Understanding the rules governing who can and cannot enter Canada can be confusing. In this post you will find everything you need to know about the travel restrictions.
Note that by answering a few questions on this website you can find out whether you can enter Canada.
Whether or not you can enter Canada depends on which category you fit into. If you belong to any of the groups listed below, you may be eligible to enter Canada.
Persons who can automatically enter Canada
If you fall under this category, you can enter Canada.
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and persons who have been granted refugee status can automatically enter Canada.
- Immediate family members of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and persons who have been granted refugee status who are either (a) travelling to Canada for 15 days or longer, or (b) travelling to Canada for a non-discretionary and non-optional purpose can automatically enter Canada.
- Immediate family members include:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Note that if the relationship does not meet the definition of common law spouses, the individual may still be able to enter Canada as a long-term partner, which is considered an extended family member and falls under the category of people who need to apply to enter Canada (see below)
- Dependent children of the person or their spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children of a dependent child
- Parents or step-parents
- Parents or step-parents of the spouse or common-law partner
- Guardians or tutors (i.e., individuals who are responsible for caring for a foreign national minor for an extended period of time)
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Immediate family members must show proof of their relationship such as:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Proof of common law status (e.g., document showing shared address)
- Immediate family members include:
Persons who need to apply to enter Canada
If you fall under this category, you must obtain written authorization from IRCC which will be given if the officer is satisfied that your reason for travelling to Canada is non-optional and non-discretionary.
- Foreign nationals who are extended family members of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, person registered under the Indian Act, or a person who has been granted refugee status must obtain written authorization from IRCC by demonstrating that their reason for travelling to Canada is non-optional and non-discretionary.
- Extended family members include:
- Long term partners (i.e., individuals who are 18 years of older and are in exclusive dating relationships with Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, or persons who have been granted refugee status for at least one year and have spent time together with the person physically)
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents of the person or spouse or common law partner
- Dependent children of the person in the exclusive dating relationship
- Siblings, half siblings or step-siblings of the person or their partner
- Extended family members include:
- Foreign nationals whose travel to Canada is for the purpose of reuniting immediate family members, even if their family member in Canada is only in Canada temporarily (e.g., a worker, visitor, or student) must obtain written authorization from IRCC by demonstrating that their reason for travelling to Canada is non-optional and non-discretionary
- Foreign nationals who are travelling to Canada for on compassionate grounds must submit a request to the Public Health Agency of Canada to receive authorization to travel to Canada for one of the following reasons:
- To attend the death of or provide support to someone in Canada who is deemed critically ill by a health care professional
- To provide care for someone in Canada who is deemed to require support by a health care professional
- To attend the funeral of a person who resided in Canada
Persons entering Canada from the United States
- Those entering Canada from the United States do not need to establish that they fall under one of the exemptions above. They need only demonstrate that they are travelling for a non-optional and non-discretionary purpose.
Persons entering Canada from India and Pakistan
- On 22 April 2021, the Government of Canada suspended all direct flights from India and Pakistan. This means that persons travelling to Canada from India and Pakistan via an indirect route will need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test from the third country before continuing to Canada.
