The Government of Canada has announced an extension of the temporary policy for Iranian nationals residing in Canada and Canadians or permanent residents who currently live in Iran. The special measures have been extended until February 28, 2025.

The Hon. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, made the announcement on February 28, 2024.

Through this provision, Iranians who are temporarily in Canada to study, work, or spend time with family can apply to stay longer in the country without paying application fees or biometric fees.

 If you are in this category, you can apply for any of the following free of charge:

• to extend your temporary resident status
• to change your temporary resident status
• to apply for an additional open work permit or study permit

Similarly, Canadian citizens and permanent residents presently living in Iran can apply for their documents for free, including:

• limited validity Canadian passport
• Canadian citizenship certificate
• permanent resident travel document

To submit an application or get additional information on which category is most applicable to you, please visit the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

The Canadian government has been supporting the people of Iran since September 2022, after the protests that followed the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. Although the protests have decreased since then, the situation in Iran is still unstable.

This temporary extension applies to applications received on or after the date it comes into effect. The policy expires on February 28, 2025, revoked at any time without prior notice.