Temporary public policy for the resettlement of Afghan nationals with a significant and/or enduring relationship to Canada (updated November 10, 2021)

Background

The withdrawal of international forces, which began on May 1, 2021 and is now virtually complete, has created significant risks with respect to security in the country. Security concerns in Afghanistan are increasing as the Taliban reassert their influence, as well as a number of significant border crossings, making it very difficult for individuals to leave.

Afghan nationals in Afghanistan with a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada will face an increased risk of being targeted for attacks and assassination campaigns due to the perception by insurgents that they have supported “western interests”.

The Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Afghan Nationals with a Significant and/or Enduring Relationship to Canada recognizes the high vulnerability and elevated risk faced by individuals in Afghanistan associated with the Government of Canada, as well as their accompanying family members and certain other members of their household, as specified below. This new temporary public policy will facilitate the immigration of individuals with a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada and their family members and/or certain other members of their household to Canada as members of the Convention Refugee Abroad Class of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“the Regulations”).

I hereby establish that, in light of the foregoing, there are sufficient public policy considerations to justify granting exemptions, pursuant to section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (“the Act”), to the requirements of the provisions of the Act and Regulations listed below for Afghan nationals who are or were associated with the Government of Canada, and their accompanying family members or/and some other household members, who apply for a permanent resident visa as members of the Convention Refugee Abroad Class and meet the conditions set out below, as well as all admissibility requirements as set out in the Act.

Part 1: Conditions (eligibility requirements) applicable to Afghan nationals associated with the Government of Canada:

Delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the Regulations identified below when the following conditions are met:

  1. The Afghan national is included on a list (“the List”) submitted to the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The Afghan nationals included on the List are referred to IRCC on the basis of an assessment performed by GAC, which confirms their significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada; or
    The Afghan national is included on a list (the List) submitted to IRCC by the Department of National Defence (DND). The Afghan nationals included on the List are referred to IRCC on the basis of an assessment performed by (DND), which confirms their significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada; and
  2. The Afghan national referred by GAC and DND or their family or some other household member was in Afghanistan on or after July 22, 2021, the date the original public policy took effect. IRCC received a completed application from individuals on the List and their family or certain other household members on or before January 31, 2022.

Requirements of the provisions of the Act and Regulations for which an exemption may be granted:

Part 2: Condition (eligibility requirements) applicable to the family members or certain other household members of the family of the principal applicant or their family members:

Delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the Act and Regulations identified below to a family or household member of the principal applicant if:

  1. The foreign national meets the definition of a “family member” in subsection 1(3) of the Regulations and is a “family member” per this definition of a principal applicant who meets the conditions set out in Part 1 of this public policy; or
  2. The foreign national meets the definition of a “de facto dependent” as per the operational procedure 5 subsection 6.13 (Annex A) and is a “de facto dependent” of a principal applicant who meets the conditions set out in Part 1 of this public policy; or
  3. The foreign national ordinarily resides within the same household as the principal applicant who meets the conditions set out in Part 1 of this public policy and is a father, mother, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, cousin or legal guardian of child who resides in the household.

Requirements of the provisions of the Act and Regulations for which an exemption may be granted:

Other statutory eligibility and admissibility requirements:

Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy including all accompanying family members and some other members of the household are subject to all other applicable statutory eligibility and admissibility requirements not addressed by this temporary public policy, including the requirement not to be inadmissible on criminal, security and health grounds.

Applicants intending to reside in Quebec are subject to the Province of Quebec’s selection criteria further to subsection 70(3) of the Regulations, and cannot be granted permanent residence unless Quebec determines that they meet such criteria.

Coming into effect and expiration

This Public Policy replaces the public policy “Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Afghan Nationals with a Significant and/or Enduring Relationship to Canada” signed on August 22, 2021.

Applications received by IRCC for consideration under the Public Policy signed on August 22, or the Public Policy “ Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Afghan Nationals with a Significant and/or Enduring Relationship to Canada” signed on August 9, 2021, or the Public Policy “ Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Afghan Nationals with a Significant and/or Enduring Relationship to Canada” signed on July 22, 2021, and pending at the time of the signature of this Public Policy will be processed under this Public Policy.

This public policy takes effect on the date of my signature and it may be revoked at any time. This Public Policy ends on January 31, 2022, or once applications for 14,000 individuals (principal applicants and their family members and or other members of the household) have been received by IRCC, whichever comes first.

In calculating the cap, applications received by IRCC for consideration under this Public Policy, the Public Policy signed on July 22, 2021, August 9, 2021 or August 22, 2021 will be counted as part of the cap of 14,000 individuals.

All applications received by IRCC up until the cap is reached will be processed under this public policy.

The Hon. Sean Fraser, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Dated at Ottawa, this 10th day of November, 2021

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