Temporary special measures in response to the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
April 18, 2023
These operational instructions include processing instructions related to temporary special measures to support:
- Turkish and Syrian nationals who are already in Canada on a temporary basis and can’t return home at this time
- Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents in Türkiye and Syria in need of replacement travel and/or citizenship documents to return to Canada
As some permanent residence applicants in Türkiye and Syria may have lost their passports during the earthquakes, and seeking replacements may be time-consuming or difficult as these countries manage the crisis, these special measures also waive the requirement to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.
These special measures are in effect from March 29, 2023, until September 25, 2023.
New instructions
- Temporary special measures in response to the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria