From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Last updated: April 16, 2020
On this page:
- Will I be allowed to re-enter Canada if I’m a permanent resident?
- Are my family members allowed to come to Canada?
- Can I still get settlement services?
- If you applied for Canadian citizenship
- COVID-19 information in multiple languages
Will I be allowed to re-enter Canada if I’m a permanent resident?
Yes. If you’re a landed permanent resident and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you’re allowed to travel to Canada. You must quarantine for 14 days when you arrive even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, you will not be allowed to enter Canada by air. You can still enter at a land border and must quarantine for 14 days when you arrive. This is mandatory.
You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll be quarantined in a facility designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
If you’re travelling
You’ll need a valid permanent resident (PR) card or a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) to return to Canada by commercial vehicle (for example, airplane, bus, train or boat).
You can use other documents to return to Canada in a private vehicle that you own, borrow or rent (for example, a car, truck, motorcycle or recreational vehicle).
How to apply urgently for a PR card
What to do if your PR card expires when you’re outside Canada
If you haven’t landed yet
If we approved your permanent residence application on or before March 18, 2020, but you haven’t landed yet, you’re also exempt from the travel restrictions and allowed to come to Canada. You must quarantine for 14 days when you arrive, even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll be quarantined in a facility designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
Find out what to do for your landing appointment or if you have a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) that’s about to expire.
Are my family members allowed to come to Canada?
As a permanent resident, your immediate family members are exempt from the travel restrictions and allowed to come to Canada.
Your immediate family members must show that they’re coming to Canada for essential reasons and not reasons that are optional or discretionary, such as tourism, recreation or entertainment.
They also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Find out how they can come to Canada as a visitor.
Everyone who comes to Canada must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive.
Can I still get settlement services?
Yes, but only critical resettlement and settlement services. These include
- income support and basic services, if you’re a government-assisted refugee
- setting up medical appointments and helping with interpretation, if you need it
- crisis counselling
Non-critical services may be provided by some organizations by telephone, email or online.
Find settlement services near you.
If you applied for Canadian citizenship
Find out how your Canadian citizenship application is affected by coronavirus (COVID19).
This includes guidance on
- citizenship event cancellations
- submitting your documents
- new citizenship applications
- time you’ve lived in Canada (physical presence)
COVID-19 information in multiple languages
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website has resources in multiple languages to help you understand COVID-19. These include
- factsheets
- videos
- recordings
- infographics
You can find the languages of each resource under its description.
