Constraints on non-essential travel to Canada will continue for one more month

Canada is turning over travel restrictions until November 30.

On the same day of announcing its historic Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023, Canada issued a new order in Council to extend travel restrictions that have endured since March.

Earlier today, Canada announced that it aims to allow 401,000 immigrants to begin its ambitious immigration status program next year in its history.

The intention is to decrease the number of migrants to Canada due to the global coronavirus outbreak.

This is now the fifth time Canada is stretching border closings since they were first closed from March 18 to June 30. Since then, travel restrictions have been extended every month.

The border is closed to foreign travelers coming to Canada for non-essential purposes such as entertainment, tourism, or leisure.

Some are exempt from travel restrictions:

1. Canadian citizens (including dual citizens) or permanent residents
2. Some people who have been approved for Canadian permanent residence
3. Some temporary foreign workers
4. Some international students
5. Protected persons
6. Immediate family members of Canadians
7. Extended family members of Canadians
8. People who come to Canada for compassionate reasons
9. Anyone else who falls under the Web Government web page’s exemptions

Earlier this month, Canada loosened travel restrictions on students and extended family members.

The federal government allows people to come to Canada for compassionate purposes, like:

1. To be present at the last moments of life for the loved one
2. To provide support and care for someone who is seriously ill
3. To provide medical assistance to someone in need
4. To attend a funeral or at the end of a life ceremony

These compassionate travelers can apply for a pause from compulsory isolation.

Before coming to Canada, they can fill out an application to receive a limited release from isolation within 14 days.

They can use this moment to say goodbye to loved ones.

Other Exceptions to the Compulsory 14 Day Isolation Requirement:

1. Team members
2. People and other health workers invited by the Minister of Health to assist in responding to COVID-19
3. Working Members of the visiting forces
4. People who come to receive medical services within 36 hours of arrival
5. Transborder crossing in a trans-border community;
6. People passing into Canada aboard a “ship” for research, as long as they stay on the ship; and
7. Other circumstances are listed in the new order in Council.

In all cases, Canadian border service officials have the final say on who enters the country.

Canada has a separate order, which has been in force in the U.S. since March. The order was extended for the seventh time earlier this month.

Travel restrictions have significantly reduced immigration to Canada. Canada aims to welcome 341,000 migrants this year but is on track to welcome 200,000 or less due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.

To make up for it, Canada has announced that it will significantly raise targets for 401,000 new permanent residents by 2021. The country aims to welcome more than 1.2 million immigrants over the next three years, as outlined under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023, to support post-COVID economic recovery.