Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for the West Bank and Gaza

Ottawa, December 22, 2023—We remain deeply concerned about the situation in the West Bank and Gaza. Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, conditions in the region have continued to worsen and could put people at risk if they were to return.

People from the West Bank and Gaza who received a negative final decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada or the Federal Court between December 23, 2022, and December 22, 2023, may now be eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). People who received a final PRRA decision from IRCC during that period may also be eligible to apply. In normal circumstances, people are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months following a negative decision.

Canada Border Services Agency will advise eligible people from the West Bank and Gaza that they can apply for a PRRA if they are currently subject to an enforceable removal order.

People are responsible for keeping their PRRA application up to date and informing IRCC of any changes to their application. Being eligible to apply for a PRRA does not guarantee its outcome. IRCC officers will continue to decide on each case individually, based on the information provided.

People from the West Bank and Gaza who receive a final negative decision after December 22, 2023, are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months. That is because any recent changes in country conditions would have been considered when the refugee claim was decided or during the PRRA process.