From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Last updated: March 29, 2020
On this page:
- Restrictions and exemptions for travellers to Canada
- Visitors, international students or temporary foreign workers in Canada
Restrictions and exemptions for travellers to Canada
Visitors
Until further notice, you can’t travel to Canada even if you have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). You may still be able to travel to Canada by air if you’re a
- person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
- protected person
- foreign national travelling at the invitation of the Canadian government for a purpose related to the containment of COVID-19
- immediate family member of a Canadian citizen
- You must show that you’re coming to Canada for essential reasons and not reasons that are optional or discretionary, such as tourism, recreation or entertainment.
- immediate family member of a Canadian permanent resident
- You must show that you’re coming to Canada for essential reasons and not reasons that are optional or discretionary, such as tourism, recreation or entertainment.
- a person who is authorized, in writing, by a designated immigration officer or consular officer of the Government of Canada to enter Canada for the purpose of reuniting immediate family members
- a person who is authorized, in writing, by an officer designated under subsection 6(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the purpose of reuniting immediate family members
- transiting passenger, as long as you stay in a Canadian airport to complete your connection
- member of the Canadian military, visiting forces or their family member
- accredited diplomat or family member (includes North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], those under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, other organizations)
- air or marine crew member
- French citizen who lives in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon who has only been in Canada, the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon in the 14 days before the day you seek to enter Canada
- foreign national travelling from the US to Canada who has only been in the US or Canada in the past 14 days and coming for essential purposes
If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
When you arrive in Canada we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must isolate yourself for 14 days even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
Only people who provide essential services and truck drivers who regularly cross the border to maintain the flow of goods are exempt from the isolation requirements
If you’re already in Canada and hold a valid visa or eTA, you can stay here.
International students
If you’re an international student who has a valid study permit or were approved for a study permit on or before March 18, 2020, you are exempt from the travel restrictions.
If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
When you arrive in Canada we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must isolate for 14 days even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
If your in-class courses are being moved to an online-only format because of COVID-19, your eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program won’t be affected.
Temporary foreign workers
All temporary foreign workers are exempt from travel restrictions and can travel to Canada by air or land.
If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
When you arrive in Canada we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must isolate for 14 days even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
Visitors, international students or temporary foreign workers in Canada
If your visitor, study or work status hasn’t expired
You can apply online to extend your stay in Canada.
If you’re a visitor, you can apply for a visitor record to extend your stay in Canada.
If you’re a worker or student, you have 2 options:
- If you’re no longer working or studying, you can
- apply to change your status to visitor, as long as your study or work permit has not expired
- find out how to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor
- For more information, see Guide 5551 – Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada – Online application.
- If you want to continue working or studying, you may be able to extend your work permit or study permit if you’re eligible.
When you apply, make sure you include a note explaining why you need to extend your stay in Canada.
If your visitor, study or work status has expired
If it’s been less than 90 days since your status expired
You can apply to restore your status.
To restore your status, use the document checklist and guide for extending your stay as a:
When you apply, make sure to:
- Select Restore my status under section 3 at the top of the form.
- Include a note explaining the reason you need to extend your stay.
- Include the restoration fee.
If your temporary resident status is restored, you’ll get a visitor record or appropriate permit. Your record or permit will outline the conditions of your stay in Canada.
Your temporary resident status in Canada will be extended until a specified date.
If it has been more than 90 days since your status expired
You may be eligible to apply for a temporary resident permit and remain in Canada with legal status.
When you apply, make sure you include a note explaining the reason you need to extend your stay.
Apply for a temporary resident permit
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