Travel Restrictions

Air Canada and the union representing over 5,200 pilots have reached a tentative four-year agreement, avoiding a strike that could have begun this week.

Air Canada faces a potential work stoppage next week, risking flight cancellations and disruptions to cargo services.

IRCC recently announced significant changes affecting Canada’s visit visas. Previously, multiple-entry visas were typically granted based on passport validity, often allowing for a 10-year stay depending on the passport's expiration date. Now, these rules are shifting to be much more discretionary and aligned with individual circumstances, mirroring the approach seen with Schengen visas in Europe. Key changes include:

Canada is lifting its COVID-19 test requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

Starting April 1, fully vaccinated travellers to Canada will no longer need a pre-arrival COVID-19
test.

The Canadian government announced the new measures would affect travellers arriving at all ports of entry. Although pre-arrival testing requirements will be dropped, the government may still randomly test travellers upon arrival. The purpose of the random tests will be to identify and track COVID-19 variants. If fully vaccinated travellers are selected for an on-arrival test, they will not need to quarantine while waiting on their result.

You no longer have to be fully vaccinated to board a plane or train in Canada, but mask mandates still apply.

Starting January 6, 2025, the operating hours for 35 Canada-US land ports of entry will change, reducing crossing windows for travelers. This may impact those relying on flagpoling services for immigration needs.

After a five-week break, Canada has resumed mandatory random testing for fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air.

The Canadian passport is ranked as the 7th most powerful in the world for 2024, offering visa-free travel to 187 countries and extensive work and study opportunities.

There are various reasons why Canadian immigrants may wish to maintain dual citizenship after becoming Canadian citizens, including:

Pre-entry tests are no longer required of fully vaccinated travellers.

As of April 1, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need a pre-arrival COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

Whether you have a minor or major offence on your record, it is important to plan ahead of your trip to Canada.

This year marks the first since the start of the pandemic that Canada is fully open to tourists.

Canada imposed travel restrictions on tourists in March 2020 and lifted them for those fully vaccinated in late summer 2021. Effective April 1st, fully vaccinated tourists do not need to complete a COVID-19 test before entering Canada.

This is good news for tourists since Canada is making it much easier to visit the country.

Council of Canadian Innovators wants Canada to introduce a High Potential Tech Visa, to give in-demand professionals a pathway to permanent residency without a job offer in hand.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser shares his thoughts on Canada's future permanent residence levels. "It's not a point of pride that I have to be the minister that gets to 500,000...what's important to me is that I'm meeting the needs of communities."