How to prepare for Travel to Canada during Covid-19 Pandemic?

Essential post-COPR Activities for landing in Canada

If you have just received your COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence), you must be wondering, how to prepare for entry into Canada. Since, you are travelling to Canada for the first time and that too in the pandemic scenario; hence, there must be plenty of questions boggling your mind.

Well, this article will answer all your queries and you will be well prepared to land in Canada after reading this until the end.

After the recent Global Pandemic, the certain rules for travelling to Canada have also been changed and updated. This page also includes all these scenarios and latest procedures.

We will update this page regularly, as per the latest information received from the government of Canada or IRCC (Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada).

FAQs for Traveling to Canada during Covid-19 Pandemic

Here are the answers of some common questions(i.e. FAQs) asked by the new COPR holders?

I am not sure about the next steps like non-vaccinated person are allowed or not in Canada?

Well, all citizens and permanent residents of Canada (not showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19) are allowed to enter Canada.

You are advised to be fully vaccinated, before traveling to Canada to get the exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers. If you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you are exempt from the following:

• quarantine
• Day-8 testing requirement

How to know whether I am fully vaccinated traveller, as per IRCC?

To qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, you must:

• be eligible to enter Canada on the specific date you enter
• have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19
• have received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or a combination of accepted vaccines
• have received your last dose at least 14 days prior to the day you enter Canada
  • Example: if your last dose was anytime on Thursday July 1st, then Friday July 16th would be the first day that you meet the 14 day condition
• upload your proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN app
• meet all other entry requirements (for example, pre-entry test)

Which are the accepted COVID-19 vaccines in Canada?

Find below the list of accepted Covid-19 vaccines in Canada:

• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
• Moderna (mRNA-1273)
• AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)

For detailed information, please visit here:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

How to get important travel information for entry into Canada?

Install and use ArriveCAN app that provides mandatory travel information required for entry into Canada.

What are the documents required upon landing in Canada

If you are a new permanent resident of Canada, you should obtain the following essential documents, soon after you arrive:

• Permanent resident card
• Social insurance Number (SIN)
• Health Card

How can I get a Permanent resident card?

The permanent resident card, a wallet-sized plastic card, is the official proof of your status as a permanent resident in Canada.

You can also use your permanent resident card as an identification document (ID) in various circumstances – for example, to request other government documents (health card, Social Insurance Number (SIN)), to access government services, or to open a bank account.

If you are a new permanent resident, you will automatically receive your card as part of the immigration process. You will receive your card by mail at your address in Canada. If you do not have a Canadian mailing address before you arrive in Canada, you must provide your new address to IRCC as soon as possible after you arrive. If you change your address in Canada before you receive your card in the mail, inform IRCC of your new address.

How will I get my Social insurance Number (SIN)?

You should apply for a SIN as soon as possible after you arrive in Canada. A SIN is a nine-digit number provided by Service Canada on behalf of the federal government. You will need this number to work in Canada or to apply for government programs and benefits.

You must present one of the following documents when you apply for a SIN:

• Permanent resident card from IRCC: this is the only acceptable document if your permanent residence application was processed in Canada.
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence AND visa counterfoil affixed to your foreign passport or travel document

To apply for a SIN, simply gather the documents you need and take them to your nearest Service Canada Centre. The Service Canada agent will need to see the original documents (not copies). If your application and documents are in order, you will get a SIN in one visit.

Click here to find the Service Canada centres: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/tbsc-fsco/sc-hme.jsp?lang=eng

Disclaimer: Service changes due to COVID-19 - We urge you not to visit Service Canada Centres unless necessary.

Ask us to help you with the following programs by using eService Canada service request form:
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits
• Social Insurance Numbers (SIN)
• immediate request for a Passport Service
• Veterans Affairs Canada Services

We will call you back within 2 business days.

You can also call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 (select option 3) or visit a Service Canada Centre in person.

How can I get the Health card upon landing in Canada?

In Canada, governments pay for many aspects of health care using money collected from taxes. This means that you do not pay for most services when you go to a doctor, clinic or hospital.

You will need a health insurance card to get health care in Canada. You must present this card each time you need medical services.

Applying for a government health insurance card

You should apply for a health insurance card from your provincial or territorial government as soon as possible after you arrive in Canada.

You can get an application at a doctor’s office, a hospital, a pharmacy or an immigrant-serving organization. You can also get the forms online from the government ministry responsible for health in your province or territory.

When you apply for your health insurance card, you will need to show identification such as your birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

In most provinces and territories, each family member receives his/her own card with a personal health identification number. You must carry the card with you and present it at a hospital or clinic when you or someone in your family needs health services.

Do I need to buy Private Health Insurance until I get public health insurance?

Yes, the IRCC strongly recommends that you purchase private health insurance to pay for your health-care needs until the date when you receive free government health insurance. Private insurance companies are listed in the Yellow Pages.

Permanent residents in some provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick) must wait a certain period (up to three months) before receiving government health insurance.

(Note: Please go through the Welcome to Canada PDF document (link given below) to understand in detail, what all you require upon landing in Canada.)

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/pub/welcome.pdf

If you have further queries regarding traveling to Canada or applying for a visa in Canada during the pandemic time, you may contact Visas Avenue Canada Migration Expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.