Holders of expired permanent residence visas will now have to follow new guidelines

The immigration department of Canada has introduced new rules for people who have expired permanent residence visas. According to IRCC, individuals who have valid Permanent Resident Visas (PRV) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) could be exempt from the current travel restrictions. However, there are certain conditions to fulfill.

Are you eligible?

Individuals whose documents have expired might be allowed into Canada if they have a COPR or a PRV based on their individual circumstances. This new operational bulletin is one of the many different policies that Canada has implemented for expired visa holders. The rules are different for people coming from the United States and those coming from other countries.

The applicable policies list out possible scenarios. The candidates who intend to stay and settle in Canada will be allowed to enter the country now and become permanent residents, in all cases. People who want to enter Canada temporarily and then leave after a short period of time should not travel now unless they are exempt from the rules for another reason.

How to go about it?

All travel to Canada should be non-discretionary. The government has listed many examples of non-discretionary travel on the website so that you can assess where you stand. People who are planning to travel by air need to pass a health check that is conducted by the airline before the flight. If someone shows symptoms of COVID-19, they will not be allowed to travel. People with dependent family members should travel to Canada together if they have all been approved.

Applicants for permanent residence who have an expired COPR and PRV should contact IRCC through their Web form only if they are willing to travel. Applicants have to provide the expiry date and the non-discretionary purpose of travel.