*Please visit our page Covid-19 Canada Travel Restrictions to see the most recent updates on travelling to Canada during Covid.*
March 23, 2020 Update: Only Canadian citizens, and permanent residents, and some foreign nationals travelling from the United States (US) who have been in the US for at least 14 days and are asymptomatic, are able to enter Canada by air at this time. Workers, students and approved permanent residents who haven’t landed should not travel yet.
March 21, 2020 Update: Canada has shut the border to all non-essential travelers, but there will be exceptions for some foreign nationals coming to Canada to work, study or live permanently.
The exemptions include seasonal agricultural workers, fish and seafood workers, caregivers and all other temporary foreign workers, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Travel exemptions also include international students who already held a study permit or had been approved for one when travel restrictions kicked in on March 18.
Starting on March 18th, 2020 Canada closes its borders to any non-Citizens or non-permanent residents. This means if you are not a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada you will not be allowed to enter Canada through its border with the United States or fly into Canada from another country. Canada closed its borders to prevent the spreading of the Coronavirus or COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 is affecting Canadian Immigration.
If you are a Citizen or Permanent Resident and currently outside of Canada but want to return, you may run into some issues as well.
The government has been taking extensive measures to ensure that people are not boarding aircraft with any symptoms. If you are showing any type of symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, bluish lips or face you may not be allowed to board.
When Will Canada’s Borders Open Again?
Currently, there is no end date of the travel ban to Canada. We will not know when foreign nationals will be allowed to enter Canada again.
The only exceptions of the Travel Ban to Canada includes:
- Air Crew
- Diplomats
- Citizens of the United States
- Immediate family members of Canadian Citizens
Exemptions from restrictions will apply to “foreign nationals who have already committed to working, studying or making Canada their home”. This would appear to indicate that people who have already been approved for some form of permit or permanent residence visa may enter Canada by air.
Can I Still Apply for Canadian Permanent Residency?
Absolutely! The Canadian government is still accepting and processing immigration applications in every category.
Now is the best time to book a consultation before the surge of delays or backlogs. Book a consultation from the comfort of your own home now! We will conduct all of our immigration consultations through the phone or video chat.
VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Ella Bergquist
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
