Maple News reports that, effective immediately, the Government of Canada has introduced a new temporary resident (TR) pathway to support extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents currently living in Gaza. The initiative, which builds on humanitarian measures first unveiled in December, offers a temporary safe haven in Canada amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Under this policy, extended family members—specifically spouses, common-law partners, children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, and grandparents—of Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply. Immediate family members of these individuals—including spouses, dependent children, and grandchildren of dependent children—also qualify.
Temporary resident visas granted under this program will be issued for up to three years, or until the expiration of the applicant’s passport, whichever comes first. Applicants must meet all standard admissibility criteria, including biometric screening, before approval is granted, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Once in Canada, eligible individuals will be able to apply for fee-exempt open work permits or study permits under the humanitarian measures already in place. This is intended to provide arriving families with the means to support themselves while the situation in Gaza remains unstable.
To further ease their transition, newcomers arriving through this pathway will receive up to three months of comprehensive health coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program, ensuring access to urgent care as needed.
In addition, Canada will extend settlement support services to these temporary residents. This encompasses language training, job readiness resources, and assistance integrating into local communities—part of a broader effort to provide a stable and dignified temporary living environment.
This initiative highlights Canada’s continued commitment to aiding those affected by humanitarian crises, particularly when they have strong family ties in Canada.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments on Canada’s evolving immigration and humanitarian policies.