The Canadian Prime Minister announced travel restrictions as a safety measure to prevent the spread of Corona virus. However the restrictions are exempted if you are a Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada, Temporary foreign worker, International students with study permit, and approved Permanent resident who haven’t yet landed in Canada.
As a safety measure, you need to pass a health check conducted by Airlines, while travelling by air. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
On your arrival in Canada you need to pass a health check before you leave the port of entry, and it is mandatory to isolate yourself for 14 days even if you have no symptoms of COVID-19.
Despite all the restrictions Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is processing immigration applications to avoid any possible delay. However you can expect some delay, since the IRCC is operating with limited staff. Let’s take a look at how these restrictions are affecting Permanent Residents, workers, students, visitors and immigration applicants.
Permanent Residents
With the restrictions in place, Permanent residents are allowed to travel to Canada, however one must isolate or 14 days despite having no symptoms of Corona virus.
Permanent Residency applicants whose application is approved before March 18, 2020 are also exempted from travel restrictions and can enter Canada and the Landing appointments will be held by telephone, however as a mandatory rule one must isolate for 14 days despite having no symptoms of Coronavirus.
As a Permanent Resident, your immediate family members are also exempted from travel restrictions and must follow the 14 day isolation measures on arrival.
New application for permanent Residency will be processed by IRCC; however files with missing documents will be retained and reviewed within 90 days.
Workers
The Canadian Prime minister imposed a travel ban on March 18, 2020; however work permit holders can still travel to Canada as long as they are not showing any symptoms of Coronavirus, but must follow the mandatory rule of self -isolation. The Truck drives are exempted from the self-isolation rule, since they regularly cross Canada-U.S. border to maintain the flow of goods. Workers from Agricultural sector, food processing, health and emergency services are also exempted from the travel restrictions. The employment duration of Temporary Foreign worker low wage stream will be increased from one to two years. It is advised to carry valid work permit or letter of induction from IRCC to identify themselves before boarding.
International Students
International students with approved study permit or who were enrolled and accepted at a Designated Educational Institution of Canada before March 18, 2020 are exempted from Travel restrictions. These students must furnish the valid study permit or letter of Induction before boarding and must self-isolate for 14 days once they arrive in Canada.
Visitors
The travel restrictions are exempted if you fall under below category:
●Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act.
●Protected person
●Medical professional invited by Canadian Government to contain COVID-19
●Immediate family member of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident.
The immediate family member must prove that his/her visit to Canada is for essential reasons.
Why Immigrants are necessary for Canada despite Coronavirus crisis?
It was just couple of months when Canada made an announcement of inviting over one million immigrants over the next three years, but with the outbreak of Coronavirus, Canada just like other countries appears to face economic and social turmoil.
Canada has always strengthened its economy with flexible immigration policies. This is due to its ageing population that would reach the retirement age by the end of this decade. Since Canada has a low birth rate, the economic and labor growth is mainly driven immigration.
In the current scenario immigrants arriving in Canada may face some difficulties, but will soon enjoy the unlimited employment opportunities once the ageing population leaves the workforce.
Hence, it makes absolute sense to admit that immigrants are necessary for Canada despite Coronavirus crisis.