Temporary measures to support nationals of Sudan in Canada

These instructions provide operational guidance related to the temporary public policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada as temporary residents. This updated public policy continues to provide facilitated access to fee-exempt open work permits (OWPs), study permits (SPs), and/or temporary resident permits (TRPs), allowing Sudanese nationals in Canada to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay.

These measures also waive the requirement for Sudanese nationals who have lost their passports in the conflict to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa (PRV) to come to Canada.

All standard eligibility and admissibility requirements not exempt under these measures must be met by applicant. Applicants who do not meet these requirements may have their applications refused.

This temporary public policy took effect October 28, 2025 and expires on October 27, 2026.

On this page

• Background
• Eligibility
  • Valid temporary resident status
• Program-specific special measures
  • Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada
  • Fee waiver for issuance of work permits in Canada
  • Issuing open work permits in the GCMS
  • Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada
  • Permanent Resident Visa document exemptions
  • Fee waivers for in-Canada biometrics
  • Refusals for ineligible applicants

Background

The humanitarian crisis affecting Sudanese civilians is worsening as the civil war continues. Sudan has the largest displaced population in the world, comprising over 14.5 million internally and externally displaced people. An estimated 10.5 million people have been internally displaced since mid-April 2023, including those who experienced secondary displacement.

Many Sudanese nationals have chosen to come to Canada to visit, study, or work. Foreign nationals who arrived in Canada following assisted departure in 2023 have sought similar access to education and Canada’s labour market. Some of these temporary residents may be unable to return to Sudan at this time due to worsening country conditions. These measures will allow those who wish to extend their temporary stay in Canada and to move between temporary resident streams to do so.

Eligibility

Under Temporary public policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada as temporary residents, the following clients may be eligible:

1. A foreign national who meets the following criteria:
   1. is a national of Sudan in Canada with valid temporary resident status; and who subsequently applies to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay as one of the following:
      1. worker
      2. student
      3. visitor

      or

   2. for a new or subsequent temporary resident permit

The temporary public policy also waives the requirement for Sudanese nationals who have lost their passports in the conflict situation to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

The following applicants may be eligible:

1. A foreign national who meets the following criteria:
   • Is a national of Sudan;
   • Is ready to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada, but is unable to obtain a prescribed passport or travel document as described in section 50(1) of the Regulations; and
   • Is outside of Canada.

Valid temporary resident status

To meet the valid temporary resident status requirement in the eligibility criteria set out above, a foreign national must:

1. Be physically present in Canada at the time of application and when a decision is made.
2. Have been authorized to enter as a temporary resident under section 22 or 24 of the IRPA
3. Be within their period of authorized stay as a temporary resident or have maintained their status under section R183(5)

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

Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada

Sudanese nationals who are applying from within Canada and who have valid temporary resident status in Canada are eligible for a fee waiver when they apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay. They are also exempt from paying the biometric enrolment fee under these special measures. See below for more information about biometrics.

Under this temporary public policy, officers may also waive the following fees for eligible applicants:

• extension of visitor status – exemption code ‘999’
• temporary resident permit – exemption code ‘999’
• biometrics – exemption code ‘B11’

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

Officers may issue visitor extensions of up to 6 months or until passport or biometrics validity, whichever comes first.

Clients who apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay before it expires, maintain their status as per R183(5) while their application is processed. Officers should refer to Temporary residents: Maintained status during processing (previously called implied status) for additional instructions. This does not apply to temporary resident permit (TRP) holders.

If the applicant is applying for a new or subsequent TRP, officers should refer to Temporary resident permits for additional guidance.

Fee waiver for issuance of work permits in Canada

This temporary public policy includes a fee waiver for initial work permit applications, including open work permits, and work permit extensions in Canada.

Officers may waive the following fees for eligible applicants under these temporary measures:

• initial or renewal of work permit – exemption code ‘999’
• open work permit – exemption code ‘P03’
• temporary resident permit (if applicable) – exemption code ‘999’

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

Regular work permit application

Applications submitted in the regular work permit categories under R204 to R208 for nationals of Sudan are fee-exempt but should be processed as per the instructions for the specific work permit category.

Applications submitted with an Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for nationals of Sudan are fee-exempt but should be processed as per the instructions: Labour Market Impact Assessment Review.

Public policy open work permit application

The public policy allows eligible temporary residents in Canada to submit an application for an open work permit while remaining in Canada. This will allow nationals of Sudan 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:

• Open work permit – General processing and issuance
• Conditions and validity period on work permits

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:

Fee waiver for issuing study permits or study permit extensions in Canada

These measures include fee-exempt study permit applications or study permit extensions.

Officers may waive the following fees for eligible applicants under these temporary measures:

• initial or renewal of study permit – exemption code ‘999’
• temporary resident permit (if applicable) – exemption code “999”

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

Study permit extension validity must be tied to the specified period of study (and passport validity).

All applicants must submit their study permit or study permit extension application by following the instructions to extend their study permit. Clients who apply for an extension or to change their status before it expires will maintain their status while their application is being processed.

Officers should refer to Temporary Residents: Students for additional guidance.

Permanent resident visa document exemptions

The Temporary public policy for foreign nationals from Sudan who are in Canada as temporary residents waives the requirement for Sudanese nationals, who have lost their passports in the conflict, to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

As per the ministerial instructions issued under subsection 15(4) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Single Journey Travel Document (SJTD) (IMM 5565) is issued under limited and exceptional circumstances to specified client groups who do not possess, or cannot obtain, an acceptable passport or travel document.

If the client is approved for a permanent resident visa and where the minister has issued a public policy under section A25.2 waiving IRPA requirements to possess an acceptable passport or travel document for visa processing and to enter Canada, refer to the Single Journey Travel Documents  for further guidance and instructions on the issuance process.

Normally, a copy of the passport or travel document should be uploaded to the application. However, there may be instances where the passport or travel document is not included.

Fee waivers for in-Canada biometrics

All individuals required to do so must provide their biometric information in support of their application. However, under these measures, officers may waive the biometrics enrolment fee. Officers must manually enter the biometric fee waiver code to issue a biometric instruction letter (BIL).

• Biometric fee waiver code: B11

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

For more information on biometrics and fees

• Biometrics collection and screening
• Biometric fee

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by applicants.

Refusals for ineligible applicants

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 the eligibility requirements as per the updated temporary public policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada as temporary residents.