Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for Israel and Palestine

Ottawa, September 29, 2026—Nationals and former residents of Israel and of Palestine may now be eligible to apply for pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) if, between September 28, 2025, and September 29, 2026, they received a final negative decision on

• an asylum (refugee) claim from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• a previous PRRA application or
• a Federal Court decision related to their case

A PRRA assesses whether someone would face risks such as persecution, torture or serious harm if removed from Canada. Normally, individuals must wait 12 months after receiving a negative protection decision before they may be eligible to apply for a PRRA. However, IRCC can lift this waiting period when there’s a sudden change in conditions in someone’s country of origin.

Individuals must keep their PRRA application up to date and inform IRCC of any changes to their application. Being eligible to apply for a PRRA doesn’t guarantee that someone will be allowed to stay in Canada. IRCC officers will continue to decide on each case individually, based on the information provided. Individuals who are subject to a removal order for reasons of serious inadmissibility or individuals who have been previously excluded from refugee protection may be eligible only for a restricted PRRA.

Nationals and former residents of Israel or Palestine who receive a final negative decision after September 29, 2026, aren’t eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months because current country conditions would have been considered as part of their asylum claim or PRRA process.