June 13, 2023
Canada’s Immigration Response to the Crisis in Sudan
Due to the current dangerous and volatile situation in Sudan, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a temporary halt on removals to Sudan; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put in place some special measures to support Sudanese nationals.
As of April 30, 2023, Sudanese temporary residents who are already in Canada can apply for an extension of their status or move between temporary streams (i.e., visitor, student, or worker). To be eligible, the applicant must
- have a valid temporary resident status in Canada, and
- be a Sudanese national with a valid passport from Sudan
For immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, the foreign national family members can apply for a temporary resident visa to travel to Canada, if they have left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023. If they arrive in Canada before July 15, 2023, they will also be eligible for an open work permit or study permit, or permanent residence under the family class.
Under these temporary polices, applicants are exempted for paying application fees and biometrics fees. Notably, individuals who need to restore their temporary resident status are not included under these special measures and are not exempt from paying the $200 restoration fee.
Meanwhile, IRCC has prioritized the processing of the applications that are already in their system for temporary and permanent residence from people living in Sudan so they can travel once it is safe to do so. Canada has also waived the requirement of holding a valid passport or travel document to be approved for a permanent resident visa holder to come to Canada, since some applicants may not have access to their Sudanese travel documents.
As the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship commented, “Canada has a proud and long-standing tradition of providing protection to vulnerable people around the world, and we are deeply concerned for the well-being of people in Sudan, including Canadians and their family members. We are monitoring the situation closely and are working to provide support for those seeking safety in Canada.”