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Temporary special measures in response to the crisis in Haiti

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

These instructions provide operational guidance related to temporary special measures to support Haitian nationals in Canada with valid temporary resident status, as well as foreign national family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who left Haiti on or after March 1, 2024, and who arrived in Canada on or before April 26, 2024, and are in Canada with valid temporary resident status.

These special measures waive certain processing fees to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay and facilitate the issuance of fee-exempt study permits and open work permits, thereby allowing eligible clients to move between temporary streams. As some permanent residence applicants in Haiti may have lost their passports and seeking replacements may be time-consuming or difficult given the current circumstances in the country, these measures also waive the requirement to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to travel to Canada.

Additionally, the measures provide travel document and citizenship certificate fee waivers for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Haiti to help facilitate their travel.

All standard eligibility and admissibility requirements not otherwise exempted under this or another public policy must be met by clients; however, officers should take into consideration the circumstances of the clients and the availability of a large diaspora community in Canada that could provide support for them.

These special measures take effect May 23, 2024, until November 19, 2024.

On this page

Background

Haiti has been in a state of unrest for several years, with a recent escalation of gang violence leading to the Prime Minister’s resignation, the closure of the international airport in Port-au-Prince, and the declaration of a state of emergency in the capital region, causing the significant displacement of residents. New special measures are now being put in place to support Canadian citizens and permanent residents who reside in Haiti to help facilitate their travel, foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who left Haiti following assisted departures, as well as Haitian nationals who are in Canada and are unable to return home at this time.

Eligibility

Under these special measures, the following clients may be eligible:

  1. a national of Haiti in Canada with valid temporary resident status who applies
    • to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay as one of the following
      1. worker
      2. student
      3. visitor
      4. temporary resident permit holder
  2. a foreign national who
    • is the family member, per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations, of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
    • left Haiti on or after March 1, 2024
    • arrived in Canada on or before April 26, 2024
    • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status (including temporary residents with maintained status as per subsection R183(5))
    • has applied to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay as one of the following
      1. worker
      2. student
      3. visitor
      4. temporary resident permit holder

Note: A family member under subsection 1(3) of the Regulations is defined as

  1. the spouse or common-law partner of the person
  2. a dependent child of the person or of the person’s spouse or common-law partner
  3. a dependent child of a dependent child referred to in paragraph (b)
  1. a national of Haiti who
    • is ready to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada, but is unable to obtain a passport or travel document as described in section 50(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
    • is outside of Canada
  2. Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Haiti who have applied on or after March 1, 2024, and on or before September 1, 2024, for
    • a citizenship certificate—if the client does not have a certificate for passport issuance (as eligible via the online application or through the paper stream via Canadian consular services)
    • a passport
      • a 1-year limited validity passport (fees are waived)
      • a full validity passport (fees apply)
      • a temporary passport (fees are waived)
    • an emergency travel document (ETD)
    • a permanent resident travel document

Important: To be eligible for facilitation under the Temporary Public Policy for nationals of Haiti in Canada as temporary residents or the Temporary Public Policy for Foreign Nationals who are Family Members of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents who fled violence in Haiti when applying for a work permit, study permit, visitor record, or temporary resident permit, or to extend their existing temporary resident status, a foreign national must be physically in Canada with valid temporary resident status at the time of application under these measures and at the time that a decision is rendered.

Officers should confirm that the applicant is in Canada prior to granting the temporary resident status document or extension of status under these measures. Officers can find instructions on confirming exit here: Entry/Exit Program.

Program-specific special measures

Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada

Eligible foreign nationals who are applying from within Canada and have valid temporary resident status in Canada are eligible to apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay, free of charge.

Clients who apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay before their existing temporary resident status expires maintain their status as per subsection R183(5) while their application is being processed. Officers should refer to Temporary residents: Maintained status during processing (previously called implied status) for additional instructions.

This does not apply to Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) holders. If the client is applying for a new or subsequent TRP, officers should refer to Temporary Resident Permits for additional guidance.

The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived:

Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.

Fee waiver for issuing work permits in Canada

These temporary special measures include fee waivers for work permit applications and extension of work permits in Canada for the following clients:

  1. Nationals of Haiti who are applying from within Canada who have valid temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application submission and application decision
  2. Foreign nationals who
    • are the family member, per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations, of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
    • left Haiti on or after March 1, 2024
    • arrived in Canada on or before April 26, 2024
    • are in Canada with valid temporary resident status (including temporary residents with maintained status as per subsection R183(5))
    • have applied for a work permit in Canada (employer-specific or open)

To be eligible, applicants must hold a passport or travel document.

