Situation in Iran: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship measures
Extended These temporary measures have been extended until February 28, 2025.
Due to the situation in Iran, we’ve introduced special measures to support Iranian temporary residents in Canada as well as Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Iran.
Iranian temporary residents in Canada
You don’t have to pay application or biometric fees when you apply
- to extend your current temporary resident status
- to change your temporary resident status
- for example, from a visitor to a worker.
- for an additional open work permit or study permit
Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Iran
You can apply for the following documents for free:
- limited validity Canadian passport
- Canadian citizenship certificate
- permanent resident travel document
How to apply
Answer a few questions below to find out how to apply.
Most people must apply online
You can contact our Client Support Centre if you can’t apply online due to a
- disability that prevents you from applying online or
- problem with the online application system
Choose the option “get urgent help in a crisis, emergency, or vulnerable situation.”
Not everyone can apply online. If you’re not eligible to apply online, apply on paper.
Apply online to extend your status - visitor
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can extend your status for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
You need to apply for a visitor record to extend your visitor status. A visitor record is different from a visitor visa.
If you want to work or study
If you’re extending your visitor status and you want to apply for a work or study permit, you should apply to change your status instead. Go back and select “Change my temporary resident status” and follow those instructions.
Apply online
- Complete the online application for a visitor record (opens in a new tab)
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab) )
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures”.
If you apply to extend your status and it expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply online to extend your status - worker
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can extend your status for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply online
- Complete the online application to extend your worker status (opens in a new tab)
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab)
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures.”
If you apply to extend your status and it expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply online to extend your status - student
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can extend your status for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply online
- Complete the online application to extend your student status (opens in a new tab)
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab)
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section:
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures.”
If you apply to extend your status and it expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply on paper for a new temporary resident permit and a work permit
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for another temporary resident permit for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport,
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply on paper
- Complete the paper application (opens in a new tab) .
- When completing form IMM 5710, under Section 3 at the top of the form, make sure to select “Get a new temporary resident permit” and the type of work permit you’re applying for.
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees.
- Provide these required documents with your application:
- a copy of your Iranian passport
- a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures”
- Write “IRAN2023” on the mailing envelope and on the first page of the application or covering document.
If your current temporary resident permit expires before we finalize your application
You must stop working until we issue you
- a new temporary resident permit
- a work permit that authorizes you to work
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply on paper for a new temporary resident permit and a study permit
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a new temporary resident permit for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply on paper
- Complete the paper application (opens in a new tab) .
- When completing form IMM 5709, under section 3 at the top of the form, make sure to select “Get a new temporary resident permit.”
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees.
- Find out if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab) .
- Provide these required documents with your application:
- a copy of your Iranian passport
- a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures”
- Write “IRAN2023” on the mailing envelope and on the first page of the application or covering document.
If your current temporary resident permit expires before we finalize your application
You must stop studying until we issue you
- a new temporary resident permit
- a study permit that authorizes you to study
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply on paper for a new temporary resident permit
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a new temporary resident permit for free if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply on paper
- Complete the paper application (opens in a new tab) .
- When completing form IMM 5708, under section 3 at the top of the form, make sure to select “Get a new temporary resident permit.”
- For your situation, you do not need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees.
- Provide these required documents with your application:
- a copy of your Iranian passport
- a letter stating “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures”
- Write “IRAN2023” on the mailing envelope and on the first page of the application or covering document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply online to change your status to that of a visitor
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a free visitor record to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply online
- Complete the online application for a visitor record (opens in a new tab) .
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab) ).
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question, “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section:
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating, “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures.”
If you apply to change your status and your current status expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply online for an open work permit
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a free open work permit (opens in a new tab) if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply online
- Complete the online application to extend or change the conditions on your work permit (opens in a new tab) .
- When filling out form IMM 5710, in the “Details of intended work in Canada” section, select “Open Work Permit” for question 1.
- You don’t need to provide employer details or ask your employer to complete any steps before you apply.
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab) ).
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question, “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section:
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating, “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures.”
If you apply to change your status and your current status expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply online for a study permit
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a free study permit if you
- are an Iranian national with a valid Iranian passport
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- are in Canada with valid temporary resident status when
- you apply, and
- a decision is made on your application
You’ll also get priority processing on your application.
Apply online
- Complete the online application to extend or restore your student status (opens in a new tab) .
- For your situation, you don’t need to pay the application fees or the biometrics fees (if you need to give biometrics (opens in a new tab) ).
