Under this new temporary policy, who is eligible to apply?

Only the following people are eligible for this new stream:

• Haitian citizens and holders of passports who are in Canada and have a current status as temporary residents;
• Family members of citizens and permanent residents of Canada who:
• Departed Haiti on or before March 1st, 2024 (the applicant’s family member and Canadian citizen or permanent resident cannot be in Haiti at the time of application);
• landed in Canada on April 26, 2024, or earlier; and
• possess a current temporary residency permit in Canada.

• Permanent residents of Canada who:
  • Left Haiti on or after March 1st, 2024;
  • Arrived in Canada on or before April 26th, 2024; and
  • Are subject to a waiting period for provincial or territorial health coverage.
• Haitian nationals who:
  • • Are outside of Canada; and
    • Have existing permanent resident applications in progress.

According to the IRCC, Haitian nationals living outside of Canada who have applied for immigration and are prepared to be granted a permanent residence visa but have lost their passport as a result of the continuing humanitarian problems may be authorized to enter the country without one.

According to department estimates, 44,000 or so Haitians hold legal temporary resident status in Canada.

Visit the IRCC’s dedicated eligibility webpage by clicking this link for further details.

Family members also include relatives of permanent residents and citizens of Canada who came to the country as temporary residents through aided departures from Haiti.

A Component of a larger plan

The Canadian government has implemented a broader approach to address the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which includes the implementation of this most recent temporary policy.

We have serious concerns about the welfare of the people in Haiti. The actions taken today will make it possible for Haitians to work and learn in a secure setting.

– Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

At the start of the crises, Canada completed assisted departures from Haiti, which successfully transported 435 Canadian citizens, 111 permanent residents, and 135 temporary residents to safety.

In addition, late last year IRCC also instituted a dedicated humanitarian pathway for Colombian, Venezuelan and Haitian nationals to apply for permanent residence (PR) on a priority basis. IRCC hopes to welcome 11,000 foreign nationals to Canada, through this pathway.