Immigration Newsweek
HOW TO ENTER CANADA AS A VISITOR DURING CURRENT COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
By Atty. Henry Moyal
Travel restrictions have been in place since March 2020 which essentially restricts entry to Canada to people who are coming to Canada for non-essential purposes.
New rules now permit certain family members and non family members to enter Canada during Covid-19. Each group has its own criteria as detailed below:
Group 1: Entering Canada with immediate family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
An “immediate family member” is defined as a
You do not need a written authorization from Canada Immigration. If this category applies to you, then you are automatically exempt from the travel restrictions.
To qualify and to board your flight to Canada, you must
- follow all airline requirements and pass a health check conducted by airline officials to confirm that you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, a cough and difficulty breathing
- tell the airline that you’re exempt from the travel restrictions
- make sure you have a valid travel document (visitor visa or electronic travel authorization [eTA], if required) and a passport that is valid to come to Canada
- present proof to show that you’re an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident
- You must be able to provide evidence of one of the following:
- You’ll stay in Canada for 15 days or more.
- You’re travelling for an essential (non‑discretionary) purpose.
You must have 2 types of documents:
- one that shows your immediate family member’s status as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- one that shows your relationship to that family member
Group 2: Entering Canada to unite with extended family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
To be considered an extended family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, it depends on who you’re related to and how.
If your relationship is with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must be
- in an exclusive dating relationship, have been in the relationship for at least 1 year and have spent time in the physical presence of that person at some point during the relationship
- a non-dependent child (adult child)
- a grandchild (dependent child of a non-dependent adult child)
- a sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling
- a grandparent
If you’re related to the spouse or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must be a
- non-dependent child (adult child)
- grandchild (dependent child of a non-dependent adult child)
- sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling
- grandparent
If you’re related to someone in an exclusive dating relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must be a
- dependent child
- non-dependent child (adult child)
- grandchild (dependent child of a non-dependent adult child)
To qualify under this group your family member must complete an application for authorization and statutory declaration form which must be signed by you and family member. The form is then sent to Canada Immigration for approval. Once Canada Immigration has issued the authorization letter, the traveler must show the authorization to the airline to board a flight/enter Canada. It is valid for 6 months. Do not book a flight to Canada until written authorization is obtained.
To board your flight to Canada, you must:
- follow all airline requirements and pass a health check conducted by airline officials to confirm that you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, a cough and difficulty breathing
- make sure you have a valid travel document (visitor visa or eTA, if required) and a passport that is valid to come to Canada
- tell the airline that you’re exempt from the travel restrictions and present a copy of the completed application for authorization and statutory declaration as well as the written authorization
- be prepared to provide additional proof to show that you’re an extended family member of a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident if asked
- for example, a birth certificate or other documents that show a family connection, such as documents that show a shared address
- be able to provide evidence of one of the following:
- You’ll stay in Canada for 15 days or more.
- You’re travelling for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose.
Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in Toronto, Ontario.
The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document.
Send questions to Attorney Moyal by email canada@moyal.com or call 416 733 3193
