Temporary special measures in response to the 2023 earthquake in Morocco

These instructions provide operational guidance related to temporary special measures to support Moroccan nationals who are already in Canada on a temporary basis and who may wish to extend their stay due to the earthquake. These special measures waive certain processing fees to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay and provide access to open work permits for Moroccan nationals in Canada. To be eligible for these special measures, Moroccan nationals must have been in Canada on September 8, 2023, with valid temporary resident status.

These measures also provide fee waivers for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Morocco who were affected by the earthquake and need to replace their travel document or citizenship document to return to Canada. For Canadian citizens or permanent residents seeking to replace a passport, citizenship certificate, or apply for a permanent resident travel document, these measures are retroactive to September 8, 2023, and remain in place until March 12, 2024.

As some permanent residence applicants in Morocco may have lost their passport during the earthquake and seeking replacements may be time-consuming or difficult as the country manages the crisis, these special measures also waive the requirement to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to travel to Canada.

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements 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 are in effect from October 19, 2023, until March 12, 2024.

On this page

• Background
• Eligibility waivers for limited validity
• Program-specific special measures
  • Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada
  • Fee waiver for issuing work permits in Canada
  • Issuing open work permits in the Global Case Management System
  • Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada
  • Fee waivers for in-Canada biometrics
  • Fee waiver for permanent resident travel documents
  • Fee waivers for limited validity passports, temporary passports, emergency travel documents and Canadian citizenship certificates
  • Permanent resident visa exemptions

Background

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco on September 8, 2023, in a mountainous region 70 km southwest of Marrakech, causing large-scale death and destruction.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Minister has authorized the Temporary public policy for nationals of Morocco affected by the earthquake of September 8, 2023 (public policy).

Eligibility waivers for limited validity

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

• nationals of Morocco (individuals with expired Moroccan passports must provide proof of Moroccan citizenship along with a valid passport from another country) who were in Canada with valid temporary resident status on September 8, 2023, and who apply
  • to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay as 1 of the following:
    1. worker
    2. student
    3. visitor
    4. temporary resident permit (TRP) holder
  • for an initial TRP
• Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Morocco who have been affected by the earthquake and who have applied for any of the following documents:
  1. a citizenship certificate, if the client does not have their certificate (as eligible via the online application or through the paper stream via Canadian consular services)
  2. a passport
     1. a 1-year limited validity passport (fees are waived)
     2. a full validity passport (fees apply)
     3. a temporary passport (fees are waived)
  3. an emergency travel document (ETD) (fees are waived)
  4. a permanent resident travel document (PRTD) (fees are waived)
• nationals of Morocco who have an existing application (as of September 8, 2023) for permanent residence (including resettled refugees) and are
  • ready to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada but are unable to obtain a prescribed passport or travel document as described in section 50(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
  • outside of Canada

Officers should confirm that the applicant has not left Canada prior to granting the exemption for fees or the public policy open work permit. Officers can find instructions on confirming exit here: Entry/Exit Program

Program-specific special measures

Fee waivers to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada

Moroccan nationals who are applying from within Canada and who had a valid temporary resident status in Canada on September 8, 2023, are eligible for a fee waiver when they apply to extend or change the conditions of their stay. They are also exempt from paying the biometric enrolment fee under these special measures. See below for more information about fee waivers for in-Canada biometrics.

Moroccan nationals applying under these special measures in Canada are instructed to upload a copy of their Moroccan passport, with proof of entry to Canada, and under “Proof of Fee Exemption,” to upload a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the MAR2023 special measures.”

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

• extension of visitor record ($100) – exemption code 999
• TRP ($200) – exemption code 999
• biometrics ($85) – exemption code B11

Officers may issue visitor record extensions of up to 6 months or until passport or biometrics expiry, whichever comes first.

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

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

Fee waivers for issuing work permits in Canada

These special measures include a fee waiver for work permit applications (initial or renewal) in Canada. To be eligible for the fee waiver, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

• hold a valid passport or other proof of citizenship from Morocco
• be physically in Canada at time of application and decision
• have valid temporary resident status in Canada on September 8 [including with maintained status as per R183(5)]
• have applied for a work permit or renewal in Canada (employer-specific or open)

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

• initial or renewal of work permit ($155) – exemption code 999
• open work permit ($100) – exemption code P03
• biometric fee ($85) – exemption code B11

Regular work permit application

Applications submitted in the regular work permit categories under R204 to R208 for nationals of Morocco are fee-exempt but should be processed as per the instructions for the specific work permit category.

