Temporary public policy to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or after March 1, 2026
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 instructions provide updated operational guidance related to the revised temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents, which took effect as of March 1, 2026.
The revised public policy continues to provide facilitated access to work permit extensions from within Canada for Iranian nationals who currently hold a work permit that was issued on or before February 28, 2025. These applications are subject to standard application and biometric fees, where applicable.
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.
This temporary public policy took effect on March 1, 2026 and expires on March 31, 2027.
Notes: Officers processing applications received from March 1, 2025 up to and including February 28, 2026 from Iranian nationals with temporary resident status in Canada and who arrived on or before February 28, 2025, should refer to the instructions found in the following PDI: Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals for applications received on or after March 1, 2025
On this page
Background
The Government of Canada recognizes that while the protests that erupted following the tragic killing on September 16, 2022 of Mahsa Amini have ended, the situation in Iran continues to be unstable due to a combination of factors, including a recent wave of protests against the current Iranian regime.
Temporary facilitative measures were previously introduced to support Iranian nationals in Canada in light of the situation in Iran. The measures outlined in this public policy will facilitate continued access to work permit extensions from within Canada for Iranian nationals who currently hold work permits that were issued on or before February 28, 2025, in recognition of their reliance on special measures to maintain work authorization to remain employed in Canada.
Eligibility
Under this temporary public policy clients may be eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- A foreign national who:
- is a national of Iran in Canada with valid temporary resident status;
- holds a valid work permit, at the time of application under 1c), that was issued on or before February 28, 2025;
- has applied for a work permit renewal under subsection 201(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations from within Canada; and
- has not already been granted an extension under this public policy
Important: For the purposes of eligibility criteria 1 b) above, officers should be aware that as per R200(1), “issued” means the foreign national’s work permit was confirmed or became effective at the port of entry or within Canada. As such, in effect, the foreign national must have been in Canada on or before February 28, 2025 in order to be eligible under this temporary public policy.
Notes:
- Clients are not eligible to apply under this public policy at a port of entry.
- Clients seeking to extend their stay as a visitor by applying for a visitor record, to extend their study permit or to extend their stay as a temporary resident permit (TRP) holder by applying for a subsequent or new TRP, can apply under regular pathways, subject to standard fees and program requirements.
Valid temporary resident status
To meet the valid temporary resident status requirement in the eligibility criteria set out above, a foreign national must:
- be in Canada after being authorized to enter as a temporary resident under section 22 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) at the time of application and when a decision is made, and
- at the time of application for a work permit extension, have a valid work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025
Important: Officers may encounter cases where an applicant was issued a work permit on or before February 28, 2025 but did not continuously remain in Canada since that time. Given that some Iranian temporary residents in Canada have had valid status since the protests and political repression in late 2022, it is reasonable that clients may have left for short durations and returned to Canada. For the purposes of assessing eligibility under this temporary public policy, short absences from Canada (i.e. 1 to 2 weeks) may be accepted, with the overall intent of the public policy being that clients have generally maintained temporary residence in Canada.
An applicant for facilitation under this public policy may leave Canada while their application is pending but must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status at the time the decision is rendered to benefit from facilitation under the public policy.
Foreign nationals who depart Canada lose temporary resident status as per A47(a) and R183(4)(a). For further information, officers should refer to: Travel outside Canada.
Officers should be satisfied that the applicant is in Canada. In addition to considering all documents provided by the applicant, officers may consult the Entry/Exit Program. If entry/exit results reveal that the applicant has left Canada, the officer should send a request for proof of status in Canada before making a final decision.
Restoration of temporary resident status
Clients who have fallen out of status may be eligible for restoration if they meet the requirements of R182, however a foreign national who has been granted restoration of status and has been issued a work permit after February 28, 2025, would not be eligible for a work permit extension under this temporary public policy. Officers should refer to Restoration of temporary resident status for additional guidance.
Program-specific special measures
Issuing work permit extensions in Canada
This temporary public policy enables eligible Iranian nationals in Canada to apply for extensions of existing work permits from within Canada.
Eligible clients may apply to renew their existing work permit from within Canada, but may only receive one extension under this public policy. The validity period of the renewed work permit is subject to the client’s passport or biometrics validity, as well as the discretion of the processing officer, however officers may consider issuing the renewed work permit for up to 2 years from the date of decision. Officers may encounter cases where a client has applied more than once for a work permit extension. In such cases, the officer should verify that the previous work permit extension application was submitted between March 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, and that a work permit extension was already granted. In cases where the client has already received an extension under this public policy, even if the duration was shortened due to passport validity, the client would not be eligible for a second work permit extension.
Employer-specific work permit extension applications
Extension 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
Issuing open work permit extensions in the GCMS
The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with the following:
The exemptions under this public policy are granted under the authority of section 25.2 of the IRPA. Applicants are still required to meet the other requirements for work permit issuance.
The open work permit is issued and is coded as follows:
| Field | Selection or input |
|---|---|
| Case Type | 20 |
| Province of destination | Unknown |
| LMIA exemption code | R01 Public policies issued under A25.2 (inside Canada) This code should be entered manually |
| Employer | Open |
| Intended Occupation | Open |
| NOC | 99999 |
| Conditions |
Officers should ensure that instructions provided in Work permit issuance in GCMS: Occupation or location restricted are followed. If the applicant has not completed a medical examination and
|
| Biometrics |
Work permit applicants are required to provide biometric information. The regular biometric exemptions apply (for example, age or 1 in 10). |
| User remarks (mandatory) | Permit issued under temporary special measures for nationals of Iran in Canada |
| Duration | Officers hold the delegated authority to determine the authorized period of stay, but may consider issuing the work permit with a validity of up to 2 years or passport or biometric validity, whichever is first. |
Refusals
Officers may encounter applications submitted from clients who are ineligible for this temporary public policy, who do not meet other standard eligibility requirements or who are found to be inadmissible to Canada. If an officer has determined that the applicant does not meet eligibility requirements or is inadmissible, the application should be refused.
Officers should record their reasons for decision as per the instructions in: Decision making: Standard of review and process for making a reasonable decision.
If a refusal is warranted due to the client not meeting the eligibility requirements of the public policy, officers should select “Other” ground, and include the following comment, before proceeding to refusal:
You do not meet eligibility requirements as per the temporary public policy to support Iranian nationals in Canada as temporary residents.