As of 11:59 EDT on June 8, 2020, CBSA announced that immediately family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are entering Canada from a land border, to be with an immediate family member, will be exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada if they are entering for a period of 15 days or more, even if for discretionary reasons. If a foreign national has COVID-19, has reason to believe they have COVID-19, or exhibits any signs of COVID-19, they will be prohibited from entry.

We have yet to receive information on what evidence should be provided to establish an intent to stay over 15 days with their immediate family members who are Canadians or permanent residents

Foreign nationals who are admitted are subject to the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine and must confirm:

1. Where they will quarantine
2. Their access to basic necessities (food and medication)
3. They will not have contact with vulnerable people (those with pre-existing conditions or over 65 years old).
4. If they are in contact with vulnerable people, that person is a consenting adult, or is the parent or minor in a parent-minor relationship
5. Provide their contact information to border services upon entry to support compliance and enforcement of the 14-day quarantine requirement

Travellers are expected to make quarantine plans in advance of arriving in Canada. Foreign nationals who are entering Canada from the U.S., and intend to

Visiting for Less than 14 days? In order to enter, you must:

1. Be Asymptomatic
2. Prove your Entry is non-discretionary / non-optional
3. Be Able to comply with the requirement to self-quarantine

Definition of Family Member

1. spouse or common-law partner;
2. dependent child, or a dependent child of the person’s spouse or common-law partner;
3. dependent child, of a dependent child
4. parent or step-parent or the parent or step-parent of the person’s spouse or common-law partner; or,
5. guardian or tutor

Immediate family members of temporary residents, including students, and those on a temporary work permitted are still prohibited from entering Canada. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are free to enter Canada; however, they are subject to COVID-19 entry screening measures.

Prime Minister Trudeau and President Trump jointly implemented a temporary closure of the Canada-U.S. bordersince March 21, 2020 which was extended until June 21, 2020. The restriction prohibited any entry for non-essential travel, such as shopping, or recreational visits, while keeping it open to commercial traffic and essential workers who cross to work in Canada. The CanadianFederal government has been looking at measures on how to balance family reunification while keeping the borders safe from COVID-19.

The balance now appears to be compassion for separated families versus the need to keep Canada safe from the Pandemic.