Travelling to Canada During the Coronavirus

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many foreign nationals have asked us if they can come to Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have issued many policy updates regarding travel to Canada since March. Today, Jade summarizes these updates and explains who can travel to Canada during COVID-19.

Who is eligible to travel to Canada?

To be eligible to travel to Canada as a foreign national, you must meet the requirements for one of the following:

• an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is staying in Canada for 15 days or more

• an extended family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is staying in Canada for 15 days or more

• a person who is authorized by the Public Health Agency of Canada to travel to Canada for compassionate reasons

All other foreign nationals must be travelling directly from the US for an essential purpose.

If you are coming from outside the U.S., you may be exempt if you are:

• A temporary foreign worker

• International student (if your DLI has an approved readiness plan)

• Approved for PR

• Immediate family members of a Temporary Resident with authorization from IRCC to reunite with a family member

• Transiting passenger (specific restrictions apply)

• Member of the Canadia forces

You can see a full list of the travel exemptions here.

What are the quarantine rules when travelling to Canada?

When you arrive in Canada (by air, land, or sea), you must have your health assessed before you leave the Point of Entry. If you have symptoms fo COVID-19, you cannot enter Canada.

You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. You can find a sample quarantine plan here. In general, your quarantine plan must include information about where you’ll stay upon arrival and how you’ll get to your final destination. The plan is mandatory even if you have no symptoms of covid-19.

It’s really important to follow these rules because CBSA is issuing serious fines for violations. Fines can be as high as $750k. Other punishments include 6 months of jail time, being deemed inadmissible to Canada with removal, and up to a 1-year ban from re-entry.

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Our Services

Calver and Associates is a leading provider of Canadian Immigration services in Durham Region. We serve clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and beyond. Our Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant has over 10 years of experience in Canadian Immigration law and over four years of experience serving those in the Oshawa area.

We can provide assistance with applications for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada. We handle applications for study permits, permanent residency, family class sponsorship, visitor visas, work permits, and Canadian citizenship. We also handle criminal inadmissibility cases by developing remedies for refusal.