Temporary foreign workers, some international students and approved permanent residents who haven’t yet landed are now able to enter Canada.
The travel restriction exemptions that were announced are now in place. If you’re exempt, you can now travel to Canada.
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 Canadian authority will 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.
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.

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 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.

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.

If you are already 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:

• visitor
• student
• worker

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.