Temporary public policy for the resettlement of certain Afghan nationals selected by the Minister of IRCC – Hazara Afghan nationals

Public Policy Considerations

The complete withdrawal of international forces has created significant risks with respect to security in Afghanistan. Security concerns in Afghanistan are increasing as the Taliban reassert their political influence, as well as their control over border crossings, making it difficult for individuals to leave. Allied partners as well as special interest groups are attempting to facilitate the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans including women, children, members of the LGBTI community and individuals associated with allied forces from within and outside the country.

The Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Certain Afghan Nationals Identified by the Minister of IRCC – Hazara Afghan Nationals recognizes the high vulnerability and elevated risk faced by certain Afghans, as specified below. This aforementioned group is at higher risk of violence inside Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s ideology regarding gender roles and religious and ethnic minorities. Risks to these individuals include ongoing harassment, gender based violence and ethnic-based persecution.

The foreign nationals identified in this public policy allege that they have received direct threats, specifically that they would be forced into marriage to members of the Taliban. The credibility of these threats is supported by well-documented examples of Taliban persecution of women, including forced- and child- marriages, gender based harassment and violence, and widespread persecution of members of the Hazara ethnic group.

As such, this temporary public policy will facilitate the immigration of certain Afghan nationals who are at risk of persecution in Afghanistan on the basis of their gender and/or ethnicity, or their affiliation with members of these persecuted groups.

Afghan nationals benefiting from this public policy:

In light of the foregoing, I hereby determine that the following Afghan nationals included on the appended list (“the List”), which is comprised of female individuals of Hazara ethnicity (where, if they are under the age of 18 and orphans, I have determined that resettlement to Canada is in their best interest), their chaperones, and a family member of the chaperones, are exempted from all of the eligibility requirements of the Convention Refugee Abroad class and are exempt from the requirement of Section 307 of the Regulations – to pay the application processing fee for examining circumstances under subsection 25.2(1) of the Act.

Other statutory admissibility requirements:

Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all applicable admissibility requirements, including the requirement not to be inadmissible on criminal, security and health grounds.

Applicants intending to reside in Quebec are subject to the Province of Quebec’s selection criteria further to subsection 70(3) of the Regulations, and cannot be granted permanent residence unless Quebec determines that they meet such criteria.