Canada launches temporary and permanent residency pathways for Lebanese and Sudanese nationals

Owing to the conflicts in their home countries that prevent them from going back home, temporary and permanent residency pathways for Lebanese and Sudanese nationals in Canada have been introduced by the federal government.

Temporary residency measures

Temporary residency pathways for Lebanese and Sudanese nationals include applying for an open work permit, a study permit, or a status extension, at no cost, if they are in Canada. 

If you are a Sudanese national in Canada, you can apply for the following temporary resident pathways:

• Extend your status as a visitor, worker, or student
• Apply for another temporary resident permit, extend your current temporary resident status, as well as a work/study permit
• Apply to change your status to a visitor, worker, or student
• Apply to restore your status

If you wish to contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prioritize your application, please use this web form. In the ‘tell us about your situation’ box, please describe your situation, and add the keyword SD2023 at the end of the description. These measures remain in place until October 27, 2025.

Family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023, and arrived in Canada before July 15, 2023, can also apply for an open work permit or study permit. 

If you are a Lebanese national in Canada who left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024, you are eligible to apply for an open work permit, study permit, or status extension once you’ve arrived in Canada. 

These measures also apply to spouses and dependants, regardless of nationality. These measures will remain in effect until July 31, 2025, or until further notice. 

Also read: Canada lowers immigration targets in its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan

Permanent residency measures

Residency pathways for Lebanese and Sudanese nationals in Canada, who wish to become permanent residents and/or citizens, are also available from IRCC.

A family-based permanent residency pathway is available to Sudanese nationals who:

• Lived in Sudan when the conflict began on April 15, 2023
• Are the child/grandchild/parent/sibling/grandparent of an extended family member in Canada
• Have extended family members in Canada who are Canadian citizens/permanent residents, and are willing to support their application for permanent residency

Canada will accept up to 3,250 applications from people who fall under the above category.

Lebanese nationals who were born to a Canadian citizen while outside Canada may have a pathway to citizenship, provided they are not affected by the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship. This means that you might not automatically become a Canadian citizen if you:

• Were born outside Canada
• Your parent was born outside Canada to a Canadian grandparent
• You do not have another Canadian parent who was either born in Canada or became a naturalized citizen of Canada

Click here to see if you are affected by the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship.

Also read: Canada announces financial aid for Gazans arriving in the country

Canadian citizens abroad

Apart from the residency pathways for Lebanese and Sudanese citizens in Canada, the government has asked all Canadian citizens to avoid all travel to both Lebanon and Sudan. If you are in either country and wish to leave, please prepare your travel documents accordingly, and leave at the earliest opportunity.

If you are a Canadian citizen abroad, sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to get important information as the situations change.

Canadians and permanent residents in Lebanon who need emergency consular assistance should contact the Government of Canada at the dedicated email address for Canadians affected by the ongoing conflict: me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca.

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