On October 2, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that it would ease border restrictions in order to allow Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents to invite extended family members to Canada (in addition to international students and foreign nationals for compassionate reasons in specific circumstances).
To qualify as an “extended family member”, the foreign national must be a dependent child, adult child, grandchild, sibling, grandparent or be in an exclusive dating relationship with the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident for at least one (1) year.
The definition of "exclusive dating relationship" is:
An exclusive dating relationship means you’re in a romantic relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have been in the relationship for at least 1 year and have spent time in the physical presence of that person at some point during the relationship.
Examples of an exclusive dating relationship include
fiancé(e)
committed romantic partners for at least 1 year who lived together but don’t meet the definition of common-law
boyfriends, girlfriends or any other couple in an intimate, loving relationship
The easing of restrictions was announced as a means to reunite family members and loved ones who were separated as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Soon after the announcement was made, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) created a new form (IMM0006), to be completed and signed by the Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, as well as the foreign national.
The form, which is entitled “Application for Authorization and Statutory Declaration for the Purposes of Entry into Canada for Extended Family Members Covid-19 Emergency Orders in Council Under the Quarantine Act” must be commissioned or notarized by a commissioner of oaths or notary public.
In order to notarize or commission the Application for Authorization and Statutory Declaration, please schedule an appointment and attend at our office with the completed form and your government-issued photo-ID.