Applications submitted with a labour market impact assessment for nationals of Morocco are fee-exempt but should be processed as per the Labour Market Impact Assessment Review instructions.

Public policy open work permit application

The public policy allows eligible temporary residents who have valid status and were in Canada when the earthquake struck on September 8, 2023, to submit an application for an open work permit while remaining in Canada. This will allow nationals of Morocco to support themselves until they are able to return to their home country.

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

Officers should confirm that the applicant has not left Canada prior to granting the exemption for fees or the public policy open work permit. Officers can find instructions on confirming exit here: Entry/Exit Program

Issuing open work permits in the Global Case Management System

The open work permit is issued under the authority of section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and is coded as follows:

• NOC: 99999
• Employer: Open
• Exemption code: R01 (A25.2 Public Policy)
• Intended Occupation: Open
• Case Type: 20
• Duration: Officers should consider issuing the work permit with a validity of up to 3 years or until passport or biometric expiry, whichever is first.

Conditions: If the applicant has not completed a medical examination, the following condition must be imposed: “Not authorized to work in 1) child care, 2) primary or secondary school teaching, 3) health services field occupations.”

Fee waivers for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada

These special measures include fee-exempt study permit applications or extensions.

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

• initial or renewal of study permit ($150)

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

All applicants must submit their study permit or extension application by following the instructions to extend their study permit. Clients who apply for an extension or to change their status before it expires will maintain their status while their application is being processed.

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

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. Officers must manually enter the biometric fee waiver code to issue a biometric instruction letter.

• Biometric fee waiver code: B11

For more information on biometrics and fees

• Biometrics collection and screening
• Biometric fee

Fee waivers for permanent resident travel documents

Canadian permanent residents who are in Morocco and were affected by the earthquake will have their fees waived for PRTDs to help facilitate their travel. Applicants are responsible for identifying themselves as eligible under these special measures as per the instructions below when they provide a completed application.

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

• PRTD ($50)

Eligible Canadian permanent residents must follow standard procedures, but the PRTD application fee ($50) should not be charged to the applicant.

For online applications: Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) explaining that they were affected by the earthquake and upload it in the “Supporting Documents” section under “Proof of payment,” with the keyword “MAR2023.”

For paper applications: Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) explaining how they were affected by the earthquake and include the keyword “MAR2023” on the first page of their application or covering document.

Fee waivers for limited validity passports, temporary passports, emergency travel documents and Canadian citizenship certificates

These special measures also apply to Canadian citizens requesting Canadian citizenship certificates and temporary passports who are in Morocco and wish to leave. Applicants are responsible for identifying themselves as eligible under these special measures when they provide a completed application.

Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) with the keyword “MAR2023,” explaining how they were affected by the earthquake. Officers are encouraged to be as facilitative as possible.

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

• first time or replacement of Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) ($75)
• temporary passport ($110), issued in conjunction with a 1-year limited validity regular passport
• ETD (adult: $50, child: $30)
• replacement fee for lost or stolen passport ($45)
• passport pick-up service fee ($20)
• consular fee ($25), only applicable to adult travel document applications

For further information on applications for a Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), as applicable to these special measures, the Citizenship Program Delivery team will provide specific processing instructions in consultation with Passport Foreign Operations and Global Affairs Canada. Ultimately, regardless of the processing channel through which they submit their proof of citizenship application, clients are able to select the electronic citizenship certificate to facilitate issuance and receipt.

Applications submitted online through IRCC secure account (MyAccount) require clients to pay the proof of citizenship application fee upfront. Therefore, if the officer determines that the client is eligible for a replacement proof of citizenship under these special measures, a refund may be issued for the paid fee only once a remission order is obtained.

For further information on the Passport Program’s eligibility and document requirements, officers should refer to the instructions provided in Passage.

Permanent resident visa exemptions

These special measures also waive the requirement for Moroccan nationals who have lost their passports in the earthquake to hold a passport or travel document (valid or expired) to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

As per the Ministerial Instructions issued under subsection 15(4) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the single journey travel document (IMM 5565) is issued under limited and exceptional circumstances to specified client groups who 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 Single Journey Travel Documents 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:

• If the application is processed and ready for a visa, the client is informed regarding passport validity via the ready for visa letter of instructions, and is told what to do if the passport has expired or is no longer valid. However, the officer can ask the client to provide an explanation as to why they did not provide the passport or travel document (for example, it has expired or was destroyed).

If the application is new or has not been processed, the client needs to indicate the reasons for not providing the passport or travel document. If the client is unable to provide an explanation, the client should be advised to obtain a valid passport or travel document.

Clients must meet all other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements.