Canada has announced that new permanent residents with valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents can now enter Canada as of June 21st, 2021.
This brings to an end the lengthy ban on most new permanent residents being able to travel to Canada to complete their immigration process.
Since March 2020, Canada border restrictions in reaction to COVID-19 had prevented most new permanent residents from travelling to Canada.
As of now, new permanent residents with valid CoPR documents can travel to Canada to begin their new lives.
It’s important to point out that CoPR documents do need to be valid – that is within its validity date (not expired). CoPRs are valid for one year.
What you need to be able to travel to Canada as a new permanent resident
As of June 21st, 2021, to be able to travel to Canada to complete your permanent residency immigration process, here’s what you’ll need to make sure you have in place:
- A valid CoPR (i.e. not expired).
- Any other travel visa you may need to travel to Canada.
- Show you are able to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada.
From July 5th, 2021 you may or may not need to quarantine for 14 days if you have been fully vaccinated. You can get more details on the relaxing of the border restrictions here. Either way you’ll need to show that you have a plan to quarantine in case you test positive when you arrive in Canada. - Meet all other COVID-19 related testing requirements including testing before boarding your flight. Get more details on this here.
- All the other standard Express Entry supporting documentation as detailed in this article.
You will need to use Canada’s ArriveCAN app to provide COVID-19 related information.
You can read more about what to expect when you land in Canada here. But keep in mind that this was pre-COVID so the process will be somewhat different now with COVID-19 testing and so forth.
What to do if your CoPR has already expired
If your CoPR has already expired you won’t be allowed to travel to Canada with the expired document.
Given that CoPRs are only valid for one year many new immigrants’ documents have already expired.
In the case of expired CoPRs, IRCC will contact you to confirm if you still wish to proceed and what to do next.
You won’t need to re-apply to an immigration program if you still wish to proceed.
Get more details on this here.
Despite new permanent residents being able to travel to Canada, IRCC has yet to resume Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) draws. They have indicated that FSW draws might resume in July 2022.
You can also check out the latest from IRCC here.