Who is an immediate family memberAn immediate family member is defined as a

• spouse or common-law partner
• dependent child (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
• dependent child of a dependent child
• parent or step-parent (yours, your spouse’s or your common-law partner’s)
• guardian or tutor

How to unite with your family member in CanadaYou do not need a written authorization from us confirming that you’re exempt from the travel restrictions.
However, to board your flight to Canada, you must

• follow all airline requirements and pass a health check conducted 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 a flight to Canada.
• tell the airline that you’re exempt from the travel restrictions
• make sure you have a valid travel document (visitor visa or electronic travel authorization [eTA], if required) and a passport that is valid to come to Canada
• present proof to show that you’re an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or Canadian permanent resident
• show that you’re eligible to travel at this time
  • You must be able to provide evidence of one of the following:
    • You’ll stay in Canada for 15 days or more.
    • You’re travelling for a non-discretionary purpose.

Documents to use as proof that you’re an immediate family memberYou must have 2 types of documents:

• one that shows your immediate family member’s status as a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident
• one that shows your relationship to that family member

Documents that show the person’s Canadian citizenship, status under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident statusThese documents include

• a Canadian passport
• proof of Canadian citizenship, such as a citizenship certificate, citizenship card, or provincial or territorial birth certificate
• secure certificate of Indian status, certificate of Indian status or temporary confirmation of registration document (TCRD)
• a Canadian permanent resident card
• a Canadian permanent resident travel document

Documents that show your relationship to that personExamples of documents include

• a marriage certificate or proof of common-law status (documents showing a shared address)
• a birth certificate
• a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) for one of the following:
  • the family class (the COPR category under Application Details will be FC)
  • the one-year window of opportunity provision (coded OYW under Special Program)
• other documents that show an immediate family connection, for example
  • correspondence from us showing a spousal sponsorship application in progress
  • documents that show a shared home address

Note: Paper and electronic copies of the documents above are accepted. The documents above are examples only. An officer may request or accept other documents, as needed.

We’re still accepting applications under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilots. You may be able to apply for permanent residence through these pilots if you:

• meet the eligibility requirements, and
• have a job offer to work in one of these occupations

Through these pilots, you’ll get an open work permit to come to Canada and work temporarily. This work permit:

• is occupation-restricted (so you have to work in that specific occupation)
• doesn’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• lets you get the work experience you need to be eligible for permanent residence

If you recently worked as a home child care provider or support worker, your experience may count towards your eligibility for permanent residence.

Due to issues with COVID-19, there may be processing delays with caregiver permanent residence applications (including any related work permit applications). This includes these programs

• Home Child Care Provider
• Home Support Worker
• Live-in Caregiver
• Caring for Children
• Caring for People with High Medical Needs
• Interim Pathway for Caregivers

As of April 22, 2021, at 11:30 pm ET, Canada is suspending flights from India and Pakistan. Travel restrictions may change with little warning.

As a Hong Kong recent graduate, you may be eligible to apply for an open work permit under a temporary public policy for Hong Kong residents.
The open work permit is valid for up to 3 years.
Who can applyTo be eligible, you must

• hold a valid passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) or the United Kingdom to a British National Overseas (BNO)
  • Your work permit is valid for up to 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
    • For example, if your passport is valid for 6 months, then you will be issued an open work permit for 6 months.
    • To maximize the duration of the open work permit, make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 years from the date of approval.
    • Tell us how long you want your work permit to be valid.
• have graduated no more than 5 years before you apply for this open work permit, with
  • a degree (for example, bachelor, master or doctorate) from a designated post-secondary learning institution in Canada or abroad, or
  • a diploma for a minimum 2-year program from a designated post-secondary learning institution in Canada or abroad

If you got your education abroadYou don’t need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to apply if you got a degree (for example, bachelor, master or doctorate) outside Canada, but an officer may request one later.
If you got a diploma outside of Canada, you must provide an ECA.
The ECA must be from an organization or a professional body designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They’ll give you a report that tells you what your education is equal to in Canada.
Processing times and costs vary by organization or professional body.
Once you choose a designated organization or a professional body, they’ll tell you how to submit your documents to get your assessment.
Designated organizationsYou must use one of these designated organizations:

• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
  • designated: April 17, 2013
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
  • designated: April 17, 2013
• World Education Services
  • designated: April 17, 2013
• International Qualifications Assessment Service
  • designated: August 6, 2015
• International Credential Evaluation Service
  • designated: August 6, 2015