Non-optional and non-discretionary travel: COVID-19 program delivery

Air travel and border measures have been implemented to protect the health and safety of Canadians by restricting optional and discretionary international travel. These instructions describe IRCC’s role in supporting the administration of these measures and provide guidance on how to assess non-optional and non-discretionary travel.

Restrictions overview

Restrictions vary depending on the foreign national’s point of departure. However, any COVID-19-symptomatic travellers will not be permitted to enter Canada.

Foreign nationals seeking to travel to Canada from any country other than the United States while the travel restrictions are in place need to satisfy government officials that

they are covered by an exemption in the Orders (consult: Travel restriction exemptions for those Departing from a country other than the U.S.), and
they are travelling for a non-optional or non-discretionary purpose

Foreign nationals seeking to travel to Canada from the United States while the travel restrictions are in place need to satisfy government officials that

they are travelling for a non-optional or non-discretionary purpose

For more information on travel restrictions affecting foreign nationals, consult:

Travel restriction measures: COVID-19 program delivery

Examples of travel for a non-optional or non-discretionary purpose

The exemptions under the Orders do not apply to foreign nationals travelling for optional or discretionary purposes. The onus is on the foreign national to demonstrate the purpose of their travel.

Family members

Immediate family members (as defined in the Orders in Council) of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada will be deemed to be travelling for a non-discretionary or non–optional purpose if the travel is for 15 days or more and they are travelling with or to be with their Canadian citizen or permanent resident family member. If the foreign national is travelling for less than 15 days, they must be travelling for a non-discretionary, non-optional purpose. Officers should be flexible when processing immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada travelling for less than 15 days, if they are travelling for a non-discretionary or non-optional purpose.

Extended family members of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada will be deemed to be travelling for a non-discretionary or non-optional purpose if the travel is for 15 days or more and they are travelling with or to be with their Canadian citizen or permanent resident family member. If the travel is for less than 15 days, extended family members will need to provide a statutory declaration and obtain written authorization from IRCC to be eligible to travel to Canada as part of this exemption.

Immediate family members of temporary residents in Canada will still be required to provide evidence that their travel is non-optional or non-discretionary. For these immediate family members seeking to travel to Canada from any country other than the United States, an authorization letter issued by IRCC is required. This letter, issued for the purposes of reuniting immediate family members, should be sufficient evidence that travel is non-discretionary, as letters are only issued by IRCC when travel is for a non-discretionary purpose. In cases where new or conflicting information is provided at boarding or at the port of entry (POE), border services officers may utilize their discretion as always. IRCC officers will insert comprehensive notes in the Global Case Management System which will outline their rationale for issuing the authorization letter. If information comes to light for a Canada Boarder Services Agency liaison officer or border services officer that contradicts the original purpose of travel, the traveller may be denied travel to or entry to Canada.

Examples of other non-optional or non-discretionary travel:

supporting Indigenous communities
transiting through Canada for non-optional or non-discretionary purposes
any other activities that are deemed non-optional or non-discretionary by the Government of Canada or based on an officer’s assessment
foreign national coming to assist with the birth of their own child to another foreign national with temporary resident status

Temporary workers

The following are examples of non-optional or non-discretionary travel for temporary workers who hold a valid work permit or received a letter of introduction from IRCC on their work permit application and are seeking entry at a Canadian POE:

A foreign national has a valid work permit and ordinarily resides in Canada. Whether the foreign national’s employment still exists or they are currently laid off is not determinative in this case. What is determinative is that the foreign national’s primary residence is in Canada (suggesting their travel is not optional).
A foreign national has a letter of introduction for an open work permit, holds a valid job offer and will be able to work once they enter Canada.
A foreign national has a letter of introduction for an employer-specific work permit, holds a valid job offer and will be able to work once they enter Canada.

For more information, consult Work permit: COVID-19 program delivery.

Exemptions from the requirement to have a non-discretionary or non-optional purpose of travel

The requirement to travel for a non-discretionary or non-optional purpose does not apply to the following travel restriction exemptions:

compassionate grounds
immediate family members or extended family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents intending to enter Canada for more than 15 days

For more information, consult Travel restriction measures: COVID-19 program delivery.

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