New Measures Announced for Iranians In Canada Temporarily

On March 1, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (‘IRCC’), announced a Temporary public policy in place by virtue of section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (‘IRPA’), for nationals of Iran inside Canada as temporary residents. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Sean Fraser, outlined the rationale behind the temporary policy:

Following the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini by the Iranian regime’s so-called “morality police”, the Government of Canada has introduced a number of measures designed to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its repression of peaceful protests. The actions by the Iranian regime represent a blatant disregard for human rights and human life. The Government of Canada reiterates its unequivocal and ongoing support for the brave women, students, and people of Iran.

Many Iranians have chosen to come to Canada to visit or spend time with family, study, or work temporarily. It is understood that some of these temporary residents may feel uncomfortable returning to Iran at this time, and may wish to prolong their stay. The measures outlined in this public policy will make it easier for those who wish to extend their temporary stay in Canada without fees and move between temporary resident streams.

The following measures will be in effect until February 28, 2024. This public policy will allow eligible Iranian nationals currently in Canada as temporary residents to apply for the following applications at no cost:

• extension of their temporary resident status in Canada
• open work permits
• study permits

According to IRCC, eligible applications submitted in Canada will be processed on a priority basis.

Additionally, Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Iran will be able to apply for the following documents, at no cost, to help facilitate their travel:

• limited-validity Canadian passports
• Canadian citizenship certificates
• permanent resident travel documents

For more information about these temporary measures and to discuss whether you or your family meet the eligibility criteria, contact your local immigration lawyer at Race and Company today. To arrange a consultation with Laura Schemitsch, please email: OfficeAssistant@raceandco.com