CIMM – Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) and Other Immigration – October 21, 2025

Key Messages

• In recent years, Canada has implemented a number of special measures to facilitate permanent residence in response to situations abroad, including Ukraine, Hong Kong, Sudan, and the Americas. Admissions for these measures typically fall under the H&C and Other category of the Levels Plan, which also includes admissions for permanent residence on H&C grounds.
• The 2025-27 Levels Plan reduced Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) and Other category targets, in line with broader reductions intended to stabilize overall immigration levels and better manage migration programs. As of August 31, 2025, approximately 9,000 people have been admitted  under this category this year, shared amongst various pathways.
• High demand, coupled with limited admissions space, has resulted in significant wait times under the H&C and Other category which are expected to persist for some clients.  

Program Performance

Key Messages

• The performance of pathways in the H&C and Other category is measured by the number of admissions in the H&C and Other category each year.
• The pathways in the H&C and Other category programs were designed to respond to emerging international events (e.g. Ukraine, Sudan, the Americas) and to provide facilitation to foreign nationals in exceptional circumstances.
• High demand for these pathways combine with a reduction in level space has resulted in increased inventory and significant wait time for clients which will persist. 

If pressed on program results:

• In 2024, Canada exceeded its target for Humanitarian and Compassionate and Public Policy programs with a total admission of 19,355 admissions. The target was ≥13,750. This is in part due to public policies implemented over the past few years to address global crises and other Government of Canada priorities.

If pressed on service standards:

• The H&C and Other category does not have a service standard, due in part to the unpredictable nature of global events and discretionary decision-making.

Hong Kong Permanent Residence Pathways

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.

If pressed on processing times:

• Historical processing times for the permanent resident pathways are approximately 21 months^{Footnote 1}, though wait times are projected to grow. 
• To ensure that applicants can maintain their status in Canada, a new public policy was launched in May 2024 that facilitates access to a new open work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed.  
• These work permit applications are finalized in an average of 190 days. Applicants who apply for a new work permit before their current permit expires can continue to live and work in Canada while their work permit application is processed.

Key Facts and Figures

• As of August 31, 2025,
  • Applications from 35,400 persons have been received under the permanent residence pathways;
  • over 12,000 persons have been admitted to Canada;
  • over 22,600 persons are in the processing inventory.

Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway

Key Messages

• 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.
• Ukrainian nationals had one year to submit their application under the pathway. Processing of applications is ongoing.

If pressed on processing times:

• Historical processing times are approximately 20 months, though wait times are projected to grow. 
• Eligible applicants who arrived in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel are able to extend their status in-Canada until March 31, 2026, allowing them to continue to work and study during this period of uncertainty.
• Some individuals who applied to the Family Reunification Pathway may still be waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AoR). It is important to note that these applications are not lost.

If pressed on new permanent residence pathways:

• Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently can apply for permanent residence through various existing immigration programs and streams, including economic pathways and through family sponsorship.

Key Facts and Figures

• Between October 23, 2023 and October 22, 2024, over 25,200 applications (in persons) were received.
• As of August 31, 2025,
  • Almost 1,800 persons have been admitted;
  • 23,000 persons remain in the processing inventory.

Sudan (including Family-Based Pathway and Resettlement)

• 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.

Sudan Family-Based Pathway

Key Messages

• Canada remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Sudan and for the safety and well-being of those affected.
• In February 2024, IRCC introduced a pathway to facilitate permanent residence for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals affected by the conflict with family in Canada.
• The pathway was expanded in February 2025 to allow Canada to welcome approximately 10,000 people. Application intake has closed while 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.

Key Facts and Figures

• As of August 31, 2025,
  • The cap for the public policy has been reached and no further applications are being accepted.
  • As of August 31, 2025, 1,875 persons have been admitted to Canada since the launch of this pathway^{Footnote 2};
  • 12,100 persons are in the processing inventory^{Footnote 3}

Sudan Resettlement (under Refugee Resettlement, not H&C and Other)

Key Message

• Canada has implemented several immigration measures in response to the conflict in Sudan. On February 20, 2025, Canada announced its commitment to resettle up to 4,000 Government-Assisted Refugees by the end of 2026, and to resettle an additional approximately 700 Privately-Sponsored Refugees.

Key Facts and Figures

Between April 2023 and August 31, 2025, 7,775 refugees have been resettled under Canada's resettlement program.

Americas Family-Based Pathway

Key Messages

• In November 2023, IRCC launched a permanent residence pathway for approximately 11,000 Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan nationals residing in Latin America or the Caribbean with family in Canada, as part of a commitment to welcome 15,000 people from the Americas.
• Application intake has closed while processing and arrivals are ongoing.

If pressed on processing times:

• Historical processing times are approximately 20 months. 

Key Facts and Figures

• As of August 31, 2025,
  • Applications from over 13,300 persons were received;
  • Almost 11,000 persons have been admitted in Canada;
  • 850 persons are in inventory.

In-Canada H&C Considerations

Key Messages

• Individuals who lack a viable path to permanent residence or are inadmissible may request to be granted permanent residence on H&C grounds from within Canada.
• We are seeing an increase in H&C requests, due in part to increased asylum claims, humanitarian and crisis situations abroad, and an increasing perception that the in-Canada H&C process is an alternative permanent residence pathway. 
• H&C applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and decision-making is highly discretionary.  It is not intended to be a regular pathway.

If pressed on processing times:

• Historical processing times are approximately 51 months for Quebec and 26.5 months for the rest of Canada, though wait times are expected to grow.

Key Facts and Figures

• As of August 31, 2025, there have been 1,200 persons admitted through in-Canada H&C^{Footnote 4} this year, and there are 65,700 persons in the inventory.