In-Canada temporary measures to support foreign nationals in response to the crisis in the state of Palestine

These instructions provide operational guidance related to temporary measures to support:

• Palestinian nationals who are in Canada on a temporary basis
• Foreign national family members of Canadians and permanent residents who left the Gaza Strip on or after October 7, 2023, and are now in Canada on a temporary basis
• Individuals affected by the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent and their immediate family who are now in Canada

These measures provide eligible foreign nationals with access to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay by facilitating the issuance of fee-exempt study permits, open work permits, and/or temporary resident permits from within Canada. 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 large diaspora communities in Canada that could provide support for them.

These special measures begin on August 1, 2025, and expire on July 31, 2026.

On this page

• Background
• Eligibility
• Program-specific special measures
  • Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada
  • Fee waiver for issuing work permits or extensions in Canada
  • Issuing work permits or extensions in Canada
  • Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada
  • Medical exams
  • Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage
• MOME2023 remark and access to settlement services
  • Eligibility
  • Amending temporary resident documents missing the MOME2023 remark

Background

The situation in Gaza remains volatile since the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered an Israeli response that resulted in the death of thousands of Palestinians.

Many foreign national family, including immediate family and extended family members, of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who fled Palestine as a result of the conflict are in Canada on temporary status or have pending applications for temporary resident visas, including under the Updated Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Temporary Resident Visas for Certain Extended Family affected by the Crisis in Gaza. Some of these foreign nationals remain unable to return home due to the conflict.

Eligibility

Under these measures, the following clients may be eligible to apply from within Canada for a fee-exempt study permit or open work permit, temporary resident permit, or to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay:

1. a foreign national who meets both of the following criteria:
   • holds a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
2. a foreign national family member – per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations – of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who left Palestine on or after October 7, 2023, and
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
3. a person who would be described as a citizen under section 3 of the Citizenship Act but is subject to the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent set out in subsection 3(3) of the Citizenship Act (for example, is born abroad or born abroad and adopted by a Canadian born abroad)
4. the family member – per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations – of a foreign national referred to in (3); and who
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status

Family member definition

In these instructions, family member is defined as per subsection 1(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) as

• the spouse or common-law partner of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• the dependent children of the spouse of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• the dependent children of the dependent children (grandchild of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident or spouse)

A dependent child is a child who is

• under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship
• 22 years or older and unable to financially self-support due to a physical or mental condition

Officers can refer to the following public policy for additional information:

• Updated temporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza

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 for a fee waiver when they apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay. Clients are not exempt from paying the biometric enrollment fee under these special measures.

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

• extension of temporary stay – exemption code “999”
• temporary resident permit – exemption code “999”

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

Clients who apply to extend the period authorized for 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 temporary resident permit (TRP) applicants.

If the client is applying for a new or subsequent TRP, officers should refer to Temporary resident permits  for additional guidance.

Fee waiver for issuing work permits or extensions in Canada

These measures include a fee waiver for initial work permit applications, including open work permits, and work permit extensions in Canada.

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

• initial or renewal of work permit – exemption code 999
• open work permit holder – exemption code P03
• temporary resident permit (if applicable) – exemption code “999”

Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.

Issuing work permits or extensions in Canada

Regular work permit application

Applications submitted in the regular work permit categories under sections R204 to R208 for 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 Palestine 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, while remaining in Canada. This will allow foreign nationals who hold a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority and foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left the Gaza Strip on or after October 7, 2023, and who are already in Canada to support themselves until they are able to return to the region.

Officers should confirm that the applicant has not left Canada before issuing the public policy open work permit. The Entry/Exit Program  explains how officers can confirm exits.

Officers should refer to Temporary workers  for additional guidance.

Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada

These measures include a fee waiver for initial study permit applications and study permit extensions in Canada.

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

• initial or renewal of study permit– exemption code “999”
• temporary resident permit (if applicable) – exemption code “999”

Officers should refer to the fee list: Fee list.

All applicants must submit their study permit or extension applications 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 maintain their status while their application is being processed. This does not apply to temporary resident permit (TRP) applicants.

If the client is applying for a new or subsequent TRP, officers should refer to Temporary resident permits  for additional guidance.

Study permit validity should be tied to the specified period of study (and passport validity).

Officers should refer to Temporary Residents: Students  for additional guidance.

Medical exams

Foreign nationals may be eligible for a medical reassessment or an exemption from a subsequent immigration medical examination (IME) under the Temporary public policy to exempt certain foreign nationals from the IME.

Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage

Palestinian nationals, their immediate family members, as well as foreign national family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who left Palestine and who arrive in Canada may be eligible for IFHP coverage.

Eligibility

Palestinian nationals, their immediate family members, as well as foreign national family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who fled Palestine and who arrived in Canada in light of the crisis in the Gaza Strip may be eligible for temporary IFHP coverage. Clients are issued an IFHP certificate when a temporary resident visa (TRV) is issued.

Eligible clients include:

1. Foreign nationals holding a passport or travel document that was issued by the Palestinian Authority and who meet the following requirements:
   1. left Gaza on or after September 1, 2023
   2. arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026
   3. have valid temporary resident status in Canada
2. foreign national family members, as defined by section 1(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), of a person listed in1 and who meet both of the following requirements:
   1. arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026
   2. have valid temporary resident status in Canada
3. foreign nationals who were assisted in their departure from Gaza or the West Bank by the Government of Canada between November 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, and who
   1. have valid temporary resident status in Canada

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

IFHP certificates are issued overseas when a TRV is issued. If a client did not receive their IFHP certificate, they may submit a request to obtain one from within Canada.

MOME2023 remark and access to settlement services

The MOME2023 remark identifies clients who are eligible for federally funded settlement services. This remark must be included on the client’s temporary residence document. Service provider organizations (SPOs) use this remark to determine whether a client qualifies for federally funded settlement services.

Eligibility

The following clients are deemed eligible to receive federally funded settlement services until March 31, 2027, and should be issued a temporary resident document with the MOME2023 remark:

1. Foreign nationals holding a passport or travel document that was issued by the Palestinian Authority and who meet the following requirements:
   1. left Gaza on or after September 1, 2023
   2. arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026
   3. have valid temporary resident status in Canada
2. foreign national family members, as defined by section 1(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), of a person listed in 1 and who meet both of the following requirements:
   1. arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026
   2. have valid temporary resident status in Canada
3. foreign nationals who were assisted in their departure from Gaza or the West Bank by the Government of Canada between November 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, and who
   1. have valid temporary resident status in Canada

Amending temporary resident documents missing the MOME2023 remark

If an eligible client does not receive the MOME2023 remark at the port of entry or does not receive a subsequent document containing it, they will need to have their temporary resident document amended in order to access federally funded settlement services.

To initiate the amendment process, the client should notify IRCC through the crisis notification web form. The Client Support Centre will refer the case directly to the HIOB. If the client is confirmed eligible for settlement services, their temporary resident document should be amended to include the MOME2023 remark.