Canada has released instructions for how those with expired Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) can travel to Canada.
Expired COPR holders need to renew their documents before they travel. They will not be allowed to travel to Canada with their expired documents.
Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, many COPR holders were not able to travel to Canada. This is because they were not exempt from the travel restrictions in place, until June 21, 2021.
As they were waiting for the border to reopen to them, many saw their documents expire. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have now released instructions for these people on what they need to do to come to Canada.
A COPR is a document that Canada issues to those who have been approved to immigrate to Canada and become permanent residents.
This means that a holder has met all the required criteria, paid their fees and passed health, security and criminality screenings.
How to travel to Canada if your COPR is expired?
IRCC says that it will contact those with expired COPRs by email. If you still want to immigrate to Canada, you will have to answer the email.
You may then be asked to do a new medical exam and to provide updated information. If you don't respond, your file will be closed, which means that you will have to reapply if you want to come to Canada as a permanent resident in the future.
According to IRCC, most people with expired COPRs that were issued on or before March 18, 2020 have been contacted.
If you already received instructions to do a medical exam or to submit new documents, follow these instructions and wait to be contacted. You don't have to contact IRCC again.
Usually, holders of expired COPRs would have to reapply for permanent residence. However, IRCC is making an exception for those who weren't able to travel because of the travel restrictions that were in place.
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What documents can Canada ask for?
When IRCC contacts you by email, you will be asked about your family situation and if it has been changed. For example, if you got married, divorced, or had a new child.
If there has been a change, IRCC will ask for relevant documents.
If your previous documents were expired, such as police certificates and medical exams, you may be asked to submit updated documents.
Canada easing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers
Fully vaccinated travellers can travel to Canada without being subject to the quarantine requirement beginning July 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. This means that they will not have to stay at a government-approved hotel, and they will also not be required to take a COVID-19 test on day-8.
This includes approved permanent residents with valid COPR documents.
Fully vaccinated means that travellers must have received the full required number of doses (one or two depending on the vaccine), and must have received a vaccine that is approved by Health Canada. These include: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen.
All travellers to Canada will still need to take a COVID-19 test before travelling to Canada, and upon arrival in Canada.
Travellers can show a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours before arriving in Canada, or show a positive COVID-19 test administered between 14 and 90 days prior to travelling to Canada.
Vaccinated travellers have to submit their COVID-19 related information on the ArriveCAN mobile app.
Complete our FREE Assessment form to see if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada!