Maple News reports that Canada is expanding exemptions for certain foreign workers engaged in critical services, allowing them to work in the country without a traditional work permit or undergoing mandatory quarantine on arrival.
According to updated government guidance, foreign nationals coming to Canada to support essential infrastructure may be eligible to enter with only a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), depending on their country of origin. These individuals may not be required to secure a work permit if they meet specific criteria.
The exemptions also apply to the 14-day quarantine rule and the mandatory three-day stay at a government-authorized hotel, provided the workers are asymptomatic upon arrival. These relaxed requirements aim to facilitate the entry of foreign workers performing urgent and vital work in Canada.
Eligible categories include emergency and healthcare professionals, medical students on clinical placements, marine transportation personnel, and technicians working with critical medical equipment. Additionally, individuals transporting essential medical supplies such as blood, organs, or tissues, or those deemed essential by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), may also benefit from the exemption.
The CPHO has specifically identified technical specialists required to install, inspect, maintain, or repair equipment essential for Canada’s infrastructure. If their work is part of an existing agreement, these workers may qualify as business visitors—a designation that does not require a work permit.
In another key ruling, foreign workers involved in open-water aquaculture activities, such as fish transportation, pest control, and maintenance, are included in this exemption. These workers can enter Canada without facing the 14-day quarantine, provided they are not showing signs of COVID-19.
Eligible workers from visa-required countries must still apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. Meanwhile, those from visa-exempt countries will need to secure an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before travel.
These exemptions underline Canada’s continued efforts to maintain essential services and infrastructure while balancing public health priorities. Maple News will continue to monitor policy updates impacting foreign workers and immigration procedures.