Last Updated On 10 January 2024, 10:05 AM EST (Toronto Time)
On January 9, 2024 Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced opening of a new temporary residency pathway for Palestinian extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza.
This new temporary residency pathway provides a temporary safe haven for Palestinians who are directly affected by the Gaza conflict and have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident as one of their family members in Canada.
A spouse, a common-law partner, a child, a grandchild, a sibling, a parent, or a grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident are eligible family members.
Furthermore, their immediate family members (spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, and dependent child of a dependent child) are also considered to be eligible.
Today, we opened the temporary residence route for extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents fleeing the war in Gaza. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and adapt our response as the situation evolves. https://t.co/dMgdCIBZlG
— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) January 9, 2024
In accordance with the measures that have previously been announced, individuals who are eligible can submit an application for a fee-free study permit or an open work permit once they have arrived in Canada.
In the meantime, while the crisis in Israel and the Palestinian Territories persists, this will make it easier for them to maintain their standard of living in Canada.
Additionally, they will have access to three months of health coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program, which will assist in addressing any urgent medical needs that may arise upon arrival.
Furthermore, they will receive settlement services such as language training and assistance in interacting with the local community and the job market within the town.
The IRCC provides a dedicated service channel for inquiries on these extraordinary measures that can be reached at 613-321-4243.
This channel is available to people both in Canada and abroad, and collect calls are accepted.
According to public policy, the exemptions for people who are applying for temporary resident visas will expire on January 9, 2025, or when a total of one thousand applications for temporary resident visas have been submitted and accepted for processing, whichever occurs first.
IRCC will be keeping a close eye on the program volumes as well as the constantly shifting conditions on the ground in order to guarantee that Canada will continue to fulfill the requirements of the target population.
As of now, people who are in possession of a temporary residence visa that was issued in accordance with public policy will no longer be eligible for exemptions at the port of entry after January 9, 2025.
The duration of validity for these temporary resident visas with multiple entries will be up to three years, or the length of time that the individual’s passport is valid, whichever comes first.
Today, we announced the opening of the new temporary resident pathway for extended family members in Gaza of Canadian citizens and permanent residents: https://t.co/hZnawizIAg
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) January 9, 2024
This measure provides a temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza… pic.twitter.com/bXyKK306er
Measures Already in Place for Israelis and Palestinians in Canada
In a statement released on December 21, the Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, announced that Israelis and Palestinians who are already in Canada are eligible for a free open work permit as well as a study permit.
Study permits and work permits that do not require payment will also be made accessible to Canadian family members and permanent residents who are residing in the impacted area.
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