As readers of ImmPulse™ will know, it is still possible to enter Canada while COVID measures are in place – as long as you are entering for a permitted purpose, and complying with COVID requirements.
Permitted purposes include various work scenarios, and COVID requirements relate primarily to the need to quarantine for 14 days unless exempted as being for an essential service.
Note, however, that upon entry, there will be scrutiny of the issues – both in terms of the right to enter, as well as in terms of satisfying the quarantine or other COVID requirements. This scrutiny at the port of entry can take time, and is certainly cumbersome. Certainly further, no one wants to face a problem or denial of entry, after having made the arrangements to travel to Canada in these difficult times.
In an attempt to ease the concerns of travelers, and expedite port of entry processing, the government of Canada has introduced the ‘ArriveCAN’ app. It is available for iOS, Android, and web format. Travelers can input information through the app within 48 hours before arriving in Canada, so the information will be on record, and ready to be processed, expediting entry on arrival.
The app also facilitates provision of voluntary quarantine compliance information. Given that immigration authorities are vigorously auditing COVID compliance, this may be valuable in substantiating such compliance, benefiting both employers and employees in the event of audit.
Using this app may be of great benefit to those coming to work in Canada.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.