Temporary residence processing during COVID-19

Summary#

These are temporary ministerial instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that change how some temporary-residence applications are handled during the COVID‑19 travel restrictions. They require certain applications from people outside Canada to be filed online and pause processing of many visitor visas and some eTA work unless the person is allowed to enter under current travel bans. The instructions were in force from June 10, 2020 to June 30, 2020.

What it does#

• Requires foreign nationals who are outside Canada to submit applications for a temporary resident visa, work permit, or study permit by electronic means (apply online) to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
  • People with a disability who cannot use the online system may use other means if the Minister makes them available.
• Temporarily stops processing most visitor temporary resident visas (including transit visas) that were not finally decided before the instructions began, and those received while the instructions are in effect, unless the person is not prohibited from entering Canada under the emergency travel orders.
• Suspends processing of any eTA applications that need non-automated handling, unless the applicant is allowed to enter under the emergency travel orders.
• Returns processing fees for applications received on or after the instructions’ start date that were not submitted electronically (except for people submitting alternate formats because of a disability).
• Keeps electronic applications that are subject to these instructions and were received before or after the start date on file; those fees are not returned.
• Directs immigration officers to apply these rules when handling or reviewing the affected temporary-residence applications.
• Links these measures to and asks they operate consistently with emergency orders under the Quarantine Act and an interim order under the Aeronautics Act that limit entry into Canada.

Who's affected#

• People outside Canada applying for:
  • visitor temporary resident visas (including transit visas),
  • work permits,
  • study permits,
  • electronic travel authorizations (eTAs).
• Employers, schools, recruiters, and others who rely on those visa or permit decisions (they may face delays).
• Immigration officers at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada who must follow the instructions.
• People with disabilities who cannot apply online (they have a specified exception if alternate means are made available).
• It is unclear from the notice which specific sub-categories beyond those listed were excluded; other categories continue to be processed as before.

Why it matters#

• If you were planning to travel, start work, or begin studies in Canada in mid‑June 2020, your visa or eTA could be delayed or not processed at all during the temporary pause — unless you are already allowed to enter under the pandemic travel orders.
• The rule pushed most applicants to use online applications and aimed to align immigration processing with public-health travel restrictions to limit COVID‑19 spread.
• For employers and schools, delays in issuing work permits or study permits could affect start dates and staffing or enrolment plans.
• The measure was explicitly temporary and tied to the broader travel restrictions in place at the time.