Backgrounder: Canada announces the extension of measures in support of the people of Syria

In December 2024, the fall of the Assad regime signalled the start of a new chapter for the people of Syria. After decades of oppression and 13 years of conflict, the majority of Syrians now live below the poverty line, with millions in need of humanitarian assistance.

Canada continues to provide humanitarian assistance to support protection, health, and food security needs in Syria.

In February 2025, Canada took an additional step to support Syria, by easing existing sanctions for a period of 6 months, to support democratization, stabilization, and the delivery of aid to, and within, Syria during this period of political transition.

To achieve this, Canada announced the issuance of a General Permit (the “General Permit [Syria]”), under the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order. The General Permit temporarily allows any person in Canada and Canadians outside Canada to carry out transactions of funds and related financial services when provided in support of democratization, stabilization and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to, and within, Syria that are otherwise prohibited under the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (the “Syria Regulations”). This includes transactions with the Central Bank of Syria and 6 other Syrian state-owned and affiliated banks that are all currently sanctioned under the Syria Regulations.

The initial General Permit was valid for a period of six months. On August 27, 2025, the validity period of the General Permit (Syria) was extended for an additional six months, until February 23, 2026, to reaffirm Canada’s commitment and continued support for Syrians.

The General Permit (Syria) is aligned with similar measures taken by Canada’s international partners — including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union — to ease their own sanctions on Syria to support the recovery of the country’s economy and its political transition toward peace and prosperity.

For any activity or transaction outside the scope of the General Permit (Syria) mentioned above, persons in Canada or Canadians outside Canada are prohibited from dealing in the property of, entering into transactions with, providing services to, transferring property to, or otherwise making goods available to listed persons under the Syria Regulations. Other prohibitions under the Criminal Code as well as pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions may still apply for humanitarian-related and other activities.