CIMM - Crisis Response - December 4, 2025

Key Messages

• As part of the Government of Canada’s response to an international crisis, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) supports Global Affairs Canada’s assisted departure and consular operations for Canadian Citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members.
• IRCC can also deploy immigration measures, including a combination of permanent and temporary pathways and discretionary tools, as part of the broader Government of Canada response.
• Situations are examined on a case-by-case basis, and measures are tailored to meet the unique needs of each situation.

Crisis Response Framework

About the Crisis Response Framework

• As part of IRCC’s approach to well-managed migration, IRCC uses the Crisis Response Framework to better anticipate, respond to, and manage emerging international crises in alignment with immigration levels planning and Canada’s domestic welcoming capacities.
• Building on lessons learned from recent responses, the Crisis Response Framework includes tools to assess and implement migration responses, and enable coordination with provinces and territories, partners, and stakeholders.

If pressed on current status:

• The Crisis Response Framework will continue to evolve as IRCC integrates real-time lessons learned and best practices from recent responses, as well as continued feedback from provinces and territories, partners, and stakeholders.

Sudan

Key Messages

• Canada remains deeply concerned with the situation in Sudan and empathizes with those affected. Since the conflict broke out in April 2023, the Government of Canada has taken swift action to support those impacted.
• At the onset of the crisis, IRCC immediately prioritized temporary and permanent residence applications already in its inventory for those affected by the conflict.
• To help keep families together, IRCC facilitated travel with fee-exempt travel documents for those fleeing the conflict and waived fees for biometrics, temporary resident visas, and permits for eligible family members.

Key Facts

• Since the conflict erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023, the Government of Canada has worked to continuously adapt its approach to supporting those affected.
• In February 2024, IRCC launched a new family-based pathway to facilitate permanent residence for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals impacted by the crisis; this pathway is intended to facilitate approximately 10,000 admissions. Application intake has closed; however, processing and arrivals are ongoing.

If pressed on processing times:

• Historical processing times are approximately 16 months. We are processing applications as quickly as possible, in line with admissions targets.
• In February 2025, IRCC committed to resettle 4,000 Sudanese nationals as government-assisted refugees by the end of 2026, as well as an additional 700 Sudanese refugees through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program.
• IRCC has prioritized resettlement application processing since the outbreak of conflict. Since April 2023, outside of the family-based pathway, over 10,000 Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals have been approved for resettlement in Canada as of August 26, 2025.
• IRCC continues to prioritize applications from Sudanese and other impacted nationals, in accordance with admission spaces under the Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan. We expect arrivals to continue, including individuals who are still in Sudan and those who have fled the country to surrounding regions.

In-Canada Supports for Clients

• Clients arriving from Sudan as government-assisted refugees can access resettlement supports, including income support through IRCC’s Resettlement Assistance Program.
• Clients arriving as privately sponsored refugees have access to financial and non-financial support from their sponsors, as well as settlement supports.
• Under the family-based permanent resident pathway, approved clients have access to federally-funded services available through IRCC’s settlement program, similar to all permanent residents, and the Interim Federal Health Program for three months.

Biometric Collection

• Biometric collection was previously paused in Sudan, making it difficult for people who were unable to safely leave Sudan to complete their applications to come to Canada.
• In partnership with the International Organization for Migration, biometric collection for refugee resettlement clients and those under the family-based pathway is now underway in Sudan.
• Biometric collection is available by appointment only for individuals with an application under Canada’s resettlement program.

Gaza

Key Messages

• Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and empathizes with those affected. Canada welcomes the agreement between Israel and Hamas to implement the first phase of a peace plan.
• IRCC has put measures in place to provide temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the conflict in Gaza who have Canadian citizen or permanent resident family members in Canada willing to support them.
• In addition to applications processed through the temporary measures, Palestinians who left Gaza on or after October 7, 2023, have also been able to apply under IRCC’s existing programs.

Key Facts

• On January 9, 2024, IRCC introduced measures (announced December 21, 2023) to provide temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza who have Canadian citizen or permanent resident family members in Canada willing to support them. Intake closed on March 6, 2025, when the intake cap of 5,000 applications was reached. Processing of applications is ongoing.

Exit from Gaza

• Movement out of Gaza is extremely challenging due to factors outside of Canada’s control. Canada does not ultimately decide who can exit Gaza.
• When special measures were announced, Canada established a process to advocate for movement through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where biometrics would be collected and applications finalized. The closure of Rafah in May 2024 significantly reduced available options for people to exit Gaza. The Government of Canada is aware of reporting that the Rafah border crossing may reopen. We continue to monitor the situation and will adapt our approach as required.

Possibility of exit from Gaza following peace deal

• Canada is closely following the recent developments related to the peace deal and is actively monitoring the situation.
• We will continue to adapt our approach as required.
• [Redacted]

In-Canada supports

• Once in Canada, eligible clients may apply for a fee-exempt study or open work permit. Eligible clients may also access supports, such as one-time transitional financial assistance ($3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child), three months of interim health-care coverage, and settlement services.

