Temporary public policy for foreign nationals of Palestine who will arrive in Canada as temporary residents on or before September 30, 2027

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 foreign national family members, including immediate and extended family members, of Canadian citizens or permanent residents have pending applications for temporary resident visas under the Updated temporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza, and may arrive in Canada as temporary residents.

Public Policy Considerations:

This temporary public policy facilitates access to education systems and the Canadian labour market for eligible foreign nationals who arrive in Canada with temporary resident status by September 30, 2027, and who have not been granted an exemption under previous public policies offering in-Canada measures for Palestinians, by enabling them to apply from within Canada for fee-exempt study permits, open work permits and/or temporary resident permits and move between temporary resident streams, while also enabling those who wish to extend their existing temporary status in Canada to do so without fees.

Therefore, I hereby establish that there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting, pursuant to section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, of exemptions from the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   4. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit; and
   5. was not granted an exemption under any 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.
2. 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   4. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit; and
   5. has applied for a work permit under section 200 or 201 of the Regulations; and
   6. was not granted an exemption under any 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.
3. 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   4. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit; and
   5. has applied for a study permit under section 216 or 217 of the Regulations; and
   6. was not granted an exemption under any 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.

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

4. 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   5. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit; and
   6. was not granted an exemption under any 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. 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   5. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit;
   6. has applied for a work permit under section 200 or 201 of the Regulations; and
   7. was not granted an exemption under any 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.
6. 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. has, at the time of application, an authorized period of stay which began on or before September 30, 2027;
   5. has applied for
      1. an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Regulations, or
      2. a temporary resident permit;
   6. has applied for a study permit under section 216 or 217 of the Regulations; and
   7. was not granted an exemption under any 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.

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

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 1) and 4)

• Subsection 298(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for a temporary resident permit;
• Subsection 305(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for an extension of authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 2) and 5)

• Paragraphs 199(a)-(i) – the requirements that a foreign national must meet in order to apply for a work permit after entering Canada;
• Paragraph 200(1)(c) – the requirement to be described under this paragraph of the Regulations;
• Subsection 298(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for a temporary resident permit;
• Subsection 299(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for a work permit

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 3) and 6)

• Section 213 – the requirement to apply for a study permit before entering Canada;
• Paragraphs 215(1)(a)-(g) – the requirements that a foreign national must meet in order to apply for a study permit after entering Canada;
• Subsection 298(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for a temporary resident permit;
• Subsection 300(1) – the requirement to pay an application processing fee for a study permit

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.