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). However, supporting documents may be limited due to unique circumstances involving assisted departures.

Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.

Regular work permit application

Applications submitted in the regular work permit categories under section R204 to R208 for Haitian nationals should be processed as per the instructions for the specific work permit category.

Applications submitted with an LMIA for nationals of Haiti should be processed as per the instructions: Labour Market Impact Assessment Review.

Public policy open work permit application

These temporary public policies allow eligible temporary residents in Canada to submit an application for a fee exempt open work permit while remaining in Canada. This will allow foreign nationals in Canada to support themselves while in Canada.

Note: Clients are not eligible to apply for an open work permit under this public policy at a port of entry.

Conditions: If the applicant has not completed a medical examination and

Officers should confirm that the applicant is in Canada prior to granting an open work permit under these public policies. Officers can find instructions on confirming exit here: Entry/Exit Program.

Fee waiver for issuing study permits in Canada

These temporary special measures ensure that the following cohorts can apply for fee exempt study permits from inside Canada:

  1. Nationals of Haiti who are applying from within Canada who have valid temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application submission and application decision
  2. Foreign nationals who
    • are the family member, per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations, of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
    • left Haiti on or after March 1, 2024
    • arrived in Canada on or before April 26, 2024
    • are in Canada with valid temporary resident status (including temporary residents with maintained status as per subsection R183(5))
    • have applied for a study permit

Note: Clients are not eligible to apply for a study permit under this public policy at a port of entry.

To be eligible, applicants must hold a passport or travel document.

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). However, supporting documents may be limited due to unique circumstances involving assisted departures.

The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived:

Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.

Study permit validity must be tied to the specified period of study (and passport validity). All applicants must submit their application for a fee-exempt study permit or extension by following the instructions to apply for a study permit or to extend their study permit. Clients who apply for an extension or to change their status before it expires will maintain their existing status while their application is being processed. Officers should refer to Temporary Residents: Students for additional guidance.

Note: Temporary residents in Canada who do not currently have a work permit, study permit, or temporary resident permit are subject to the new cap on study permit applications. Study permit applicants are required to provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study, unless they meet one of the exceptions.

Fee waivers for in-Canada biometrics

All individuals required to do so must provide their biometric information in support of their application. However, under these measures, the biometrics enrolment fee is waived.

For more information on biometrics and fees

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by clients.

Fee waivers for limited validity passports, temporary passports, emergency travel documents (ETDs), Canadian citizenship certificates and permanent resident travel documents

Under these measures, the following clients may be eligible for fee waivers:

The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived:

Officers should refer to the fee list for latest fee amounts: Fee list.

Refusals

If an officer has determined that the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements, the application should be refused. They should record their reasons for decision as per the instructions in: Decision making: Standard of review and process for making a reasonable decision.

Officers may encounter applications submitted from clients who are ineligible for these special measures. If a refusal is warranted, officers should select “Other” ground, and include the following note, in addition to other applicable reasons, before proceeding to refusal:

Individual does not meet the definition of eligible person as per the public policy for nationals of Haiti who are in Canada as temporary residents or the Temporary Public Policy for Foreign Nationals who are Family Members of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents who fled violence in Haiti.

Officers must also include this note under application remarks in GCMS.

Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage

Permanent residents and accompanying foreign national family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident from Haiti arriving in Canada may be eligible for IFHP coverage.

Eligibility

Permanent residents and the foreign national family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who arrived in Canada between March 1, 2024, and April 26, 2024, in light of the crisis in Haiti may be eligible to apply for temporary IFHP coverage. Clients are instructed on how to apply via specific web content.

Note that Canadian citizens are not eligible. Clients must be in Canada to be eligible for IFHP coverage.

IFHP eligibility and coverage will be determined and issued upon review of IFHP applications submitted via the IRCC secure account.

Permanent resident visa document exemptions

These special measures also waive the requirement for nationals of Haiti to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

As per the ministerial instructions issued under subsection A15(4), the Single Journey Travel Document (SJTD) [IMM 5565] is issued under limited and exceptional circumstances to specified client groups that do not possess, or cannot obtain, an acceptable passport or travel document. If the client is approved for a permanent resident visa and where the minister has issued a public policy under section A25.2 waiving IRPA requirements to possess an acceptable passport or travel document for visa processing and to enter Canada, refer to the SJTD page for further guidance and instructions on the issuance process.

Normally, a copy of the passport or travel document should be uploaded to the application. However, there may be instances where the passport or travel document is not included:

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by clients.

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