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

Air travel and border measures were 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 when applicable.

On this page

• Fully vaccinated foreign nationals
• Family members
• Temporary workers

The travel restrictions continue to prohibit discretionary travel from foreign nationals who do not meet a travel restrictions exemption as outlined in the Orders in Council (OIC). The onus is on the foreign national to demonstrate the purpose of their travel, and if required, provide proof that they are travelling for a non-discretionary purpose or that they meet one of the travel restriction exemptions.

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals

All foreign nationals, regardless of country of residence are not required to be travelling for a non-discretionary or non-optional purpose if they have proof that they are fully vaccinated with a Health Canada approved vaccine. This includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents who reside in the U.S.

Family members

Immediate family members (as defined in the Orders in Council) of a Canadian citizen, a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act or a permanent resident of Canada do not need to be travelling for a non-discretionary purpose if they intend to stay in Canada for a period of 15 days or more, and are travelling with or to be with their Canadian citizen, person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act or permanent resident family member. If the foreign national is travelling for less than 15 days, they must demonstrate that their travel is non-discretionary or non-optional purpose. Officers should be flexible when processing immediate family members of Canadian citizens, persons registered as Indians 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, a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act or a permanent resident of Canada do not need to be travelling for a non-discretionary purpose if the travel is for 15 days or more and they are travelling with or to be with their Canadian citizen, person registered as an Indian or permanent resident family member. If the travel is for less than 15 days, extended family members will need to demonstrate that their travel is non-discretionary or non-optional.

Regardless of their length of stay, all foreign nationals seeking an exemption under this extended family member provision are required to provide a statutory declaration and obtain written authorization from IRCC to be eligible to travel to Canada.

Immediate family members of temporary residents in Canada are required to provide evidence that their travel is non-optional or non-discretionary regardless of their length of stay. For these immediate family members seeking to travel to Canada from the United States, no authorization letter is required. For these immediate family members seeking to travel 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 Border Services Agency (CBSA) 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 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.

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

Learn More

• COVID-19 – Program delivery instructions