRCC, individuals who meet the following conditions may still enter Canada:

• temporary workers who hold a valid work permit or who are approved for a work permit but have not yet been issued the work permit (holding a Letter of Introduction);
• IEC participants who have not yet activated their work permits must have a valid job offer in order to enter, this job offer does not need to be in an essential sector (Source: IRCC);
• IEC participants who have already activated their work permits and were outside the country temporarily do not require a valid job offer in order to re-enter (Source: IRCC; note that anecdotal reports suggest airline staff may still request to see proof of employment when boarding);
• international students who held a valid study permit, or had been approved for a study permit, when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020;

(Sources: IRCC, Governor in Council – U.S., Order in Council – International)

A source at CBSA has confirmed some people who are eligible for exemptions to travel restrictions are being denied boarding on flights or turned away at the border, especially if they cannot provide a plan for self-isolation upon arrival or provide evidence that their travel to Canada is necessary at this time. Please bear this in mind if you choose to travel to Canada.

No. IRCC has issued an official statement in this regard.

“They [temporary residents inside Canada] should not travel to a port of entry (POE) to apply directly to a border services officer. Travelling to a POE from inside Canada for the purpose of getting immigration services is not considered essential travel, and they will not receive these services.”

(Source: IRCC)

If you are a member of one of the groups who is able to enter Canada, you should expect enhanced screening methods at airports and Ports of Entry. Throughout 2020, Canada plans to introduce temperature checks for all passengers boarding flights to Canada (Source: CBC).

As of March 26, anyone entering Canada will be forced to enter a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Canada’s Health Minister has announced that this quarantine will be enforced and that those breaking quarantine may be subject to fines and jail time. Certain exemptions will be made for essential workers. (Source: CBC)

If your travel document is going to expire within the next 30 days, please complete the IRCC online web form to advise them of your issue. Include as many details as possible. Please wait until 30 days before your document’s expiry date before submitting your extension request.

IRCC has indicated that they will offer extensions to some users who have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.

Temporary residents stuck inside Canada may be able to extend their status in the country. Follow the guidelines in IRCC’s special measures to help those affected by the coronavirus.

If your work permit or study permit has expired (or is going to expire), you must apply to extend your status, either as a worker, a student, or transitioning to visitor status. If you do not apply to extend your status and your work/study permit expires, you are technically not legally entitled to continue working or studying in Canada (until you apply to restore your status). Follow the IRCC instructions that apply to your situation.

Temporary workers inside Canada may start a job with a new employer more quickly through a new streamlined process announced May 12 (Source: IRCC). As many temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, the government has created a temporary policy allowing these TFWs, who are already in Canada with an employer-specific work permit, to more quickly change employers.

Normally, TFWs who lost their job in Canada would have to apply for a new work permit and wait until a decision is made on this application—a process that usually takes 10+ weeks. Under the new process, TFWs can start a position with a new employer before their new work permit application is processed.

Important: TFWs with employer-specific work permit still have to apply for their new work permit. After applying, they must follow the instructions on this IRCC webpage, and must wait until receiving email confirmation from IRCC that they can start working in their new position.

TFWs with open work permits are always able to switch employers, so this policy does not impact them.

Start by consulting IRCC’s special instructions for applications being submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC has stated that they will not refuse an application if you cannot complete the application due to COVID-19.

This includes applicants for:

• Permanent residence (including Express Entry)
• Work permits (including the Working Holiday)
• Study permits
• Visitor visas

If your application is due, for example, if your Express Entry PR application deadline is approaching, you may submit your application with missing documents, but ensure that you include a letter of explanation explaining the missing documentation and the reasoning for this. IRCC will give you 90 days to complete missing steps in your application.

Please note that biometrics letters will still state that biometrics are due in 30 days, but IRCC will allow 90 days for the submission of biometrics.

Canada is still processing immigration applications for most immigration programs, with some delays and restrictions in place. All applications submitted through International Experience Canada (IEC) are currently paused. 

As of July 1, IRCC has resumed processing of online applications for visitor visas and eTAs. However, IRCC warns that most visitors will be unable to enter Canada presently due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and that the resumption of processing is largely to avoid a processing backlog in the future (Source: IRCC).

For applicants whose applications are still being processed delays should be expected. IRCC has issued the following statement: “While we continue to serve our clients, service disruptions and restrictions due to COVID-19 may have an impact on processing times, and the current posted processing times may not be accurate.” (Source: IRCC)

Canada has reopened some Visa Application Centres (VACs) around the world, although with limited services available. Please refer to our guide on which VACs are open to find out which countries have operational VACs and what types of services are available.

Yes, a number of Express Entry draws have taken place over recent weeks. More information here.

However, a trusted legal source who has been in direct communication with IRCC has confirmed that Express Entry draws are currently being restricted to candidates in Provincial Nominee Programs and the Canadian Experience Class.

Invitations for the IEC program are paused until further notice. More information here.