Temporary measures for overseas clients affected by the crisis in Sudan

These program delivery instructions (PDIs) provide operational guidance related to temporary measures to support individuals impacted by the violence in Sudan who are outside Canada.

As some permanent residence applicants in Sudan may have lost their passports, these measures waive the requirement for nationals of Sudan to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to travel to Canada.

These measures also waive the standard processing fees for travel documents and replacement citizenship certificates for Canadian citizens and permanent residents affected by the crisis who were or currently are in Sudan.

Temporary measures for services to Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Sudan commenced on April 24, 2023 while temporary measures for permanent resident applicants overseas commenced on April 30, 2023. Both measures have been extended until October 27, 2025.

On this page

• Program-specific special measures
  • Fee waivers for limited validity passports, temporary passports, emergency travel documents (ETDs), Canadian citizenship certificates and permanent resident travel documents
  • Permanent resident visa document exemptions

Program-specific special measures

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:

• Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023, and who have applied for any of the following documents:
  1. 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)
  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)
  4. a permanent resident travel document

Officer may waive the following fees for eligible applicants under these temporary special measures:

• first time or replacement of Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
• temporary passport, issued in conjunction with a one-year limited validity regular passport
• emergency travel document
• replacement fee for lost or stolen passport
• passport pick-up service fee
• consular fee, only applicable to adult applications
• permanent resident travel document

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

If a client is eligible for a fee-exempt document but nonetheless paid the fee, the officer must process a refund. However, refunds cannot be processed or issued to clients before a remission order for these fee measures is published in the Canada Gazette (date TBD). Instructions for refunds will be provided once the measures are published.

Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) explaining how they were affected by the conflict. Officers are encouraged to be as facilitative as possible.

For online applications: Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) explaining how they were affected by the conflict and upload it in the “Supporting Documents” section under “Proof of payment,” with the keyword “SD2023.”

For paper applications: Clients must include a signed letter (attestation) explaining how they were affected by the conflict and include the keyword “SD2023” on the first page of their application or covering document.

Officers may direct any specific questions on applications for a Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), as applicable to these special measures, to the Citizenship Program.

Ultimately, regardless of which processing channel the client submits their proof of citizenship application through, clients are encouraged to select the electronic citizenship certificate to facilitate issuance and receipt.

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

Permanent resident visa document exemptions

The Temporary public policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada as temporary residents waives the requirement for Sudanese nationals who have lost their passports in the conflict situation to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

Under this measure, following applicants may be eligible:

• A foreign national who:
  • Is a national of Sudan;
  • Is ready to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada, but is unable to obtain a prescribed passport or travel document as described in section 50(1) of the Regulations; and
  • Is outside of Canada.

As per the ministerial instructions issued under subsection 15(4) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Single Journey Travel Document (SJTD) (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 the 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.