Prohibition of Entry for Individuals Travelling to Canada by Air and Marine (Other than from the U.S.)
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: SPB/CBSA
Proposed Response:
- As of March 22, (as signed until June 30), travel to Canada by air and marine modes is prohibited for all foreign nationals, unless they are exempt and not entering for an optional or discretionary purpose.
- There are a number of exemptions, including (but not exclusive to):
- Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
- Airline or marine crew members;
- Persons that have a valid work or study permit or for whom an application to work or study has been approved;
- Persons invited by the Minister of Health that will assist with the COVID-19 response; and
- International-to-International travel through Canada (arriving and departing from the same Canadian airport within 24 hours).
- Notwithstanding the exemptions, all foreign nationals are prohibited from entering if they display a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties. In addition, their purpose of travel must be essential and/ or non-discretionary.
Background:
On March 13, 2020, the Government of Canada issued an official global travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel abroad. In an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, many governments implemented special entry and exit and movement restrictions for their territories. As a result, the Government of Canada advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.
To further complement these measures, Transport Canada implemented new measures pertaining to cruise ships in Canadian waters: deferring the start of the cruise ship season in Canada, from April 2, 2020, to July 1, 2020, at the earliest. This deferral will apply to cruise ships capable of carrying more than 500 passengers and crew members. Also, given the limited public health capacity in Canada’s Northern communities, the cruise ship season for vessels with Canadian Arctic stops will be deferred for the entire season this year.
Restrictions for Individuals Travelling to Canada by Air and Marine
On March 22, an order came into force restricting travel of foreign nationals to Canada by air and marine from any country other than the U.S.. This restriction does not apply to a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act, nor a protected person as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Specified exemptions exist for persons seeking entry for purposes that are not optional or discretionary. Despite these exemptions, persons that exhibit signs and symptoms of a fever and cough or a fever and breathing difficulties, are prohibited from boarding a flight, and entry to, Canada.
Exemptions
Provided a person is not symptomatic and not travelling for an optional or discretionary purpose, exemptions to this prohibition include:
- Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
- A person who is authorized, in writing, by a consular officer of the Government of Canada to enter Canada for the purpose of reuniting immediate family members;
- Crew members or those that seek entry to become a member of a crew
- Accredited diplomats and immediate family members, including representative from the United Nations and international organizations for which Canada is part of;
- Foreign nationals travelling at the invitation of the Canadian government for the purpose of assisting in the COVID-19 response;
- Persons who arrive by means of an aircraft operated by the Canadian Forces or the Department of National Defence;
- Members of the Canadian forces or a visiting force as defined in the Visiting Forces Act, including their immediate family members
- French citizens who reside in St. Pierre and Miquelon (SPM) who has only been in SPM, the US or Canada during the period of 14 days before the day on which they arrived in Canada;
- Persons or any class of persons who, in the opinion of Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer do not pose a risk of significant harm to the public health, or will provide essential service while in Canada;
- Persons whose presence in Canada is in the national interest, based on an opinion by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration or Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness;.
- A person who arrives by a vessel that departed before 00:00:01am Eastern daylight time on March 21, 2020 and had a scheduled destination in Canada upon its departure;
- A holder of a valid work or study permit; A person whose application for a work or study permit has been approved but for whom the permit has not yet been issued;
- A person who will work in providing emergency services, including medical services for protection or preservation of life or property;
- A licenced health care profession with proof of employment in Canada
- A person that will be delivering, maintaining or repairing medically necessary equipment or devices;
- A person making medical deliveries of cells, blood and blood products, tissues organs or other body parts for patient care in Canada;
- A person whose application for permanent residence in Canada was approved and received written notice of the approval before noon (eastern daylight time) on March 18, 2020; and
- A marine transportation worker who is essential for movement of goods by vessel
International-to-International (ITI) Transit
ITI transit is allowed with some restrictions including remaining airside, not formally entering into Canada, and arriving and departing from the same Canadian airport within 24 hours. Should one of these ITI travellers have to enter into Canada through no fault of their own (e.g., onward border closures or flight cancellations), the Minister of Foreign Affairs has issued a letter of national interest to enable their temporary admission provided that they immediately self-isolate while waiting for their onward flight and report any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to the Public Health Agency of Canada. These travellers are bound by the same rules as any other person entering Canada, except that their self-isolation order can be for a short duration and end when they leave Canada, provided they are asymptomatic.
This approach promotes the Government’s positive bilateral relations around the world and promotes enhanced cooperation during this crisis through reciprocal boarding on government supported repatriation flights to help Canadians come home, and foreign nationals return to their home country
Notwithstanding the exemptions, all foreign nationals are prohibited from entering if they display a fever and cough, or a fever and breathing difficulties.
In regards to the Canada-U.S. border, both governments agreed to temporarily restrict discretionary or non-essential travel across the border on March 18, 2020. An order came into effect on March 22, 2020, and as a result, travellers continue to not be permitted to cross the border from the U.S. to Canada for tourism, recreation and entertainment. The two governments also agreed that non-discretionary or essential travel will continue, and recognized that it is critical to preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.
Contacts:
Approved by: Kathy Thompson, Vice-President, Strategic Policy Branch, [REDACTED]
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