Before the pandemic began, Canada was coping with an influx of immigrants. There was a massive political shift in the United States, and as a result, an increasing number of people have been filing for immigration. In fact, Canada was increasing its immigration targets for 2019 and 2020. For 2021, their targeted total admission was increased to 350,000. Then, the COVID-19 coronavirus happened. Here's how the state of Canadian immigration has changed over the past year and what that means for its future.
The COVID-19 Coronavirus: A Global Concern Due to how easily it spreads, COVID-19 numbers have continued to rise despite the government's best attempts. As of the end of 2020, there were over 550,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in Canada alone. Globally, that number was 83 million. While some countries like Canada have been doing well in the fight against the coronavirus, cases worldwide continue to grow. Part of their process of deterring its spread includes a much more selective immigration process. How the Virus Affects Canada's Immigration Because of COVID-19, the number of non-residents and returning travelers reduced by 77.8% in 2020. The number of non-residents alone dropped 84.4%. Recently, Canada's international travel restrictions have been extended for two more months. Travel from the United States is still restricted until March 21. How Canada Handles Entry to the Country As 2020 entered into March, COVID-19 travel restrictions began to pop up all over the world. Cities closed down, and international travel completely ceased in certain countries. For Canada, that has translated to limiting non-essential travel and a partial border closing. International travellers in Canada are put under a 14-day quarantine after they've arrived. The only people exempt from this rule are truck drivers and other workers transporting goods. Some immigrants who fill critical jobs are still being allowed to move into the country. Others may find their immigration status on permanent hold. What You Need to Know About Canadian Immigration and the Covid-19 Coronavirus Despite how the year began, restrictions have begun to relax as new daily cases dropped. Vaccines have also begun to go out to frontline workers. In the final two months of 2020, IRCC reopened their immigration pool for the skilled workers and skilled trades categories. Since their initial plans to increase immigration were upended by the pandemic, the Canadian Minister of Immigration has announced further plans to increase those levels in the upcoming few years. If all goes according to plan, the country's population will increase by about 1%. The current Canadian government's policies are always being updated. Already, you can see Canada preparing for an influx of new residents through their recently-built online portal. Canadian Immigration Made Simple Relocating to another country is a complicated enough process as it is. Canadian immigration has become especially difficult in today's political climate. If you're seeking Canada entry, you either need to be a skilled worker or associated with some international trade. Not sure where you stand? Our office assists clients all over the world who seek Canadian immigration. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.