Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Who can travel to Canada
Until further notice, most foreign nationals cannot travel to Canada, even if they have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization.
To protect Canadians from the outbreak of COVID-19, the Prime Minister announced travel restrictions that limit travel to Canada. Until further notice, most foreign nationals cannot travel to Canada, even if they have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA).
The following topics will be covered in this article:
Who can enter Canada?
Flying to Canada requirements checklist
Driving to Canada requirements checklist
Who can enter Canada?
You can travel to and enter Canada if you’re a
Canadian citizen
Dual Canadian citizen with a
Permanent resident of Canada
Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
Protected person
To be eligible to travel to Canada as a foreign national, you must meet the requirements for one of the following:
Entering Canada for family-related reasons
An immediate family member of a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident who is staying in Canada for 15 days or more
An immediate family member is defined as a
Spouse or common-law partner
Dependent child (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
Dependent child of a dependent child
Parent or step-parent (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
Guardian or tutor
Written authorization is not required
An extended family member of a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident who is staying in Canada for 15 days or more
If your relationship is with a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act 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
You and the person you’re in the relationship with must both be 18 years of age or older.
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, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act 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, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident
You must be a
Dependent child
Non-dependent child (adult child)
Grandchild (dependent child of a non-dependent adult child)
Written authorization is required
Immediate family members with written authorization from IRCC to reunite with a temporary resident of Canada
An immediate family member is defined as a
Spouse or common-law partner
Dependent child (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
Dependent child of a dependent child
Parent or step-parent (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
Guardian or tutor
You must provide evidence that your travel is non-discretionary, such as to live with your spouse, common-law partner or family member.
Examples of other non-optional or non-discretionary travel:：
Supporting Indigenous communities
Transiting through Canada for non-optional or non-discretionary purposes
Any other activities that are deemed non-optional or non-discretionary by the Government of Canada or based on an officer’s assessment
Foreign national coming to assist with the birth of their own child to another foreign national with temporary resident status
Written authorization is required
a person who is authorized by the Public Health Agency of Canada to travel to Canada for compassionate reasons
Examples of compassionate reasons can include
Being present during the final moments of life of a loved one
Providing support to a person deemed critically ill
Providing care to a person who medically requires support
Attending a funeral or end-of-life ceremony
You must get an authorization from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to travel to and enter Canada.
Entering Canada for non-family-related reasons
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:
You must be travelling directly from the US for a non-discretionary purpose.
Travelers coming from outside the US who are exempt from the travel restrictions
Temporary foreign workers
You have a valid work permit and normally live in Canada.
This applies even if you’ve been laid off.
You’re a worker who meets all of the following:
Have a letter of introduction for a work permit (open or employer-specific)
Have a valid immigration medical exam
Can work after you complete your quarantine in Canada (unless you’re exempt) and
Have a valid job offer
You don’t need a valid job offer if you’ll work with a spouse/common-law partner open work permit
Written authorization is not required
Some international students
Have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit
Be attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory
Some people who have been approved to become a permanent resident of Canada, but who are not yet permanent residents
You may be able to come only if:
Your COPR was issued on or before March 18, 2020 or
You are exempt from the travel restrictions.
Transiting passengers
Members of the Canadian forces, visiting forces coming to perform official duties, Department of National Defence and their immediate family members
Accredited diplomats and their immediate family members (includes North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], those under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, other organizations)
Air and marine crew members
French citizens who live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and have been in only Canada, the US or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon during the 14 days before the day they seek to enter Canada
Any person who does not pose a significant harm to public health, in the opinion of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and who will provide an essential service while in Canada
Any person whose presence in Canada is in the national interest, in the opinion of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; or Minister of Foreign Affairs
Any person who is coming at the invitation of the Minister of Health for the purpose of COVID-19 assistance
Any person whose purpose is to make medical deliveries
A person who’s participating in an International Single-Sport Event (ISSE)
Flying to Canada requirements checklist
Before you travel
Assess your quarantine plan before you travel
Get your pre-entry COVID-19 test
Reserve your 3 night hotel stopover
Register in advance for your arrival test
Use ArriveCAN to submit your travel and quarantine plans
Boarding your flight
Have your ArriveCAN receipt and pre-entry test results ready to provide to the airline
Check the requirements for boarding a flight to Canada
Arriving in Canada
Have your ArriveCAN receipt, test results, hotel confirmation and quarantine plans ready for assessment by a Border Services Officer
Take a test on arrival
Go directly to your pre-booked hotel for up to 3 nights to await results from your arrival test
Completing your full quarantine
Use your Day-8 test and await results
Driving to Canada requirements checklist
Before you travel to Canada by land
Assess your quarantine plan before you travel
Get your pre-entry COVID-19 test
Set up your account for arrival testing
Use ArriveCAN to submit your travel and quarantine plans
Arriving in Canada at a land border crossing
Have your ArriveCAN receipt, test results, and quarantine plans ready for assessment by a Border Services Officer
Receive your arrival and Day-8 test kits
Complete your arrival test at the border if testing stations are available on site
Follow the instructions for driving to your place of quarantine
Completing your mandatory quarantine
Register your Day-8 test kit in advance
Use ArriveCAN to check in and report daily
Use your Day-8 test kit and await results
