Notice for Permanent Residence applicants currently residing outside Canada (May 04, 2020)

A communication from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

Notice for Permanent Residence applicants currently residing outside Canada.

This information concerns candidates who are living outside Canada, whose PR application was approved, and has a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR).

Note: Please disregard this message if you are already in Canada.

We are happy to congratulate candidates on the successful obtainment of immigration visas to Canada. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has disrupted life around the globe. Borders are closed and travel restrictions are in full effect as of March 18, 2020, to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of Canadians. There were further updates with regard to the exemptions to travel restrictions on March 20, 2020.

Find out if the travel restrictions apply to you:

• Candidates are allowed to travel to Canada if your application for Permanent Residency has been approved BEFORE or ON March 18, 2020.
• It is not advisable for those candidates whose PR applications were approved after March 18, 2020, to make any plans to travel to Canada until the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.
• Candidates must use the issued date on their CoPR in order to know if their applications were approved before or on March 18, 2020. Candidates and accompanying family members are encouraged to land in Canada at the same time.

Public health measures to be followed by any traveler planning to land in Canada in the coming days.

• Candidates traveling by air will need to pass a health check before they are allowed to board their flight. Any travelers showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be permitted to travel to Canada. It is advisable to delay travel plans.

• At the airport, again a border services officer will assess travelers’ health whether they are flying to Canada or have traveled by land.

• Once in Canada, travelers will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days even if they are asymptomatic.

Note:

1. Maximum penalties include a fine of up to $750,000 or imprisonment for six months, or both, for failure to comply with this Order.
2. A person who causes a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person while willfully or recklessly contravening the Quarantine Act or the regulations could be liable for a fine of up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

Please see New Order Makes Self-Isolation Mandatory for Individuals Entering Canada

• Every traveler will need to confirm in advance of arriving in Canada that they have a suitable place to isolate or quarantine, where they will have access to basic necessities, such as food and medication. Travelers will be asked to show their plan to border officials. Those travelers who do not have an appropriate place in which to isolate should not travel until they have one.

Expiry of CoPR date before traveling to Canada

• Candidates who have not already done so should contact us to let us know if they are not able to travel to Canada before their CoPR expires.
• Candidates may not get an immediate response to their inquiries indicating the next steps, but we are reviewing all inquiries. IRCC is working hard to determine the next steps for clients in this situation. We’re not sure yet when updates or instructions on this will become available, but we will make sure that they are communicated as soon as the next steps are decided on.

Please also continue to regularly check on the COVID-19 webpage for updates.

Thank you for your patience during these exceptional circumstances.