Crisis in Gaza: Financial assistance
Updated eligibility requirements
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is giving financial assistance to help eligible individuals and families who are impacted by the crisis in Gaza and are in Canada with valid temporary resident status.
The financial assistance is a non-taxable, one-time payment to help take care of your immediate and basic needs while you get settled in Canada.
To make sure those who are already in Canada can quickly access financial assistance to meet their basic needs, we’re providing the one-time payments in stages.
We’re now accepting applications from eligible applicants who arrive in Canada by December 31, 2026. If you arrive in Canada on or before this date, you must apply before March 31, 2027 to receive financial assistance. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible after arriving.
How much can you expect to receive
- CAN$3,000 for each adult (18 or older)
- CAN$1,500 for each child (17 and under)
On this page
Who can apply
You can apply if you meet the requirements for 1 of the 3 groups below.
- You hold a passport or another travel document issued by the State of Palestine, and you
- left Gaza on or after September 1, 2023
- arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026 Updated
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status
- You’re the immediate family member of someone under group 1, and you
- arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026 Updated
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status
- You were part of the Government of Canada assisted departures out of Gaza or the West Bank between November 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, and you
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status
Deadline to apply: March 31, 2027
Claiming refugee protection in Canada affects your temporary resident status
You’re not eligible for financial assistance under this program if you submit a claim for refugee protection (asylum) in Canada. This is because you’re no longer considered a temporary resident while you wait for a decision on your asylum claim.
Before you apply
If you don’t have a Canadian bank account, you need one to receive payment. This is because payment is made by direct deposit. We don’t provide financial assistance in cash.
To open a bank account, you need your
- temporary resident status document [IMM 1442] (opens in a new tab)
- This is your
- visitor record
- work permit
- study permit
- temporary resident permit
- passport (or other travel document)
- This is your
Learn more about opening a bank account in Canada (opens in a new tab) , including your rights and responsibilities.
How to apply
If you meet the requirements, we’ll contact you by email with instructions on how to apply.
Step 1: Follow the instructions in the email we sent you
In your email, we’ll give you
- information on the financial assistance
- instructions on how to apply
- an email address for you to contact us to start your application
If you didn’t get an email with instructions and you think you may be eligible, contact us using our crisis web form.
Step 2: Get the application form and fill it out
After you contact us to start your application, we’ll send you
- an application form
- instructions on what information and supporting documents to send us
Step 3: Send us your completed application
Follow the instructions in your email and send us
- your completed and signed application form
- the required information and supporting documents indicated in your email and on the form
After you apply
How to send us your bank information
After we receive your completed application, we’ll send you a link to a secure web form. Use the secure web form to send us the information for the bank account where you want us to deposit the funds.
Don’t send us your bank information by email.
To set up direct deposit, we’ll need the following information:
- transit number
- institution number
- account number
Your bank can give you this information either with a
- direct deposit form
- This will have all 3 of these numbers, usually labelled.
- void cheque
- This also has all 3 of the numbers, but they are not usually labelled.
For security reasons, the link to the secure web form is generated only for you and expires after 10 business days. If your link expires, we’ll contact you and send you a new one.
Find out more about the secure web form and how to make sure the email is from us.
If your application is approved
- Payment will be made by direct deposit in the bank account that was provided in the secure web form.
- When your payment is processed, we’ll email you a “Notification of Payment Letter” and a copy of your signed application.
- After your payment is processed, your bank may take 3 to 5 business days to show the deposit in your account.
If you have problems with your payment or have questions
Contact us using the email address that was provided to you.