Ban on Entry from the United States

Summary#

The Government of Canada made the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States) under the Quarantine Act. It mostly bars foreign nationals in the United States from entering Canada. The Order is in effect from 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 18, 2020 until 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 21, 2021.

What it does#

• Prohibits most foreign nationals located in the United States from entering Canada for optional or discretionary reasons (for example, tourism or recreation).
• Bars any foreign national travelling from the United States who has or reasonably suspects they have COVID-19 or who shows COVID-19 symptoms.
• Allows a number of specific exceptions, including:
  • immediate family members of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act, if they plan to stay at least 15 days;
  • some extended family members, but they must provide a statutory declaration of relationship and obtain written authorization from an immigration officer;
  • people travelling for compassionate reasons, if approved by the Minister of Health (for instance, to attend a funeral or provide care for someone critically ill);
  • international students who are attending a provincially approved “listed institution” and who hold or are eligible for a valid study permit;
  • certain refugee claimants who meet rules for designated land ports of entry and related regulations (United States citizens and some other narrowly defined categories are treated differently);
  • high-performance athletes and essential staff for an international single sport event if they have a letter of authorization from the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage and local/provincial support.
• Excludes from the Order (they are not subject to the prohibition): people registered under the Indian Act, protected persons, people the Chief Public Health Officer says do not pose a significant public health risk, and people who are merely transiting through Canadian waters or airspace without landing.
• Repeals the previous Order with the same name (P.C. 2020-968) and complements other quarantine or isolation orders made under the Quarantine Act.

Who's affected#

• Foreign nationals who are in the United States and who planned to enter Canada for tourism, visiting, or other non-essential reasons.
• Families of Canadian citizens and permanent residents (immediate and some extended family members) who may rely on exemptions to enter.
• International students who want to study in Canada — only those going to approved “listed institutions” and holding or eligible for a study permit may enter.
• Refugee claimants who would normally seek entry at the Canada–U.S. land border; some categories are still permitted under specific rules.
• Sports teams and support staff involved in approved international single sport events.
• Airlines, border officers and provincial/local public health authorities who help enforce and process exemptions.
• The notice is detailed and technical in parts; if you fall into a specific category it may be unclear whether you qualify without checking the full text or asking the responsible agency.

Why it matters#

• The Order is meant to reduce imported COVID-19 cases from the United States by limiting non-essential travel across the border while keeping some narrow exceptions.
• It affects everyday plans: vacation travel, family visits, student travel, some refugee claims, and the staging of some sports events.
• People who ignore the Order can face serious penalties, including fines up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, and other penalties under the Contraventions Act.
• The Order works alongside quarantine and isolation requirements. Even people who are exempt from the travel ban may still have to follow quarantine rules when they arrive.