Maple News reports that foreign nationals with loved ones in Canada may still be eligible to enter the country, despite ongoing travel restrictions introduced due to COVID-19. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented several exemptions to reunite families while maintaining public health protocols.
For those with immediate family members in Canada who are either citizens or permanent residents, travel is possible if you intend to stay for 15 days or more. Immediate family members include a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, parents or step-parents, and legal guardians or tutors. Shorter visits are allowed only if they are non-discretionary in nature, meaning the reason must be essential and not recreational.
Extended family members such as siblings, grandparents, or adult children may also be eligible to travel, though additional documentation is needed. In these cases, travelers must provide written authorization from the IRCC. This involves submitting a completed and signed statutory declaration form, which must be solemnly declared before a Canadian official. Proof of the family member’s citizenship or permanent resident status is also required.
Those in exclusive dating relationships (of at least one year and an in-person meeting) with Canadian citizens or permanent residents may qualify for entry, as well as their children, provided that the same authorization and documentation requirements are fulfilled.
If your family member in Canada is a temporary resident—such as an international student or foreign worker—you may still be allowed entry, but only if you are an immediate family member and your travel is considered non-discretionary. For example, joining a spouse in Canada would qualify, while visiting for tourism would not. Travelers from countries other than the U.S. must obtain written authorization in these cases.
In all scenarios, travelers must comply with Canada’s public health protocols. This includes presenting a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, undergoing a 14-day quarantine, and having a detailed quarantine plan in place. Air travelers may also be required to stay in a government-authorized hotel for up to three days while awaiting test results—at their own expense.
These measures reflect Canada’s cautious yet compassionate approach to reuniting families during the ongoing pandemic. Maple News will continue to provide updates on changes to travel and immigration policies as they emerge.