Immigration News

Updated March 15, 2020.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put special measures in place to help you, if

• you’re a Chinese, Iranian or South Korean national; or
• you’re in China, Iran or South Korea; and
• you’re affected by service disruptions or travel restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Disruptions include the following:

• visa application centre closures
• service disruptions at Canadian visa offices
• travel plan disruptions
• limited access to local government offices and businesses
• limited access to a panel physician who can do the immigration medical exam

There is also help available if you need a permanent resident travel document to travel back to Canada.

 

If you've been approved for permanent residence.

If your permanent residence application has been approved, but you can't travel to Canada before your documents expire, use the web form to tell us why you can’t travel.

Once it’s possible for you to travel, use the web form to let us know. We’ll then give you more detailed instructions regarding restarting the processing of your permanent residence application.

Landing appointments will be held by telephone
Starting March 16, 2020, we’re cancelling all in-person permanent resident landing appointments until April 13, 2020.

If you had a landing appointment already booked, it will be held by telephone.

We’ll contact you by email to let you know when your phone appointment will be. Use the web form if you need to update your contact information.

If your confirmation of permanent residence has already expired
Use the web form to explain why you couldn’t travel.

Once it’s possible for you to travel, use the web form to let us know. We’ll then give you more detailed instructions regarding restarting the processing of your permanent residence application.

If you’ve applied for temporary or permanent residence and are outside Canada

We won’t refuse your application if you cannot complete the next step due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This applies to applications for

• a visitor visa
• a work permit
• a study permit
• permanent residence

Examples of the next steps include

• submitting your passport or supporting documents, such as a police certificate
• completing an immigration medical examination

No application in progress will be closed or refused due to a lack of documentation. We’ll automatically give you 90 days to complete these steps. Once you’re able to, complete the steps as soon as possible to avoid delays.

 

Withdrawing your application
If you’re affected by the travel restrictions and want to withdraw your temporary residence application, use the web form

We’ll give you a refund if you withdraw your application within 24 hours of submitting, as long as processing has not started.

 

If you need a visitor visa, study permit or work permit to travel to Canada urgently

China: special instructions for applicants
If you need a visitor visa, study permit or work permit to travel to Canada urgently due to exceptional circumstances, take the following steps:

Apply online.
After you apply, email the visa office in Beijing (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to request urgent processing of your application. These applications will be processed on a case-by-case basis.
If you’ve already applied for temporary residence, email the visa office in Beijing (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to request urgent processing of your application. These applications will be processed on a case-by-case basis.

Iran: special instructions for applicants
If you need a visitor visa, study permit or work permit to travel to Canada urgently due to exceptional circumstances, you need to apply online.

After you apply, fill out a web form to explain your emergency and request urgent processing of your visa or permit application. To make sure request goes to the right office,

Answer “No” when asked the question “Is your application being processed by an office outside Canada?”
Complete the rest of the form.

South Korea: special instructions for applicants
If you need a visitor visa, study permit or work permit to travel to Canada urgently due to exceptional circumstances, you need to apply online.

After you apply, fill out a web form to explain your emergency and request urgent processing of your visa or permit application. To make sure your request goes to the right office,

Answer “No” when asked the question “Is your application being processed by an office outside Canada?”
Complete the rest of the form.

 

If you’re a temporary resident who is unable to leave Canada

If your status has not yet expired
You can apply online to extend your stay in Canada.

• If you’re a visitor, you can apply to extend your stay in Canada.
• If you are a worker or student, you have a few options:
• If you’re no longer working or studying, you can
  • apply to change your status to visitor, as long as your study or work permit has not expired
  • find out how to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor
    For more information, see Guide 5551 – Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada – Online application.

If you want to continue working or studying, you may be able to extend your work permit or study permit if you’re eligible.

When you’re applying, make sure you include a note explaining the reason you need to extend your stay in Canada.

 

If your visitor record or study or work permit has already expired, and it’s been less than 90 days since your status expired
You can apply to restore your status.

To restore your status, use the document checklist and guide for extending your stay as one of the following:

• visitor
• student
• worker

When you complete the application form, make sure you do both of the following:

• Select Restore my status under section 3 at the top of the form.
• Include a note explaining the reason you need to extend your stay.
  
  • You must also pay the restoration fee.

If your temporary resident status is restored, you’ll receive a visitor record or appropriate permit, which will outline the conditions of your stay in Canada.

Your temporary resident status in Canada will be extended until a specified date.

 

If it has been more than 90 days since your status expired

You may be eligible to apply for a temporary resident permit.

With a temporary resident permit, you can remain in Canada with legal status.

When you apply, make sure you include a note explaining the reason you need to extend your stay.