COVID-19 Travel Related Questions

 New travel advisories were announced March 16, March 18 and March 25

 

 U.S. - Canada joint initiative: Temporary restriction of travelers crossing the U.S.-Canada border for non-essential purposes


Domestic Travel within Canada

  •  https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/03/government-of-canada-announces-new-domestic-transportation-measures.html 
  • Air
    • A requirement for all air operators to conduct a health check of travellers before they board a flight within Canada or departing from Canada, based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada. This would include asking health questions, looking for visible signs of illness prior to boarding, and recommending the traveller follow guidance from local health authorities.
    • A requirement for air operators to refuse boarding to a passenger that presents COVID-19 symptoms. The denial will remain in effect for a period of 14 days, or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms that the traveller’s symptoms are not related to COVID-19. These measures will apply to aircraft with 10 seats or more.
    • A requirement for air operators to notify travellers that they may be subject to provincial or territorial measures at their final destination.
  •   Rail 
    • A requirement for intercity passenger rail companies to do a health check to screen passengers for COVID-19 symptoms before they board a train, based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada. This will include company representatives asking simple health questions, looking for visible signs of illness prior to boarding, and recommending the passenger follow guidance from local health authorities. 
    • A requirement for intercity passenger rail companies to refuse boarding to a passenger that presents COVID-19 symptoms. The denial will remain in effect for a period of 14 days, or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms that the traveller’s symptoms are not related to COVID-19.
    • These measures do not apply to commuter trains.
  • More information: 


Financial Assistance for Canadians outside Canada


 Returning Canadians


 Should I be cancelling my travel plans because of COVID-19?

 

Cruise Ships

  • The Government of Canada is monitoring Cruise Ships closely. 
  • The Cruise Ship’s hosting Canadians all have plans to dock in the coming days
  • Canadians abroad ships should listen to the direction of the Captain and Crew
  • Reassure families and friends of passengers that the Government is aware of the Cruise ship and that they are working to ensure the health and safety of all Canadians
  • All Canadians abroad must register online with Global Affairs Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration AND Email sos@international.gc.ca or call +1 613-996-8885
  •  The Government of Canada is advising that Canadians avoid all travel on cruise ships due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, until further notice. 

 

I am currently outside of Canada. Should I be returning home to Canada earlier than planned? 

  • https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories 
  • Official Global Travel Advisory
  • Avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada and all cruise ship travel until further notice.
  • Canadians abroad should return home immediately.
  •  Returning travellers must:
    • follow mandatory 14-day self-isolation requirements and monitor for symptoms
    • check recent domestic and international flights for confirmed cases (info updated as cases are confirmed)

This advisory overrides all other risk levels, with the exception of areas for which we advise to avoid all travel (including regional advisories). The avoid all travel advisories remain valid. 


 Either me or my family member is outside of Canada and is affected by travel bans. What should we do?

  • Canadians travelling outside of Canada in need of emergency consular assistance can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613 996 8885 or email sos@international.gc.ca.


Visitors to Canada

  •  https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ivc-rnc-eng.html 
  •  Travel for the purpose of obtaining immigration services is non-essential. If you are in Canada, and are seeking to travel to the border in order to make an application for a work permit, study permit or permanent residence, you are asked to consider federal and provincial guidelines for self-isolation and social distancing. Do not travel to the border for these services until further notice. 
  • If you are currently in Canada as a visitor, student or worker, you can apply online to IRCC to extend your temporary resident status. By doing so, you can continue to stay, study or work in Canada while your application is being processed. This is referred to as implied status, and as long as you apply before your current document expires, your current immigration authorizations and conditions remain unchanged.  In-Canada services are available through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 

 

Visitor Visa/Study Permit/Work Permit 

  • New applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online 
  • At this time, if you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit, apply online.
  • Due to service disruptions related to COVID-19, we are experiencing difficulties receiving and processing applications submitted by mail or in person at a VAC. Temporary foreign workers, approved PR and students
  • Temporary foreign workers, some international students and approved permanent residents who haven’t yet landed are now able to enter Canada. 
  • The travel restriction exemptions that were announced are now in place. If you’re exempt, you can now travel to Canada.
  • If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
  • When you arrive in Canada we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must isolate for 14 days even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
  • Only people who provide essential services and truck drivers who regularly cross the border to maintain the flow of goods are exempt from the isolation requirements.
  • More information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html


New measures for  commercial passenger vessels and ferries 

  •  https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/04/the-government-of-canada-announces-new-measures-for-ferries-and-commercial-passenger-vessels-capable-of-carrying-more-than-12-passengers.html 
  •  As of April 6, the new measures with mandatory requirements:
    • Prohibit all commercial marine vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers from engaging in non-essential activities, such as tourism or recreation.
    • These measures will remain in place until at least June 30.
  • Prevent any Canadian cruise ship from mooring, navigating, or transiting in Canadian Arctic waters (including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast).
    • Should any foreign passenger vessel seek to enter Arctic waters, they would need to give the Minister of Transport 60 days’ notice and be subject to any conditions the Minister determines necessary to ensure the protection of marine personnel and local communities.
    • These measures will remain in place until October 31, 2020.
  • Require ferries and essential passenger vessel operators to:
    • Immediately reduce by 50% the maximum number of passengers that may be carried on board (conduct half-load voyages) to support the two-metre physical distancing rule; or
    • Implement alternative practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 (consistent with Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines) among passengers on board their vessels, such as keeping people in their vehicles, when feasible or enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures.
  • In addition to these measures, Transport Canada is issuing guidelines to ferry operators respecting health screening for all passengers before boarding to better protect their employees and passengers. These guidelines are based on advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
  • The new measures preventing vessel activity do not apply to:
    • essential passenger vessels such as ferries, water taxis, and medical-use vessels;
    • cargo vessels, barges, work boats, fishing vessels and other commercial vessels who operate to support resupply operations and the movement of goods through Canada’s supply chain;
    • Canadian commercial passenger vessels, without passengers, moving for repairs or repositioning;
    • Canadian commercial passenger vessels that are not in service; and
    • pleasure craft (e.g. non-commercial vessels).

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