- In your account, to tell us that you don’t need to pay fees, select “No, I am exempt from paying fees for this application” for the question, “There are fees associated with this application. Will you be paying your fees or are you fee exempt?”
- Upload these required documents in the “Supporting Documents” section:
- Under “Passport”, upload a copy of your Iranian passport.
- Under “Proof of Fee Exemption”, upload a letter stating, “I am exempt from paying fees under the Iranian special measures.”
If you apply to change your status and your current status expires before your application is processed
You are considered to have maintained your status.
Maintained status is a legal extension of status that allows a temporary resident to stay in Canada while we process their application. This means you can legally stay in Canada while you wait for a decision on your application. You must continue to meet the conditions described in your expiring document.
If you need help, have questions or need to update your contact information
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Send us a web form (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete all required fields.
- Include “Iran2023” in the text box.
Apply for a 1-year limited validity Canadian passport
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a 1-year limited validity passport for free if you are
- a Canadian citizen living in Iran
How to apply
Contact the closest Government of Canada office abroad and tell them about your situation.
If you need to travel urgently
When you contact the Government of Canada office, tell them you need to travel urgently. They may issue you an urgent travel document if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Apply online for a citizenship certificate
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a citizenship certificate for free if you
- are a Canadian citizen living in Iran
- need to confirm your claim to Canadian citizenship to get a Canadian passport or travel document
How to apply
- Start by answering a few questions to make sure you can apply online (opens in a new tab) .
- If you can, you’ll see a Create an account or sign in button.
- Select the electronic citizenship certificate. If your application is approved, you’ll get instructions on how to download your certificate in your IRCC secure account.
- If you choose to get a paper citizenship certificate, it is important to know that mailing times will impact the time it takes to get your certificate. A delay may impact the type of passport or travel document you receive.
- Under Client Information in the Supporting Documents section, upload a signed letter (attestation) explaining your situation.
We’ll refund your fees
Before you submit your application, you must pay the fee in your online account. Our system won’t let you submit without paying.
After you apply, we’ll refund your fees
- once we process the application
- if your application includes a signed letter (attestation) explaining your situation
You don’t have to contact us to get the refund.
If you’re replacing a citizenship card, we won’t issue you a new card. We no longer issue new cards, but if we approve your application, we’ll replace your card with an electronic citizenship certificate (recommended) or a paper certificate.
If you need help or have questions
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Contact the closest Government of Canada office.
Apply on paper for a citizenship certificate
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
You can apply for a citizenship certificate for free if you
- are a Canadian citizen living in Iran
- need to confirm your claim to Canadian citizenship to get a Canadian passport or travel document
How to apply
- Complete the paper application for a citizenship certificate (opens in a new tab) .
- Include a signed letter (attestation) explaining your situation.
- You do not need to pay the fee or include a receipt.
- Select the electronic citizenship certificate. If your application is approved, you’ll get instructions on how to download your certificate in your email.
- If you choose to get a paper citizenship certificate, it is important to know that mailing times will impact the time it takes to get your certificate. A delay may impact the type of passport or travel document you receive.
- Write “Iran2023” on the envelope and the first page of your application or covering document.
- Submit your application to the closest Government of Canada office abroad.
If you’re replacing a citizenship card, we won’t issue you a new card. We no longer issue new cards, but will replace your card with an electronic citizenship certificate (recommended) or a paper certificate (if we approve your application).
If you need help or have questions
Get help to download, save and open a form (opens in a new tab) .
Contact the closest Government of Canada office.
Apply for a permanent resident travel document
Deadline: Submit your application on or before
February 28, 2025
If you don’t have a valid permanent resident card, you can apply for a permanent resident travel document for free if you
- are a permanent resident of Canada living in Iran
- need a permanent resident travel document for travel
How to apply
- Complete the application for a permanent resident travel document (opens in a new tab) .
- You do not need to pay the fee or include a receipt with your application.
- You can apply online or on paper.
If you apply online
- You must upload an attachment that states “Iran2023” in the “Proof of payment” section to submit your application.
If you apply on paper
- Write “IRAN2023” on the envelope and on the first page of your application or covering document.
- Submit your application to the visa application centre nearest you.
There are no special measures for your situation
There are no special measures to help you restore your temporary resident status if it has expired.
If it has been less than 90 days since your status expired, you may be able to apply to restore it. Regular fees and processing times would apply.
If your application to restore your status is approved, you may then be eligible to apply for these special measures.
Find out how to restore your
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