Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or after March 1, 2025
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
These instructions provide operational guidance related to the temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents who came to Canada to visit or spend time with family, study or work temporarily. With the situation ongoing in Iran, some of these temporary residents may be unable to return to Iran at this time.
The updated public policy continues to provide facilitated access to open work permits, work permit extensions and initial study permits from within Canada for Iranian nationals who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025.
However, effective March 1, 2025, these applications are subject to standard application and biometric fees, where applicable.
The measures which provided travel document and citizenship certificate fee waivers for Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who reside in Iran ended on February 28, 2025.
All standard eligibility and admissibility requirements not exempted under these measures must be met by clients. Applicants who don’t meet these requirements may have their applications refused.
This temporary public policy took effect on March 1, 2025 and expired on February 28, 2026.
Note: Officers processing applications submitted on or before February 28, 2025, from Iranian nationals who are in Canada with valid temporary resident status, or from Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents in Iran seeking fee-exempt travel documents and citizenship certificates, should refer to the instructions found in the following PDI: Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or before February 28, 2025.
On this page
Background
While the protests that erupted following the tragic killing on September 16, 2022 of Mahsa Amini have ended, the situation in Iran continues to be unstable due to a combination of factors, most notably Iran’s implication in the regional conflict that emerged as a result of Israel’s war in Gaza.
It is understood that Iranian national temporary residents in Canada may be unable to return to Iran at this time.
While the fee waiver measures outlined in the Temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents - archived have ended, facilitative measures have been extended for Iranian nationals who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025, to provide them continued access to apply from within Canada for a study permit or open work permit, or to extend an existing work permit.
Eligibility
Under this temporary public policy, the following clients may be eligible:
- A foreign national who meets the following criteria:
- is a national of Iran in Canada with valid temporary resident status; and
- arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025; and subsequently applied for 1 of the following:
- a work permit
- a work permit extension; or
- a study permit
Important: To be eligible for facilitation under this temporary public policy, the applicant must have arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025 and remained in Canada until the submission of their application under the temporary public policy.
An applicant under the public policy may leave Canada while their application is pending but must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status at the time the decision is rendered to benefit from facilitation under the public policy.
Foreign nationals who depart Canada lose temporary resident status as per section 47(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protections Act (IRPA) and subsection 183(4)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). For further information, officers should refer to: Travel outside Canada.
Note: Clients are not eligible to apply under this public policy at a port of entry (POE).
Valid temporary resident status
To meet the valid temporary resident status requirement in the eligibility criteria set out above, a foreign national must:
- Be physically present in Canada at the time of application and when a decision is made.
- Have been authorized to enter as a temporary resident under section 22 or 24 of the IRPA
- Be within their period of authorized stay as a temporary resident or have maintained their status under section R183(5)
Important: Officers should be satisfied that the applicant is in Canada. In addition to considering all documents provided by the applicant, officers may consult the Entry/Exit Program. If entry/exit results reveal that the applicant has left Canada, the officer should send a request for proof of status in Canada before making a final decision.
Restoration of temporary resident status
Clients who are eligible for restoration may apply to restore their status at the same time as submitting an application under these measures. However, officers must first render a decision on the application for restoration. Officers should refer to Restoration of temporary resident status for additional guidance.
Program-specific special measures
Issuing work permits or extensions in Canada
This temporary public policy provides eligible Iranian nationals in Canada with facilitated access to apply for initial work permits, including open work permits, and work permit extensions from within Canada.
The validity period of the initial work permit or work permit extension is subject to the client’s passport or biometrics validity, as well as the discretion of the processing officer, however officers may consider issuing the permit for up to 2 years from the date of decision.
Regular work permit application
Applications submitted in Canada under the regular work permit categories under R204 to R208 for eligible foreign nationals should be processed as per the instructions for the specific work permit category.
Applications submitted in Canada with an LMIA for nationals of Iran should be processed as per the instructions: Labour Market Impact Assessment Review.
Public policy open work permit application
These special measures include facilitated access to open work permit applications or extensions in Canada. This will allow clients to support themselves until they are able to return to their home country.
Issuing open work permits in the GCMS
The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with the following:
The exemptions under this public policy are granted under the authority of Section 25.2 of the IRPA. Applicants are still required to meet the other requirements for work permit issuance.
The open work permit is issued and is coded as follows:
| Field | Selection or input |
|---|---|
| Case Type | 20 |
| Province of destination | Unknown |
| LMIA exemption code |
R01 This code should be entered manually |
| Employer | Open |
| Intended Occupation | Open |
| NOC | 99999 |
| Conditions |
Officers should ensure that instructions provided in Work permit issuance in GCMS: Unrestricted are followed. If the applicant has not completed a medical examination and
Officers can check if a country is IME designated here: Find out if you need a medical exam. |
| Biometrics |
Work permit applicants are required to provide biometric information. The regular biometric exemptions apply (for example, age or 1 in 10). |
| User remarks (mandatory) | Permit issued under temporary special measures for nationals of Iran in Canada |
| Duration | Officers hold the delegated authority to determine the authorized period of stay, but may consider issuing the work permit with a validity of up to 2 years or passport or biometric validity, whichever is first. |
Issuing study permits in Canada
These special measures provide eligible individuals with facilitated access to apply for study permits in Canada.
Note: Temporary residents in Canada who don’t currently have a study permit are subject to the cap on study permit applications. Study permit applicants are required to provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study, unless they meet one of the exceptions. Eligible clients applying for a new study permit under these measures are exempt from these requirements based on a public policy as part of a migration response to a crisis.
All applicants must submit their study permit application by following the instructions to apply for a study permit.
Study permit validity should be tied to the specified period of study (and passport validity).
Officers should refer to Temporary Residents: Students for additional guidance.
Note: Clients seeking to extend their stay as a visitor by applying for a visitor record, to extend their study permit or to extend their stay as a temporary resident permit (TRP) holder by applying for a subsequent or new TRP, can apply under regular pathways, subject to standard program requirements.
Refusals
Officers may encounter applications submitted from clients who are ineligible for this temporary public policy, who do not meet other standard eligibility requirements or who are found to be inadmissible to Canada. If an officer has determined that the applicant does not meet eligibility requirements or is inadmissible, the application should be refused.
Officers should record their reasons for decision as per the instructions in: Decision making: Standard of review and process for making a reasonable decision.
If a refusal is warranted due to the applicant not meeting the eligibility requirements of this public policy, officers should select “Other” ground, and include the following comment:
You do not meet eligibility requirements as per the updated temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents.