1. Entry Restrictions

Most foreign nationals currently cannot enter Canada, even if they have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA), except for the following:

• Canadian citizens
• Permanent residents of Canada
• Immediate Family Members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents staying in Canada for 15 days or more
• Extended Family Members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents staying in Canada for 15 days or more
• Travelers coming to Canada for compassionate reasons
  • being present during the final moments of life for 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
• Travelers coming to Canada from the US for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose
• Travelers coming to Canada from outside the US who are exempt from the travel restrictions and for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose:
  • Temporary foreign workers
    • Holding a work permit and normally residing in Canada
    • Holding a work permit approval letter (open or employer-specific), a valid job offer and can commence work after arrival in Canada and completing the quarantine period
    • Work Permit exempt travel is possible only for the following groups:
      • Those who deliver, maintain or repair medical equipment or devices
      • emergency service providers
      • technicians or specialists installing, inspecting, repairing or maintaining equipment to support critical infrastructure
  • Certain international students
    • Holding a valid study permit OR a study permit approval letter; and
    • Attending a designated learning institution with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan
  • Certain travelers approved to become a permanent resident but who are not yet permanent residents, including:
    • If their PR application was approved prior to 18 March 2020; or
    • If their application was approved after 18 March 2020 and
      • They are an immediate family member sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; or
      • They are currently residing in the United States and will be coming to Canada directly from the United States
  • Immediate family members with written authorization from IRCC to reunite with a temporary resident (e.g. worker, etc.) in Canada
  • Passengers in transit (must remain in the secure transit area of a Canadian airport to complete their connection)

Foreign nationals arriving in Canada by air, land or sea and who display COVID-19 symptoms will be refused entry.

As of 21 November 2020, all  travelers must use the ArriveCAN app before checking in at the airport or crossing the border to submit their 1) travel and contact information; 2) their quarantine plan; and 3) their COVID-19 symptom self-assessment.

2. Quarantine/Self-Isolation Requirements

All travelers arriving in Canada are required to quarantine for a period of 14 days, provide contact and monito themselves for signs and symptoms. Only travelers who provide essential services are exempt from the quarantine requirements, for example:

• Technicians or specialists specified by a government, manufacturer, or company, who enter Canada as required for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, installing or inspecting equipment necessary to support critical infrastructure (Energy and Utilities, Information and Communication Technologies, Finance, Health, Food, Water, Transportation, Safety, Government and Manufacturing) and are required to provide their services within 14 days of their entry to Canada and have reasonable rationales for the immediacy of the work and the inability to plan for a 14 day quarantine;
• Persons who must cross the border regularlyto go to their normal place of employment, including critical infrastructure workers;
• Persons in the trade or transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods or people, including truck drivers and crew members on any aircraft, shipping vessel or train, and that cross the border while performing their duties or for the purpose of performing their duties

At the time of arrival, a detailed quarantine plan has to be presented to the border officials, including the following:

• Details on the residence where the quarantine period will be completed;
• Details of transportation and logistics during the quarantine:
  • How travelers will get to their destination
  • How travelers will get their groceries
  • How travelers will access essential services and medical care

The quarantine plan is mandatory, even for travelers with no symptoms. Travelers arriving in Canada without a quarantine plan may be refused entry.

Travelers have to report the following through the ArriveCAN app while in quarantine:

• Their arrival at their place of quarantine within 48 hours after entering Canada
• Their COVID-19 symptom self-assessment every day until the end of your quarantine

Travelers who fail to abide by the quarantine protocol/plan while in Canada are subject to the following penalties: 

• a fine of up to CAD$750,000
• 6 months of jail time
• being found inadmissible, removed from Canada and banned from entering for 1 year

Travelers may be contacted by the Canadian authorities (from 1-888-336-7735) to verify their compliance during their 14-day quarantine period.

Please note that this page is updated on an ongoing basis, but COVID-19 related restrictions and policies are subject to frequent and sudden change, often with little to no advance notice to the public. Therefore, to ensure that you have the latest updates, we recommend that you reach out to T&S at americas@tandslaw.com for additional information.