Ottawa lifts cross-border travel restrictions for wider range of family members

OTTAWA — After being separated for months due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, some Canadians will soon be able to reunite with loved ones who were outside the country.

Ottawa is lifting cross-border travel restrictions for a wider range of family members as of Thursday.

Extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter Canada as long as they follow quarantine rules and get authorization. The changes include romantic partners of more than one year, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, and those seeking entry on compassionate grounds.

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Specific details on who qualifies, what documents are required, and how to apply will also be released soon.

Beginning Oct. 20, international students will also be allowed to enter Canada if they follow the quarantine process and their school has a provincially-approved COVID-19 plan.

Previously, there were exemptions made for immediate family members who wanted to come to Canada.