Foreign national essential workers may be exempt from work permits and quarantine rules
Some foreign nationals who are looking to work in Canada in essential occupations may not need a work permit. Foreign workers who are coming to Canada to support critical infrastructure and are exempt from the travel restrictions, may not need a work permit to work legally in Canada.
Certain foreign workers may only need a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to work in Canada, rather than a work permit.
As well, some workers may be exempt from the mandatory quarantine period of fourteen (14)-days. This means, individuals would not have to stay at a government-approved hotel for three (3) days upon arrival in Canada.
The workers who are exempt are:
- emergency and medical service providers;
- individuals allowed to work as a student in a health field (ie. medical elective, clinical clerk);
- individuals who are making medical deliveries of cells, blood and blood products, tissues, organs, and other body parts;
- individuals who are providing an essential service while in Canada, as determined by the Chief of Public Health Officer (CPHO);
- individuals delivering, maintaining, or repairing medically necessary equipment or devices; and
- workers in the marine transportation sector.
The CPHO has decided that technicians or specialists that are needed in Canada to install, inspect, maintain, or repair equipment that is necessary to support critical infrastructure is also providing an essential service. As long as they are carrying out the work as part of a current agreement, they can come to Canada as business visitors. If their work is not part of a current agreement, they may need to get a work permit.
The CPHO also determined that workers that are supporting certain open water aquaculture-related activities (ie. Fishing, transporting fish, treating fish for pests) may be exempt. These foreign workers may be allowed to enter Canada. It they do not show symptoms of COVID-19, they will not need to do a fourteen (14)-day quarantine.
If you are an essential foreign worker who is looking to come to Canada for any of the work mentioned above, you may need to apply for a TRV.
If you come from a visa-exempt country, you may be able to come to Canada without applying for a TRV but may require an eTA document.