Palestinian Students in Gaza and Egypt

• We understand that some students, including those with acceptance letters from Canadian institutions, have been experiencing increased processing times for their study permit applications.
• Applying to a Canadian school does not guarantee entry to Canada, and all prospective international students must meet all requirements before a study permit is approved.

Ukraine

Key Messages

• Canada remains deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine and empathizes with those affected.
• IRCC introduced measures to support Ukrainians and their family members by providing a temporary safe haven in Canada, recognizing that most will eventually return home when it is safe.
• The Government of Canada continues to monitor the situation in the region.

Key Facts

• Since March 2022, IRCC has implemented a series of temporary and permanent measures to support Ukrainians and their family members.
• The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) was a temporary resident program launched on March 17, 2022. Application intake closed on July 15, 2023.
• Under CUAET, Ukrainians and their family members were able to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years and apply for fee-exempt open work and study permits, as well as extensions of their temporary resident status.

Current Status

• Individuals who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, under the CUAET have until March 31, 2026, to renew their work permit or apply for a new open work permit or study permit from within Canada, subject to standard fees.
• Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently can also apply for permanent residence through existing immigration programs, such as the family reunification pathways and economic immigration streams.

Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway

• In October 2023, IRCC launched a special family reunification pathway to facilitate permanent residence for Ukrainian nationals in Canada who were immediate or extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Intake for this pathway closed on October 22, 2024. Processing of applications is ongoing.

Processing Times

• IRCC continues to process applications under the Family Reunification Pathway in line with admission spaces under the Immigration Levels Plan.
• Historical processing times are approximately 20 months, though wait times are projected to grow.
• Some individuals who applied to the Family Reunification Pathway may still be waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt. It is important to note that these applications have been received by IRCC and are awaiting processing.

In-Canada Supports

• Ukrainians and their family members who arrived in Canada under the CUAET measures by March 31, 2024, were eligible for federally-funded emergency temporary accommodation and could apply online until June 30, 2024, for a one-time financial assistance payment to help meet basic needs upon arrival in Canada ($3,000 per adult; $1,500 per child).
• All Ukrainians and their family members with valid temporary resident status in Canada were eligible for settlement services until March 31, 2025.
• While federally-funded settlement services will no longer be available to Ukrainians on temporary status after that date, we understand many Ukrainians are accessing similar programs and services through community groups, including Ukrainian-Canadian organizations, provincial, territorial, and local governments in the cities or towns where they live.

Validity of Passports and Travel Documents

• Generally, all foreign nationals applying for permanent or temporary residence in Canada are required to provide a valid passport or travel document as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
• However, if applicants cannot meet these requirements due to compelling and exceptional circumstances, IRCC officers may consider their situations on a case-by-case basis.

Afghanistan

Key Messages

• The Afghan Resettlement Initiative was one of the largest resettlement commitments in the world. Canada has welcomed over 60,000 Afghans who are building their new lives in Canada and making important contributions to their communities.
• Intake for the Afghan special measures has closed. Our focus is on processing eligible applications received, as well as ensuring that Afghans welcomed to Canada receive effective settlement services to support their integration.
• Canada also continues to accept eligible Afghans through its regular Refugee Resettlement Program.

Current Status

• Special measures and programs implemented included: (1) a special program for Afghan nationals with a significant and/or enduring relationship to Canada; (2) the family-based pathways for eligible extended family members of former Afghan interpreters and former Language and Cultural Advisors; and (3) a humanitarian program for other vulnerable groups (e.g., women leaders, LGBTQI+ populations, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of persecuted religious and ethnic minorities). Intake for these programs is now closed.
• Our focus is on processing eligible applications already received under the special measures, as well as ensuring that Afghans welcomed to Canada receive effective settlement services to support their integration into their new communities.

Hong Kong

Key Messages

• Canada continues to stand by the people of Hong Kong and supports their human rights and freedom, and has implemented a number of measures to facilitate their immigration to Canada.
• This includes two pathways to permanent residence, introduced in June 2021, for Hong Kong residents in Canada temporarily who have obtained recent Canadian post-secondary education or work experience.
• High-demand has led to significant wait times under these pathways.
• Those who have applied under these pathways also can apply for an open work permit while they wait for their permanent resident application to be processed.

Current Measures for Hong Kong

• There are two permanent residence pathways (the Pathways) for Hong Kong residents: one for those with a Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma, graduate or post-graduate credential;
• and one for those who have gained a minimum of one year of full-time authorized work experience in Canada (or the equivalent in part-time work.)
• The public policy expires on August 31, 2026, and those who have applied for permanent residence can extend their status in Canada under a new public policy, launched in May 2024.

If pressed on processing times and admission targets:

• Processing times are based on how many persons we have in our inventory for each pathway and how many applications we need to process to meet our admission targets.
• The Pathways are included in the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) and Other Category within the Immigration Levels Plan for which a total of 6,900 admissions have been allocated in 2026.
• Due to a high volume of applications to these Pathways and limited admission spaces, wait times are expected to exceed 10 years for new applicants.

If pressed on including the Pathways under Economic Category of the Levels Plan:

• A hallmark of Canada’s economic immigration system is a set of objective criteria intended to ensure candidate’s long-term economic establishment in Canada. Prioritizing candidates of a specific nationality would depart from this approach.