Canada Announces New Immigration Measures to Support Turkish and Syrian Temporary Residents

Toronto, Ontario – The Government of Canada is taking steps to support Turkish and Syrian nationals already in Canada who may be unable to return home due to the devastating earthquakes in their region. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced new immigration measures to extend the status of Turkish and Syrian temporary residents in Canada.

The Canadian government has been processing temporary and permanent residence applications from people affected by the earthquakes on a priority basis, including applications for refugee resettlement. Now, they are making it easier for Turkish and Syrian nationals already in Canada to extend their stay, study, work or visit family.

Starting March 29, 2023, Turkish and Syrian nationals can apply for an extension of their status free of charge. Additionally, an open work permit pathway will be made available for Turkish and Syrian nationals already in Canada. These measures will make it easier for Turkish and Syrian nationals to move between temporary streams.

Permanent residence applicants who have lost their travel documents as a result of the earthquakes will also be waived the requirement to hold a passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa to come to Canada. Furthermore, Canadian citizens and permanent residents from Türkiye and Syria can return to Canada without paying fees for temporary passports, limited-validity passports or emergency travel documents, as well as Canadian citizenship certificates and permanent resident travel documents.

These new measures build on work already underway to prioritize overseas applications from those who have been personally impacted by the earthquakes. New and existing temporary residence applications from the affected regions, as well as permanent residence applications including refugee resettlement applications, are all being processed on a priority basis. This includes visitor visa applications for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents, so they can join their loved ones in Canada.

Canada is also working with UN partners in the area to provide temporary shelter for refugees in Canada’s resettlement process who have been seriously impacted while they wait for their applications to be processed. The Canadian government will continue to closely monitor the needs of people in the region and will adapt its response as needed.

These new immigration measures are part of Canada’s response to the situation in Türkiye and Syria, where the devastating earthquakes have impacted the lives of many. Canada is committed to providing support to those affected by the disasters, both overseas and within its borders.