In-Canada temporary measures to support foreign nationals in response to the crisis in Lebanon

These instructions provide operational guidance related to temporary measures to support

• Lebanese nationals who are already in Canada on a temporary basis and can’t return home at this time
• foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents (PRs) who fled Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024 due to the deteriorating security situation in the region and are now in Canada
• foreign nationals who would be described as a citizen under s. 3 of the Citizenship Act but are subject to the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent set out in s. 3(3) of the Citizenship Act, and their family members, who fled Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024 due to the deteriorating security situation in the region and are now in Canada

These measures waive certain processing fees to extend or change the conditions of the foreign national’s temporary stay and facilitate the issuance of fee-exempt open work permits (OWPs), study permits (SPs), and/or temporary resident permits (TRPs).

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

These special measures start October 25, 2024 and expire on July 31, 2025.

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 open work permits in the GCMS
  • Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada
  • Refusals for ineligible clients

Background

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants in Gaza launched an attack on Israel, which saw the Government of Israel respond with a series of sustained attacks seeking to neutralize the threat posed by Hamas. The conflict escalated within the region to include increasingly frequent attacks between Israel and groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. The situation in Lebanon remains volatile and unpredictable due to violent and intensifying clashes along the border with Israel, including daily rocket and missile fire as well as air strikes. Violent and intensifying clashes along the border of Israel and Lebanon, and the exchange of daily rocket and missile fire as well as air strikes have led to an escalation of pre-existing hostilities.

Many Lebanese nationals have chosen to come to Canada to visit, spend time with family, study or work temporarily. Some of these temporary residents may be unable to return home due to the conflict. These temporary residents may be unable to return to Lebanon at this time, and may wish to prolong their stay. These measures will allow Lebanese nationals in Canada to extend their stay without fees and to move between temporary resident streams. Additionally, foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and PRs who have left Lebanon as a result of the crisis may extend their temporary stay in Canada and benefit from access to the Canadian education system and labour market while they’re unable to return home.

Eligibility

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

1. a national of Lebanon who is in Canada with valid temporary resident status or
2. a foreign national family member—per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations—of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who
   • left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
3. a person who would be described as a citizen under s. 3 of the Citizenship Act but is subject to the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent set out in s. 3(3) of the Citizenship Act (for example, is born abroad or born abroad and adopted by a Canadian born abroad) and who
   • left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
4. a foreign national family member —per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations—of a foreign national referred to in (3) and who
   • left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024
   • is in Canada with valid temporary resident status
5. a foreign national who was assisted in their departure from Lebanon by the Government of Canada
   These individuals must also apply
   • to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay as one of the following:
     1. worker
     2. student
     3. visitor
     4. temporary resident permit holder
   • for a new or subsequent temporary resident permit

Family member definition

In these instructions, family member is defined as per subsection R1(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 or 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

Extended family members are not included under these measures.

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.

Proof of exit from Lebanon

Eligible persons applying under this public policy must have left Lebanon by way of assistance from the Government of Canada on an exceptional basis (identified by ORG ID O167366076322), or exited Lebanon on their own on or after September 29, 2024. Applicants who left Lebanon on their own must provide proof they have left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024. Acceptable proof of departure may include but is not limited to travel itineraries, boarding passes, entry and exit stamps, and use of the Entry/Exit Program within GCMS.

Program-specific special measures

Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada

Foreign nationals who are applying from within Canada and who 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 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. This does not apply to TRP holders. If the client is applying for a new or subsequent temporary resident permit (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 measures are to be waived:

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

Officers should refer to the Fee list.

Regular work permit application

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

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

Public policy open work permit application

Eligible temporary residents may submit an application for an open work permit in Canada without paying fees. This will allow clients to support themselves until they are able to return to their home country.

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

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

Issuing open work permits in the GCMS

The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with the following:

• Open work permit – General processing and issuance
• Conditions and validity period on work permits

Section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides authority for the exemption from the substantive requirements for issuance of the permit under s. 200(1)(c) of IRPR. Applicants are still required to meet the other requirements for work permit issuance.

The open work permit is issued and is coded as follows:

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 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.

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.

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

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

Refusals for ineligible clients

Officers may encounter applications submitted from clients who are ineligible for these special measures. These applications should be refused.

If a refusal is warranted, officers should select “Other” ground, and include the following note before proceeding to refusal:

Individual does not meet definition of eligible person as per the in-Canada temporary measures to support foreign nationals in response to the crisis in Lebanon.

Officers must also include this note under application remarks in GCMS, along with a justification for the refusal.