Reuniting with an immediate family member who lives in Canada but is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
To board your flight to Canada, you must
- have written authorization from the Government of Canada to fly to Canada
- To get the authorization, email IRCC at IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. We’ll contact you within 48 hours of getting your email and tell you what to do next.
- You can also contact the nearest Government of Canada office abroad to request an authorization.
To be eligible to travel to Canada, you need
- a written authorization from IRCC confirming that you are exempt from the travel restrictions
- a valid visitor visa (if you’re from a country whose nationals require a visa) or an eTA (if you’re from a country whose nationals are visa-exempt)
- a valid passport
- to tell the airline that you’re exempt from the travel restrictions
- to show a consular or immigration officer that you’re coming for an essential purpose, such as to live with your spouse, partner or parent
- You’ll be refused an authorization if an officer finds that you’re travelling for an optional or non-essential purpose, such as for tourism, entertainment or recreation.
- to have your health checked by airline officials to confirm that you don’t have symptoms of COVID‑19, including a fever, a cough and difficulty breathing
- Anyone showing symptoms will not be allowed to board.
If you don’t have written authorization, you won’t be allowed to board your flight to Canada, even if you have a valid visitor visa or eTA.