New Canada U.S. Border Ban Exemptions
On June 8th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents will be allowed to enter the country as of June 9, 2020. Many families have been separated on opposite sides of the Canada U.S. border since the March border closure on March 21st. This limited exemption will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to come to Canada.
The immediate family exemption does not mean the border will now be open to weekend travelers, or those seeking just to attend a personal or social gathering. The purpose of this measure is not to allow people to come and go into Canada whenever they like, but rather to help Canadian families reunite during this unprecedented time.
The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. The Government recognizes however that the temporary border measures put in place to fight the spread of COVID-19, while necessary, have created challenges for some families. The Government has therefore been looking at ways to keep families together and support unity while respecting the need for continued vigilance and border measures at this time.
The loosening of the border restrictions, however, is only in very limited circumstances and applies only to foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and who do not have COVID-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
Immediate family members are strictly defined as:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- A dependent child
- A parent or stepparent or the parent or stepparent of the person’s spouse or common-law partner
- A guardian or tutor
Furthermore, visits with immediate family members must be for a period of at least 15 days and visitors admitted into Canada based on the new exemption must still quarantine for 14 days. All those who have Covid-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of the coronavirus continue to remain prohibited from entering Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency website also notes that “The immediate family member will need to confirm that they have a suitable place to quarantine for 14 days where they will have access to basic necessities such as food and medication and not have contact with vulnerable people. Travelers will be expected to make plans for where they will quarantine in advance of arriving to Canada.
The Canada-U.S. border remains closed to all non-essential travel until at least June 21, 2020.