Temporary measures to support nationals of Sudan in Canada and Canadian citizens and permanent residents impacted by the conflict in Sudan

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Note: These special processing measures have been extended until October 27, 2024.

These program delivery instructions (PDIs) provide operational guidance related to temporary measures to support Sudanese nationals who are already in Canada on a temporary basis and can’t return home at this time as well as Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are affected by the conflict in Sudan, and are in need of replacement travel or citizenship documents. These measures waive certain processing fees to extend or change the conditions of their temporary stay and facilitate the issuance of fee-exempt open work permits for Sudanese nationals in Canada.

These measures also provide fee waivers for Canadian citizens or permanent residents impacted by the conflict in Sudan, and who are in need of replacement travel and/or citizenship documents.

Important: IRCC is already processing the following applications from affected clients overseas as a priority, including

  • new and pending overseas TR applications from persons of any nationality located in Sudan, including those from family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents so family members can temporarily join their loved ones in Canada
  • existing applications for permanent residence, including resettled refugees, for those located in the Sudan
  • priority processing new temporary residence (overseas) and permanent residence applications (overseas) from immediate family members of Canadians or permanent residents whose departure from Sudan was assisted by the Government of Canada or allies
  • applications for Canadian citizenship certificates processed in Canada for Canadian citizens abroad

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by clients; however, officers should take into consideration the dire circumstances of the clients and the availability of large diaspora communities in Canada that could provide support for them.

These special measures commenced on April 24, 2023 for services to Canadian citizens, and on April 30, 2023 for immigration document processing, and will expire on October 27, 2024.

On this page

Background

On April 15, 2023, armed conflict erupted between 2 rival factions in Sudan, resulting in heavy fighting in Khartoum and other parts of the country.

Many Sudanese have chosen to come to Canada to visit or spend time with family, study, or work temporarily. Some of these temporary residents may be unable to return to Sudan at this time, and may wish to prolong their stay. These measures will allow those who wish to extend their temporary stay in Canada to do so without fees and to move between temporary resident streams.

Eligibility

Under these measures, the following clients may be eligible:

Important: To be eligible for facilitation under the Temporary public policy for nationals of Sudan in Canada as temporary residents, a national of Sudan must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status. An individual who has applied for facilitation under the public policy may leave Canada while their application is pending; however, they must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status at the time the decision is rendered to benefit from facilitation under the public policy. Please note that usually a foreign national who leaves Canada no longer holds valid temporary resident status. They must present themselves at a port of entry, where a decision will be made whether to permit their re-entry as a temporary resident.

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

Note: Clients who need to restore their temporary resident status are not included under these special measures and are not exempt from paying the $200 restoration fee.

Program-specific special measures

Fee waiver to extend or change temporary resident status in Canada

Sudanese 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. They are also exempt from paying the biometric enrolment fee under these special measures. See below for more information about biometrics.

Sudanese nationals applying under these measures in Canada are instructed to upload a copy of their Sudanese passport, and under “Proof of Fee Exemption,” to upload a letter stating: “I am exempt from paying fees under the SD2023 temporary measures.”

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

Officers may issue visitor record extensions of up to 6 months or until passport or biometrics validity, 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.

Important: Clients will be advised to apply without paying fees, and the IRCC officer is responsible for applying the exemption code for fee waivers. If a client paid fees after this public policy came into force, please see the refunds section below.

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 issuance of work permits in Canada

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

The following fees for eligible clients under these temporary special measures are to be waived or are not payable:

Note: If you’re applying for an employer-specific work permit under the International Mobility Program, your employer must pay the employer compliance fee.

Regular work permit application

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

Applications submitted with an LMIA for nationals of Sudan are fee-exempt but should be processed as per the instructions: Labour Market Impact Assessment Review.

Public policy open work permit application

The public policy allows eligible temporary residents in Canada to submit an application for an open work permit while remaining in Canada. This will allow nationals of Sudan 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 before granting the fee exemption or the public policy open work permit. The Entry/Exit Program explains how officers confirm exit.

Issuing open work permits in the GCMS

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:

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

Fee waiver for issuing study permits or extensions in Canada

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

The following fee for eligible clients under these temporary measures is to be waived:

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 (BIL).

For more information on biometrics and fees

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by clients.

Fee waivers for permanent resident travel documents

Permanent residents who are affected by the crisis in Sudan will have their fees waived for permanent resident travel documents (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:

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 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.

Note: Clients do not need to be in Sudan or have been in Sudan at the start of the crisis to be eligible under these special measures. Clients can be in Canada, Sudan, or a third country as long as they can state how they were affected and why they need replacement documents due to the conflict.

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

These special measures also apply to Canadian citizens requesting Canadian citizenship certificates and temporary passports who have been affected by the conflict in Sudan. 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) 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.

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

Note: Clients do not need to be in Sudan or have been in Sudan at the start of the crisis to be eligible under these special measures. Clients can be in Canada, Sudan, or a third country as long as they can state how they were affected and why they need replacement documents due to the conflict.

For further information on applications for a Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), as applicable to these special measures, the Citizenship Program Delivery (CPD) team will provide specific processing instructions in consultation with Passport Foreign Operations and Global Affairs Canada. Ultimately, regardless of the processing channel through which the client submits their proof of citizenship application, clients may 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

These special measures also waive the requirement for Sudanese nationals who have lost their passports in the crisis to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada.

As per the Ministerial Instructions issued under subsection A15(4), 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 page SJTDs 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:

All other standard eligibility and admissibility requirements must be met by clients.

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