Canada Extends Support Measures for Turkish and Syrian Nationals

In response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria in February 2023, the Government of Canada introduced temporary immigration measures to aid Turkish and Syrian nationals affected by the natural disasters. On September 29, 2023, IRCC announced the extension of these support measures until January 3, 2024.

Extended Support Measures

Open Work Permits

Turkish and Syrian temporary residents in Canada are now eligible to apply for open work permits. This provision offers them the flexibility to transition between temporary categories, such as moving from a visitor status to a worker status. This measure aims to provide affected individuals with opportunities for stable employment and income.

Priority Processing

New and existing temporary and permanent residence applications from Türkiye and Syria, including visitor visa applications for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents, continue to receive prioritized processing. This prioritization ensures that applicants receive timely decisions, facilitating reunification and relief efforts.

Waived Processing Fees

Processing fees have been waived for Turkish and Syrian nationals already in Canada as temporary residents applying to extend their stays as visitors, workers, or students. This fee waiver alleviates financial burdens on those seeking to remain in Canada during the recovery period.

Passport and Travel Document Flexibility

Permanent residence applicants may not be required to provide a passport or travel document as part of their application. This flexibility recognizes that some applicants may have lost these essential documents due to the earthquakes. This alleviates barriers to their application process and enhances their ability to access support.

Fee Waivers for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents

Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Türkiye and Syria applying for various documents, including temporary passports, limited-validity passports, emergency travel documents, citizenship certificates, and permanent resident travel documents, benefit from waived processing fees. This measure aims to facilitate essential travel and documentation for Canadian nationals residing in the affected regions.

Notable Clarifications

It’s important to highlight that Canada’s support measures for individuals affected by the earthquakes do not constitute special immigration programs that allow for direct immigration to Canada. Instead, these measures focus on assisting Turkish and Syrian nationals outside of Canada who were directly impacted by the earthquakes. The key aspects include accelerating applications under existing immigration categories, easing documentation requirements, and reducing financial burdens for applicants.

By granting access to open work permits, prioritizing application processing, waiving fees, and offering flexibility regarding passport and travel document requirements, Canada aims to ease the hardships faced by individuals in Türkiye and Syria during their recovery process. However, these relief measures do not suffice as a pathway to immigration but do serve as a crucial lifeline for people who are looking to rebuild their lives again.