Finally some good news for COPR holders!

Starting June 21, 2021, foreign nationals who hold a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) may be able to travel to Canada.

On March 18, 2020,World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic and various travel restrictions were put in place by Canada. International travelers including applicants who received their COPR after March 18, 2020 and were planning to come into Canada, were asked to either cancel or delay their travel plans.

If the applicant received a COPR on or before March 18, 2020 (before the announcement of the pandemic) they were exempt from travel restrictions.

What is a COPR?

COPR stands for Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

When a foreign national is approved for permanent residence in Canada, they receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document. Once COPR is issued, the final step that remains is for the applicant to travel to Canada.

An immigration officer at the port of entry or a CIC office signs and dates this document when permanent residence is finally granted and the foreign national is considered ‘landed’.

The COPR document is usually valid for a year and is tied to the applicant’s passport and their immigration medical examination.

Expired COPRs

Many applicants were not able to travel to Canada before their COPRs expired due to the travel restrictions or other COVID-19 related considerations.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been working with applicants who were already exempt from the travel restrictions to reissue them a COPR.

For applicants with expired COPRs issued after March 18, 2020, more information on when and how to obtain a new COPR will soon be available on IRCC’s website.

Quick Facts:

• Starting June 21, 2021, foreign nationals who hold a valid COPR may be able to travel to Canada
• Individuals whose COPR has expired should not book flights or attempt to travel to Canada until they receive a new COPR from IRCC.
• The existing international flight restrictions for international commercial passenger flights into four Canadian airports (Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport) will be maintained in this first phase of re-opening.
• For all travellers coming to Canada, planning in advance to ensure all mandatory requirements are met is crucial. Check and follow both the federal and any provincial or territorial restrictions and requirements before travelling.
• Fully vaccinated travellers who wish to be considered for the eased quarantine and testing requirements must meet all criteria, including the electronic submission of their vaccination documentation, in English or French, into ArriveCAN prior to arrival at the port of entry.
• A person who submits false information on vaccination status could be liable to a fine of up to $750,000 or six months imprisonment or both, under the Quarantine Act, or prosecution under the Criminal Code for forgery.

Read the full announcement here.

Disclaimer : Information provided in this blog article cannot be deemed as legal advice.