From the beginning of the travel ban, immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents were given exemptions to travel to Canada. Now, those with immediate family members residing in Canada as holders of worker, visitor, student, or protected person status are now allowed to enter the country.

The definition of an immediate family member for the purpose of the travel ban includes:

• Spouses and common-law partners
• Dependent children, and children of spouses and common-law partners
• Dependent children of dependent children of either the Canadian resident or their spouse or common-law partner
• Parents or step-parents
• A parent’s or step-parent’s spouse or common-law partner
• A guardian or tutor

Regarding parents, age is not a factor, and it is not necessary to establish dependency. 

Children must be aged 21 or under, or else are financially dependent on the Canadian resident or their partner due to disability, to qualify. 

In some cases, adult children may be exempt under family reunification. In order to travel to Canada under this exemption, an official letter confirming their purpose of travel must come from IRCC, Canadian Border Services Agency, or Global Affairs Canada. 

The Canadian resident need not be physically in Canada for the family to enter. 

Documents demonstrating the family member’s status in Canada, as well as proof of relationship to that family member, must be presented by family members to airlines prior to boarding. 

Documentation is accepted in either paper or electronic format.

To demonstrate their immediate family member is an eligible Canadian resident, foreign nationals may show one of the following documents:

• Canadian passport
• proof of Canadian citizenship such as a citizenship certificate, citizenship card or provincial or territorial birth certificate
• Canadian permanent resident card
• Canadian permanent resident travel document (visa counterfoil)
• visa-exempt foreign passport and IRCC Special Authorization for Canadian Citizens

Documentation showing their relationship to their Canadian family member, such as a:

• marriage or common-law status certificate
• birth certificate
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) for the family class (the COPR category under Application Details will be FC) or under the one-year window (coded OYW under Special Program)
• other documents supporting an immediate family connection (for example, correspondence from IRCC showing spousal sponsorship in progress or documentation indicating a common residential address)