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Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or after March 1, 2025

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 program delivery instructions (PDIs) provide updated operational guidance related to temporary special measures to support Iranian temporary residents in Canada who came to Canada to visit or spend time with family, study or work temporarily. With the situation ongoing in Iran, some of these temporary residents may wish to prolong their stay.

These special measures continue to provide facilitated access to open work permits, work permit extensions and initial study permits from within Canada for Iranian nationals who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025. However, effective March 1, 2025, these applications are subject to standard application and biometric fees, where applicable. Clients who apply for a work permit extension prior to the expiry of their current work permit will benefit from maintained status while their application remains in progress.

The measures which provided travel document and citizenship certificate fee waivers for Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who reside in Iran ended on February 28, 2025.

All standard eligibility and admissibility requirements not exempted under these measures must be met by clients. Applicants who don’t meet these requirements may have their applications refused.

These special measures take effect on March 1, 2025 and expire on February 28, 2026.

Note: Officers processing applications submitted on or before February 28, 2025, from Iranian nationals who are in Canada with valid temporary resident status, or from Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents in Iran seeking fee-exempt travel documents and citizenship certificates, should refer to the instructions found in the following PDI: Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or before February 28, 2025.

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Background

On October 7, 2022, the Government of Canada announced a suite of measures designed to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its repression of peaceful protests against the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini by the regime’s “morality police.”

Many Iranian nationals have chosen to come to Canada to visit or spend time with family, study, or work temporarily, and may wish to further extend their stay. While the fee waiver measures outlined in the Temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents have ended, facilitative measures have been extended for Iranian nationals who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025, to provide them continued access to apply from within Canada for a study permit or open work permit, or to extend an existing work permit.

Eligibility

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

Eligible clients may apply to renew their open work permit even if their status does not expire within the next year, as long as they apply by February 28, 2026. The validity period of the renewed open work permit is subject to the client’s passport or biometrics validity, as well as the discretion of the processing officer, but could be for up to 2 years from the date of decision. These applications are subject to standard fees.

Important: To be eligible for facilitation under the Updated temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents, a national of Iran 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 has not left Canada prior to granting the public policy open work permit. For instructions on confirming exit, officers can refer to Entry/Exit Program.

Note: Clients seeking to extend their stay as a visitor by applying for a visitor record, or to extend their study permit, can apply under regular pathways, subject to standard fees and program requirements.

Program-specific special measures

Issuing work permits or extensions in Canada

These special measures provide eligible Iranian nationals in Canada with facilitated access to apply for initial work permits, including open work permits, and work permit extensions from within Canada.

To be eligible for an exemption of the requirements under section 199 and paragraph 200(1)(c) of the Regulations, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

Regular work permit application

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

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

Public policy open work permit application

These special measures include facilitated access to open work permit applications or extensions in Canada. This will allow clients to support themselves until they are able to return to their home country.

Iranian 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 public policy open work permit. For instructions on confirming exit, officers can refer to Entry/Exit Program.

Issuing study permits in Canada

These special measures provide eligible individuals with facilitated access to apply for study permits in Canada.

Note: Temporary residents in Canada who don’t currently have a study 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 1 of the exceptions. Eligible clients applying for a new study permit under these measures are exempt from these requirements based on a public policy as part of a migration response to a crisis.

All applicants must submit their study permit application by following the instructions to extend their study permit.

Clients seeking to extend their study permit can apply under regular pathways, subject to standard fees and program requirements.

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

Refusals

If an officer has determined that the applicant does not meet the eligibility or admissibility 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 due to the applicant not meeting the eligibility requirements outlined above, 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 Updated temporary Public Policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents.

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

When an application is refused, a formal refusal letter must be sent to the applicant explaining the reasons for the refusal; and the officer must complete the following actions:

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