Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - Immigration Applicants - Canada - Ca

2/18/2021 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Immigration applicants - Canada.
ca
Canada.ca > Immigration and citizenship > How COVID-19 is affecting IRCC
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

Immigration applicants
 New requirements for travel to Canada
As of February 15, 2021, travellers entering Canada by land must also
provide proof of a valid COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the U.S.
upon arrival at the border. Some travellers, like commercial truckers,
will be exempt from these measures.
Learn more about these requirements.
We recognize that the travel restrictions have an impact on many people

who can’t travel to Canada right now. These restrictions stop most
discretionary travel to Canada.
On this page
If you haven’t applied to immigrate to Canada yet
Permanent residence applications that we’re still processing
To withdraw your application
How financial benefits affect family sponsorship
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html 1/15
2/18/2021 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Immigration applicants - Canada.ca
If we already approved your permanent resident application

Approved permanent resident applicants with expired or expiring
COPR and visa
COVID-19 information in multiple languages
If you haven’t applied to immigrate to Canada

yet
We’re still accepting most permanent resident applications. Unfortunately, our
ability to review and process them is being affected by COVID-19. We can’t
currently estimate any processing times.
We’re currently focusing on priority applications like
Canadians and permanent residents returning to the country

vulnerable groups
work permits for people who perform or support essential services.
We’re trying to process those as quickly as possible.
If you apply, you still need to submit a complete application. This means you
must include all the supporting documents we ask for. If you can’t get some of
these documents right now, you should wait to apply until you can get them.
If you already applied for a document but it’s delayed due to the COVID-19
pandemic, you can send proof that you’re trying to get it (like a receipt). Include
a letter to tell us why you don’t have the document and when you’ll get it. Send
us the document as soon as you have it to avoid more delays.
If you get your language test results or educational credential assessment

report by email or electronically, we’ll accept them as part of your application.
Express Entry applicants

Because of COVID-19, you now have 90 days to submit your Express Entry
application after you’ve received your invitation to apply.
Permanent residence applications that we’re

still processing
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we can’t
process applications normally

provide accurate processing times
We’re prioritizing some applications, including
Canadians trying to return to Canada

vulnerable people
people who perform or support essential services
 Status of Express Entry applications Last updated: 01-19-2021
Canadian experience class

We’re working at full capacity to process applications.
You may experience delays in processing because we have a
backlog of applications due to COVID-19
We started processing applications received the week of August
12, 2020.
Other Express Entry applications
We have limited capacity to process applications and you may
experience delays
We’ll update this when timelines become available.
If you’re missing documents due to COVID-19 (such as police certificates,

biometrics, passports and medical exams)
we won’t close or refuse any applications in progress
we’ll automatically give you an extra 90 days to send us the documents

from the deadline in the request letter
this applies even if the letter says you only have 30 or 90 days
we’ll keep extending the deadline for another 90 days until you can get the
documents
you don’t have to contact us to get this extension
once you’re able to, send us the missing documents as soon as possible to
avoid further delays
Some steps you may not be able to complete right now include
submitting your passport or supporting documents, such as a police

certificate
completing an immigration medical exam
If you get your language test results or educational credential assessment

report by email or electronically, we’ll accept them as part of your application.
 COVID-19: Changes to biometrics requirements and collection

procedures
Temporary measures have been put into place for biometrics
requirements and collection procedures.
Find out what to do for your biometrics
Language testing organizations

Some language testing organizations have started scheduling tests again.
You may be able to take a language test depending on the:
designated testing organization

region where you want to take your test

language you’re being tested for
Language tests we accept:

Make sure you check the latest information about testing in your region.
English
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
French
TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
Find more information about language testing
To withdraw your application

If you’re affected by the travel restrictions and want to withdraw your
permanent residence application, use the Web form to let us know.
We’ll give you a refund if
you withdraw your application within 24 hours of submitting it

we haven’t started processing
How financial benefits affect family

sponsorship
If you collect the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), you’re still
eligible to sponsor your spouse, parent, grandparent, child or other
relative as long as you meet all the requirements to be a sponsor.
CERB isn’t considered social assistance. Collecting CERB won’t make you
ineligible to sponsor.
We recently put a temporary public policy in place which lets any family class
sponsors who must meet income requirements count CERB in their income
calculations for the 2020 tax year. This is in addition to other benefits:
regular employment insurance (EI) benefits (rather than just special

benefits)
any CERBs issued under the
Employment Insurance Act or
Canadian Emergency Response Benefit Act
other temporary COVID-19-related benefits
as long as they are not part of provincial social assistance programs
EI and CERB won’t cause you to default

If the person you sponsored collects EI or the CERB during the undertaking
period, it will not cause you to default.
However, if the person you sponsored collects social assistance during the
undertaking period, you have to repay the amount. If you don’t, you’ll be in
default of your undertaking.
If we already approved your permanent

resident application
If you’re outside Canada
You can’t come to Canada to validate your COPR and land as a permanent
resident right now.
You may be able to come only if:
your COPR was issued on or before March 18, 2020 or

you are exempt from the travel restrictions.
You must also
be coming to Canada to settle permanently (you cannot come to

Canada and leave to go live in another country, even if it’s temporary)
and
show you’re able to quarantine for 14 days
If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by the
airline before boarding a flight. If you show symptoms of COVID-19, you
won’t be allowed to board.
Get pre-arrival services before you leave
 Expired COPR
If your COPR has expired and your application was approved on or
before March 18, 2020, you must follow these instructions to come to
Canada.
Mandatory quarantine, COVID-19 testing and other requirements

Before you travel to Canada, make sure you know the rules and what you
need to do before and after you arrive:
Quarantine or isolation plan

COVID-19 testing for travellers
Requirements for flying to Canada
Mandatory hotel stay for all air travellers
 ArriveCAN
You must use ArriveCAN before checking in at the airport or crossing

the border to submit your
travel and contact information
quarantine plan
COVID-19 symptoms self-assessment
Please bring your ArriveCAN receipt (electronic or paper) with you to
show the border services officer upon arrival.
Provincial and territorial travel restrictions

Provinces and territories may have their own travel restrictions. Before you
travel, check the official website of your province or territory of destination.
If you’re already living in Canada: In-person landing appointments

cancelled
We cancelled all in-person permanent resident landing appointments at our
offices in Canada until further notice.
If you haven’t gotten your COPR yet

Currently, we’re finalizing applications based on the documents you
submitted with your application. In some cases, we may need to contact you
before we can finalize your application.
We’ll contact you if we need more information. Use the web form if you
need to update your contact information. Finalizing applications may take
longer than usual during this time.
When we finalize your application, we’ll send you an official letter. While you
wait for your permanent resident card (PR card), you can use this letter to
prove you’re a permanent resident of Canada, and

apply for benefits and services you’re eligible for
If you got your COPR, but haven’t landed

If we sent you a COPR, but you haven’t been able to go to one of our offices
in Canada to validate it, we’ll contact you to tell you what to do. Use the web
form if you need to update your contact information.
You should not travel to a port of entry to validate your COPR. This is not
considered essential travel and you won’t be able to validate it this way.
Due to COVID-19, we have a new process to confirm permanent resident

status. We don’t need a COPR for this new process if you are in Canada.
Permanent resident cards

Once you become a permanent resident, we’ll send you a document to
confirm your new status in Canada. We’ll also ask you to provide a photo so
we can start the process of issuing your first PR card. You don’t need to
apply for your first PR card.
While you wait for your PR card, you can use your signed COPR document (if
you have one), or the letter confirming permanent resident status to
prove that you’re a permanent resident in Canada, and

apply for government benefits and services that you’re eligible for, for
example, to apply for your social insurance number so you can work.
It may take longer than usual for us to issue your PR card.
Approved permanent resident applicants with expired and expiring

COPR and permanent resident visa who are outside Canada
 Status of applications Last updated: 12-19-2020
We have some capacity to process applications, but you may

experience delays in processing due to COVID-19.
If we approved your permanent residence application and we issued you a

COPR on or before March 18, 2020, you’re exempt from the travel
restrictions.
However, you can’t travel to Canada on expired documents. We’ll contact

you (if we haven’t already) to ask you if you’re able to travel to Canada now,
to live and settle here. After we receive your reply, we will respond to you
within 4 weeks. Once we approve you to come to Canada, we’ll issue you the
documents you need to travel.
 To avoid delays, we ask that you don’t contact us via our Web form or
through the processing office email. If you have already contacted us,
we’ll look into your request, and provide you with instructions.
If your supporting documents have expired

If any of the below documents have expired, we may need you to give us
new ones
medical exams
police certificates and
passports
If you need to update these documents, we’ll tell you when we contact you.
If you’re planning on coming temporarily and leaving again, for example, to

look for a place to live, you can’t do that right now unless you meet a
different travel exemption. Also:
you must follow the COVID-19 testing requirements that are now in
place
when you arrive, you must have an acceptable plan to quarantine for 14
days in Canada, including how you will get to the place you’re staying
all family members included in the application should travel to Canada

at the same time, if possible
you should have a confirmed travel plan, or you must be willing to book
and confirm travel plans as soon as approved
COVID-19 information in multiple languages

The Public Health Agency of Canada 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.
 Please take a few moments to rate your experience with this page.
Updates and related links

Find more information on COVID-19
Canada provides update on exemptions to travel restrictions to protect
Canadians and support the economy
Date modified:
2021-02-17

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - Immigration Applicants - Canada - Ca

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2/18/2021 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Immigration applicants - Canada.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

We recognize that the travel restrictions have an impact on many people

If we already approved your permanent resident application

If you haven’t applied to immigrate to Canada

We’re currently focusing on priority applications like

Canadians and permanent residents returning to the country

We’re trying to process those as quickly as possible.

If you get your language test results or educational credential assessment

Express Entry applicants

Permanent residence applications that we’re

process applications normally

We’re prioritizing some applications, including

Canadians trying to return to Canada

 Status of Express Entry applications Last updated: 01-19-2021

Canadian experience class

If you’re missing documents due to COVID-19 (such as police certificates,

we won’t close or refuse any applications in progress

we’ll automatically give you an extra 90 days to send us the documents

you don’t have to contact us to get this extension

submitting your passport or supporting documents, such as a police

If you get your language test results or educational credential assessment

 COVID-19: Changes to biometrics requirements and collection

Language testing organizations

You may be able to take a language test depending on the:

designated testing organization

region where you want to take your test

Language tests we accept:

Find more information about language testing

To withdraw your application

We’ll give you a refund if

you withdraw your application within 24 hours of submitting it

How financial benefits affect family

regular employment insurance (EI) benefits (rather than just special

EI and CERB won’t cause you to default

If we already approved your permanent

You may be able to come only if:

your COPR was issued on or before March 18, 2020 or

You must also

be coming to Canada to settle permanently (you cannot come to

Get pre-arrival services before you leave

Mandatory quarantine, COVID-19 testing and other requirements

Quarantine or isolation plan

You must use ArriveCAN before checking in at the airport or crossing

Provincial and territorial travel restrictions

If you’re already living in Canada: In-person landing appointments

If you haven’t gotten your COPR yet

prove you’re a permanent resident of Canada, and

If you got your COPR, but haven’t landed

Due to COVID-19, we have a new process to confirm permanent resident

Permanent resident cards

apply for your first PR card.

prove that you’re a permanent resident in Canada, and

It may take longer than usual for us to issue your PR card.

Approved permanent resident applicants with expired and expiring

 Status of applications Last updated: 12-19-2020

We have some capacity to process applications, but you may

If we approved your permanent residence application and we issued you a

However, you can’t travel to Canada on expired documents. We’ll contact

If your supporting documents have expired

If you’re planning on coming temporarily and leaving again, for example, to

all family members included in the application should travel to Canada

COVID-19 information in multiple languages