CIMM – IRCC’s General Responsive Measures for Conflict in Sudan – May 27, 2024
Key Facts
Assisted Departures:
The Government of Canada facilitated the safe return of Canadians, permanent residents (PRs), and their foreign national family members through assisted departures.
Immigration and Resettlement Measures:
On April 24, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced immigration measures allowing Sudanese temporary residents in Canada to:
Extend their stays as visitors, workers, or students, free of charge.
On May 1, 2023, additional measures were put in place to support family members of Canadian citizens or PRs who fled Sudan since the violence erupted to:
Apply in Canada for a study permit, an open work permit, or permanent residency as a sponsored spouse, partner, or child, all free of charge.
These measures are only for spouses, common-law partners, dependent children and their children (grandchildren) of Canadian citizens or PRs who arrived in Canada before July 15, 2023, where they and their Canadian citizen and PR family member left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023.
All of these measures have been extended until October 27, 2024.
A new temporary public policy effective from February 27, 2024, allowed Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals affected by the conflict to come to Canada with their family members to join some of their extended family in Canada. This will result in at least 7,000 total admissions.
As of May 6, 2024, IRCC has received a large number of applications and is temporarily pausing intake of new applications. We continue to review application submissions as quickly as possible to reach the program intake cap of 3,250 applications accepted into processing. We will post more information on the IRCC website if we start to accept applications again for this program.
Settlement Supports:
Similar to other PRs, clients under this public policy will have access to IRCC-funded services available through IRCC’s Settlement Program.
Key Messages:
Canada continues to call for an end to violence in Sudan and stands with the Sudanese people as they strive for peace. We are deeply concerned for the safety of people in the area.
Canada has provided a comprehensive response to the situation in Sudan through humanitarian assistance and immigration measures.
IRCC has implemented measures that provide Sudanese nationals with valid temporary resident status in Canada access to apply inland for a study permit or an open work permit, free of charge. These measures allow eligible individuals to continue their studies, work, or visit family while they may not feel safe returning to their home country or region.
Additionally, IRCC introduced temporary measures that support immediate family members of Canadian citizens and PRs who departed Sudan since the violence erupted and arrived in Canada by July 15, 2023. These measures provide access to apply from within Canada for study permits, open work permits or for permanent residence under the family class, all free of charge.
Family-based Humanitarian Public Policy:
On February 27, 2024, IRCC launched a family-based permanent resident humanitarian pathway for eligible Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals affected by the crisis in Sudan. This pathway will accept 3,250 applications from principal applicants and their family members and will facilitate the admission of approximately 7,000 individuals.
To be eligible, principal applicants must be the child (regardless of age), grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who resides in Canada, outside the province of Quebec. The family member (i.e. “anchor”) in Canada provides a statutory declaration attesting to their intention to financially support them for one year and help build their life in Canada.
IRCC continues to monitor the situation in the region as it evolves and will adapt our response to meet the unique needs of those who require our support.
Supplementary Information
If pressed on the other eligibility requirements for the Sudan PR pathway:
The principal applicant must have been residing in Sudan on April 15, 2023, and must have no reasonable prospect, within a reasonable period, of a durable solution in a country other than Canada or Sudan.
The anchor must be 18 years of age or older, reside in Canada and meet financial and other requirements.
If pressed on why anchors in Quebec are not eligible under the Sudan PR Pathway:
The Government of Quebec is responsible for selecting candidates for permanent residence in the province, with the exception of the family class and protected persons in Canada. Sudanese nationals intending to reside in Quebec can consult the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration to learn more about immigration pathways available to them in that province.
If pressed on fee waivers:
Foreign national family members of Canadians and permanent residents who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023, are exempt from paying temporary resident visa and temporary resident permit processing fees, as well as fees for biometric collection.
If pressed on cap for the Sudan PR pathway:
The public policy ends one year after taking effect or once 3,250 applications (principal applicants) have been accepted for processing by IRCC, whichever comes first. There is no limit to the number of accompanying family members that can be included on the principal applicant’s application.
If pressed on why there are financial requirements for anchors under the Sudan PR pathway:
This pathway has been designed to allow Canadian family members who have the intention and the means to financially support their relatives for one year and facilitate their successful integration upon their arrival to Canada. The financial requirements are modelled on the Family Class and Private Sponsorship of Refugees programs.
To provide further financial flexibility, Canadian anchors have three options to demonstrate that they meet financial requirements: 1) exceed the minimum necessary income; 2) have sufficient funds in a Canadian trust that the applicant may access, which may come directly from the anchor or through community fundraising efforts; or 3) the anchor must have funds held in an in-trust account equal to the minimum necessary income required less the anchor’s total income.
If pressed on priority processing for all applications linked to Sudan:
The situation in Sudan is constantly evolving, and movement within the country continues to be difficult and dangerous. In addition, the volatile situation in Sudan has a significant impact on our ability to process new applications at the current time.
In terms of application inventory under our regular programs, IRCC is processing temporary resident and permanent resident applications from those residing in Sudan, including applications submitted within the family-based permanent resident humanitarian pathway for eligible Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals, on a priority basis.
If pressed on lack of arrivals under the Sudan PR Pathway:
Permanent resident programs include multiple assessment steps before an application is approved. We continue to review application submissions as quickly as possible to reach the program intake cap of 3,250 applications accepted into processing.
Sudanese nationals who may be eligible for regular immigration programs, including economic, family reunification and refugee resettlement programs may continue to apply to come to Canada.
If pressed on removals to Sudan:
At present, Canada Border Services Agency has an administrative deferrals of removal for Sudan that was put in place on April 26, 2023.
An Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR) is a temporary measure adopted when immediate action must be taken to defer removals in cases of humanitarian crisis. The ADR is not meant to address persistent and systematic human rights problems that constitute an individualized risk.
