Canadian Travel Restrictions Extended Until October 31

Canada has once again extended travel restrictions to foreign travelers as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.

A new Canadian government Order in Council announced that COVID-19 travel restrictions will be extended until October 31, 2020.

Initially, Canada closed its borders from March 18 to June 30. Since then travel restrictions have always been extended over on a month-by-month basis.

The border is closed to foreign travelers who are visiting Canada for a non-essential reason such as tourism, recreation, or entertainment.

Some people are exempted from travel restrictions, such as:

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• certain people who have been approved for permanent residence;
• some certain temporary foreign workers;
• some certain international students;
• certain protected persons;
• close family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• or any individual who falls under the exemptions listed on the government’s website page.

Everyone who crosses the Canadian border must still quarantine for at least fourteen (14) days. The only exemptions to the compulsory quarantine requirements are:

• crewmembers;
• people invited by the health minister to assist with the coronavirus cases, and other healthcare workers;
• members of visiting forces (either armed or paramilitary) who are coming to work;
• individuals coming to receive medical services within thirty-six (36) hours of their arrival;
• and other circumstances listed in the Order in Council.

Canada has a separate order put into place that also limits cross-border travel between it and the United States. since March. This restriction was also extended again earlier this month.

The decision to extend Canada’s travel restrictions didn’t come as a surprise, with the rising of COVID-19 cases in Canada and abroad.

Canada was able to successfully decrease and delay the pandemic peak from late May until August.

However, more coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing since late August.

Canada’s biggest provinces, Ontario and Quebec, have announced stern measures in recent weeks to try and reduce the significantly higher levels of coronavirus cases they have encountered over the past month.

Canada is still rolling out new permanent residence invitations throughout the pandemic.

These invitations are being granted to people currently in Canada as well as those abroad, although the number of people completing their permanent residence landing in Canada has significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the travel restrictions rule states that only those who received their permanent residence approval before March 18 are currently allowed to travel to Canada.

As such, Canada’s current Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws are meant to facilitate the coming of immigrants in support of Canada’s economy recovery after the pandemic.

In a speech last week, the government of Canada stated it plans to continue to welcome global talents to drive the country’s economic growth.

Two major events in October will provide more perspectives on the Canadian government’s immigration plans following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada’s immigration minister Marco Mendicino made a series of announcements throughout the pandemic indicating that immigration will be “key” to Canada’s economic recovery.