The travel exemption for immediate family members no longer exists
On January 12, Parsai Immigration talked about the changes that Canada would make to travel restrictions for immediate family members. Furthermore, this week, the government of Canada confirmed that the exemption for immediate family members of temporary residents no longer exists.
As of January 15, 2022, all foreign nationals must be fully vaccinated to enter Canada. In fact, Canada has also limited travel restriction exemptions “to a small proportion of IRCC’s clients,” says an update from the government.
Moreover, since January 15, there are just a few notable exemptions for:
- new permanent residents,
- refugees,
- temporary foreign workers in agriculture or food-processing occupations,
- asylum claimants,
- and also some minors under the age of 18.
Of course, these foreign nationals must continue to meet all travel document requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
Travel restrictions for immediate family members
Some immediate family members who needed to travel to Canada to unite with their families were exempt from some travel restrictions. However, due to the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada adjusted its border measures for this group.
Also, as of January 15, unvaccinated immediate family members may not be able to travel to Canada, even if they:
- have a valid visa or eTA, or
- were previously issued a letter by IRCC exempting them from the travel restrictions.
In addition, IRCC no longer pre-adjudicates travel by issuing written authorization for either cohort under the latest orders in council. To find out if you can enter Canada, please visit the following link.
Existing travel restrictions
As of December 15, 2021, Canada’s federal government is advising against all non-essential travel outside Canada due to the Omicron variant. Please note that travel restrictions are still in effect. These also include providing proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding an international flight bound for Canada. Of course, you can visit the Government of Canada website for more details.
Let us help!
If you have general questions about how to enter Canada, fill out the following form. Of course, you can also book an appointment for official advice about travelling to Canada or other immigration subjects. Additionally, you can fill out our free assessment form.
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