IRCC Strengthens Settlement Support for Gaza Evacuees Arriving in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has refreshed the instructions its officers use when processing arrivals under the Gaza special measures. The update does not create a new program. Instead, it tightens how existing supports reach the people who qualify for them, closing gaps that had left some newcomers without timely access to housing help, health coverage, or work permits after landing in Canada. 

At the center of the change is a small administrative marker with an outsized role. Known as the MOME2023 remark, it is added to a temporary resident document and tells settlement agencies, provincially and federally funded alike, that the holder is cleared for support. Without it, newcomers can find themselves stuck in a paperwork loop just as they need help the most. 

Why the Update Matters 

Officers at ports of entry and inland offices had been applying the earlier guidance inconsistently. Some travelers arrived with the remark already on file. Others did not, and had to chase it down after arrival, often while also managing housing, schooling, and medical needs for their families. The revised guidance closes that gap by making the remark a standard step, not a discretionary one. 

Border Services Officers are now expected to check for the remark on arrival and add it on the spot if it is missing, provided the traveler is linked to the dedicated file used to track eligible Palestinian arrivals. That single change is expected to cut down on delays that had been reported at several ports of entry over the past year. 

Who the Special Measures Cover 

The pathway was built for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza who have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident relative willing to act as their anchor for at least the first year in Canada. Eligible relatives span a wide family circle, including spouses, children of any age, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings, along with the immediate family of those relatives. 

The anchor carries real responsibilities. They must be at least 18, resident or intending to reside in Canada, and formally commit to supporting the arriving family members for a full year. That commitment is verified through a signed statutory declaration, witnessed by a lawyer, notary, commissioner for oaths, or a Government of Canada consular officer. 

A Two Step Path to a Visa 

Applicants do not go straight to a visa application. They first submit a web form identifying the anchor and family members, along with proof of the anchor’s status and identity. Once IRCC confirms the file is complete, each applicant receives a unique reference code, which unlocks the second step: a full temporary resident visa application through the IRCC Portal. 

The intake cap for this stream, set at 5,000 applications, was reached in March 2025, so new web form submissions under this specific pathway are no longer being accepted. Officers are still working through the files that made it into processing before the cap closed, and port of entry exemptions tied to those approvals remain in place until March 2028. 

What Support Looks Like After Landing 

For those who make it through, the settlement package is substantial. It includes fee-exempt applications to extend or change status, three months of coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program, access to federally funded settlement services, and a one time transitional financial payment to cover immediate costs. Newcomers who later file a refugee claim lose their eligibility for that financial payment, since a claim changes their status from temporary resident. 

Overseas officers handle the health coverage paperwork before departure, so certificates are ready on arrival. Everything else, including the financial assistance request, is initiated by the newcomer once they are settled, using contact details provided in an outreach letter they receive with their approval. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Staying ahead of policy shifts like this one can be the difference between a smooth landing and a stressful one. Canada Immigration News covers timely updates, policy changes, so you always know where things stand on your immigration journey.