Sudan: Temporary measures

On April 15, 2023, armed conflict erupted between two rival factions in Sudan, resulting in heavy fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the country.

The Minister announced on April 24, 2023, that the Government of Canada will introduce new immigration measures to support Sudanese temporary residents who are currently in Canada and may be unable to return home due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in their country.

On April 29, 2023, the Minister announced that as of April 30, 2023, Sudanese nationals in Canada can apply to extend their stay or change their status as a visitor, student or temporary worker without paying application fees or biometrics fees (if applicable). This includes applying for open work permits that provide access to the labour market and greater flexibility to support themselves while they are in Canada.

Additionally, the department will provide fee waivers for Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents in need of replacement travel and/or citizenship documents, and for Canadian permanent residents in need of permanent resident travel documents to return to Canada.

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

The department has also introduced temporary immigration measures to support family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who have departed Sudan.

Under these measures, a foreign national is eligible for facilitated travel to Canada if they meet the following requirements:

1. They are the family member—per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations (see below)—of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023.
2. They are outside of Sudan in a third country.
3. They left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023.

Family member definition

Foreign nationals, including Sudanese nationals, are deemed family members of Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents or locally engaged staff, if they meet the definition of “family member” under subsection 1(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR):

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; and
3. a dependent child of a dependent child referred to in paragraph (b).

Extended family members are not eligible and are not included under these measures.

Priority processing, application tracking and temporary immigration measures

IRCC is prioritizing the processing of completed immigration applications from those still in Sudan and from immediate family members of Canadians and permanent residents who have fled Sudan since the violence erupted.

Under the special measures, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have fled Sudan since the violence erupted, and who have applied for replacement citizenship or travel documents may also be eligible for fee waivers.

Temporary measures to support nationals of Sudan in Canada

IRCC has introduced temporary measures to support Sudanese nationals already in Canada on a temporary basis who wish to apply for an extension of their status in Canada or to change the conditions of their temporary stay, including applying for an open work permit. As per the signed Public Policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada, these measures came into effect on April 30, 2023.

Officers should refer to Temporary measures to support nationals of Sudan in Canada for additional guidance.

Temporary measures to support family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have fled Sudan

IRCC has introduced temporary measures to support foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who departed Sudan to a third country on or after April 15, 2023.

These measures provide eligible foreign national family members with a fee-exempt temporary resident permit to facilitate their travel to Canada. Travel must be completed by July 15, 2023. Once in Canada, they are eligible to apply for a fee-exempt open work permit or study permit, as well as submit a fee-exempt permanent resident application under the family class.

Officers should refer to Immigration measures to support immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who have departed Sudan for additional guidance.