Facilitative Measures to Support Israeli and Palestinian Nationals in Canada
Foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who arrived on or after October 7, 2023 will benefit from priority processing for their in-Canada applications for study permits and open work permits. This is to ensure a reduced wait time between arriving, applying in Canada, and waiting for study and work permit applications to be processed to grant access to the labour market and a means of self-support.
Eligibility related to Facilitative Measures
Under these measures, the following clients may be eligible for a fee-exempt study permit or open work permit, and to change the conditions of their temporary stay:
- Israeli nationals and Palestinian passport or travel document holders already in Canada (individuals with expired Israeli or Palestinian passports / travel documents must provide proof of Israeli or Palestinian citizenship along with a valid passport from another country)
- A national of Israel or the Palestinian Territories who is in Canada with valid temporary resident status (regardless of the date of their arrival) and who applies
- to change the conditions of their temporary stay as one of the following:
-
- worker
- student
- foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents (PRs) who are authorized entry as temporary residents (TRs) from Israel and the Palestinian Territories
- is the family member—per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations—of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
- left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
- is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
Note: To be eligible for the above-noted measures, the foreign national is not required to have travelled with the Canadian citizen or permanent resident family member.
Note: Clients are not eligible to apply for a study permit or open work permit under this public policy at a port of entry.
Important: To be eligible for facilitation under these facilitative measures, a national of Israel or the Palestinian Territories must be “in Canada with valid temporary resident status.” An individual who has applied for facilitation 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. Please note that in the usual course, a foreign national who leaves Canada no longer holds valid temporary resident status and must present themselves at the port of entry where a decision will be made whether to permit re-entry as a temporary resident.
Officers should confirm that the applicant has not left Canada prior to issuing a study permit or open work permit under the public policy. Officers can find instructions on confirming exit here: Entry/Exit Program.
Program-Specific Special Measures
Medical exams
Foreign nationals may be eligible for exemption from a subsequent immigration medical examination (IME) under the temporary public policy. Officers should refer to Temporary public policy to exempt certain foreign nationals from the IME for additional guidance.
Change Temporary Resident Status in Canada
Israeli and Palestinian nationals, as well as foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents (PRs) who have arrived as temporary residents (TRs) from Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and who are applying from within Canada and have valid temporary resident status in Canada are eligible to apply to change the conditions of their stay, free of charge.
Clients who apply to change the conditions of their stay before it expires maintain their status as per subsection 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 TRP holders.
If the client is applying for a new or subsequent temporary resident permit (TRP), officers should refer to Temporary resident permits for additional guidance.
Important: Extensions of temporary resident status are not included under these temporary special measures. Clients may apply via regular channels to extend their temporary resident status.
Issuance of Work Permits in Canada
These public policies ensure that the following cohorts can apply for fee exempt work permits from inside Canada:
- Israeli and Palestinian nationals who are applying from within Canada who have valid temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application submission and application decision
- foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- holds a passport or travel document issued by Israel or the Palestinian Authority
- or is a foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
- and
- has valid temporary resident status in Canada (including temporary residents with maintained status as per subsection R183(5));
- and they have applied for a work permit in Canada (employer-specific or open)
Open work permit validity could be valid up to three years as per officer discretion (or not exceeding passport validity).
The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived:
- initial work permit – exemption code 999
- open work permit holder – exemption code P03
Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.
Regular Work Permit Application
Applications submitted in the regular work permit categories under sections R204 to R208 for Israeli or Palestinian nationals and foreign national family members should be processed as per the instructions for the specific work permit category.
Applications submitted with an LMIA for nationals of Israel or the Palestinian Territories and foreign national family members 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, free of charge, while remaining in Canada. This will allow nationals of Israel or the Palestinian Territories already in Canada as well as foreign national family members who left the region to support themselves until they are able to return to their home country.
Note: Clients are not eligible to apply for an open work permit at a port of entry under this public policy.
Conditions: If the applicant has not completed a medical examination, the following condition should be imposed: “Not authorized to work in 1) child care, 2) primary or secondary school, 3) health services field occupations.”
Possible documentation that foreign national family members could provide to demonstrate eligibility under these special measures include (but are not limited to): a copy of their passport, travel itinerary, plane tickets, along with proof of relationship (such as a marriage certificate, proof of common-law relationship, birth certificates for children).
Officers should refer to Temporary Workers for additional guidance.
Study Permits Within Canada
- Israeli and Palestinian nationals who are applying from within Canada who have valid temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application submission and application decision
- foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
Note: Clients are not eligible to apply for a study permit at a port of entry under this public policy.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- holds a passport or travel document issued by Israel or the Palestinian Authority
- or is a foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023
- and
- has valid temporary resident status in Canada (including temporary residents with maintained status as per subsection R183(5));
- they have applied for a student permit in Canada under section 216 of the Regulations
The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived:
- initial study permit
Study permit validity must be tied to the specified period of study (and passport validity).
Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.
All applicants must submit their study permit applications by following the instructions to apply for a study permit. Clients who apply to change their status before it expires will maintain their existing status while their application is being processed.
Possible documentation that foreign national family members could provide to demonstrate eligibility under these special measures include (but are not limited to): a copy of their passport, travel itinerary, plane tickets, along with proof of relationship (i.e. marriage certificate, proof of common-law relationship, birth certificates for children).
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at info@poonahimmigrationlaw.com for further information.
