Temporary public policy to facilitate extensions of open work permits for foreign nationals in Canada who were facilitated under previous public policies for foreign nationals of Palestine

Background:

The situation within Palestine remains volatile since the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered an Israeli response that resulted in the death of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed large swathes of Gaza.

Many persons holding a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority have chosen to come to Canada to spend time with family, study, or work temporarily. Many foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who fled Palestine as a result of the conflict are in Canada on temporary status. Some of these foreign nationals remain unable to return home due to the conflict.

Public Policy Considerations:

This temporary public policy continues facilitation for eligible foreign nationals from Palestine who are in Canada with temporary resident status. The measures outlined in this public policy will facilitate continued access to open work permit extensions from within Canada, with standard fees, for foreign nationals who hold a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority and family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who currently hold a work permit issued on the basis of exemptions under the previous public policies to support nationals of Palestine who are in Canada as temporary residents.

Therefore, I hereby establish that, pursuant to my authority under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act), there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting of exemptions from the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions (eligibility requirements) set out below.

Conditions (eligibility requirements):

Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the Regulations identified below when a foreign national meets the following conditions:

Part 1 – Nationals of Palestine who are in Canada as temporary residents

1. The foreign national
   1. holds a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority;
   2. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status;
   3. holds a valid work permit, at the time of application under 1)d., issued on the basis of exemptions under one of the following public policies:
      1. Temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents, signed on December 16, 2023;
      2. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, signed on December 16, 2023;
      3. Temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as a temporary resident, signed on March 7, 2024;
      4. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, signed on March 7, 2024;
      5. Updated temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents – Extension, signed on June 11, 2024;
      6. Updated temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023 – Extension, signed on June 11, 2024; or
      7. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals of the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents, signed on July 31, 2025.
   4. has applied from within Canada for a work permit renewal under subsection 201(1); and
   5. has not already been granted an exemption under this public policy.

Part 2 - Foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, including those arriving in Canada following assisted departure

2. The foreign national
   1. is the family member – per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations – of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who left Palestine on or after October 7, 2023;
   2. left Palestine on or after October 7, 2023;
   3. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status;
   4. holds a valid work permit, at the time of application under 2)e., issued on the basis of exemptions under one of the following public policies:
      1. Temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents, signed on December 16, 2023;
      2. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, signed on December 16, 2023;
      3. Temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as a temporary resident, signed on March 7, 2024;
      4. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, signed on March 7, 2024;
      5. Updated temporary public policy for nationals of Israel and the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents – Extension, signed on June 11, 2024;
      6. Updated temporary public policy for foreign nationals who are family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023 – Extension, signed on June 11, 2024; or
      7. Temporary public policy for foreign nationals of the Palestinian Territories who are in Canada as temporary residents, signed on July 31, 2025.
   5. has applied from within Canada for a work permit renewal under subsection 201(1); and
   6. has not already been granted an exemption under this public policy.

Provisions of the Act for which an exemption may be granted:

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 1) and 2)

• Paragraph 200(1)(c) – the requirement to be described under this paragraph of the Regulations;

Other Admissibility and Selection Criteria:

Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all other applicable eligibility and admissibility requirements not otherwise exempted.

Effective Date and Expiration:

This public policy comes into effect on August 1, 2026, and expires on December 30, 2027, and may be revoked at any time without prior notice.

This public policy applies to applications received on or after the date it comes into effect, and before the expiry date or the revocation of the public policy.