Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has renewed and tightened its special public policy for Iranian nationals, issuing new operational guidance on 5 March 2026. The regime, originally created after the 2022 Tehran protests, now runs from 1 March 2026 to 31 March 2027 and allows qualifying Iranian temporary residents already in Canada to obtain a one-time, in-country work-permit extension of up to two years. Key changes narrow eligibility to holders whose current permits were issued on or before 28 February 2025, closing the door to newer arrivals. Applications must be submitted online from within Canada; port-of-entry filings are prohibited, and applicants must physically be in Canada when a decision is rendered. Standard fees and biometrics apply, aligning the program more closely with regular processing.
![Canada extends tailored work-permit renewal scheme for Iranian nationals until 2027]()
Applicants who need extra support navigating the online forms or weighing alternative visa strategies can turn to VisaHQ, an established immigration services platform. Its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists and live assistance, helping both Iranian nationals and their employers stay compliant under tight timelines.
For employers the extension offers breathing room to retain specialised Farsi-speaking staff in finance, tech and community services while exploring permanent-residence options. However, HR teams must verify issuance dates carefully—any Iranian worker whose permit was reissued after the 2025 cut-off is no longer eligible and will need an LMIA-backed application or another mainstream route. The policy reflects Ottawa’s balancing act: providing humanitarian relief amid Iran’s ongoing instability while advancing its objective of shrinking the overall temporary-resident population. Advisers recommend submitting extension files at least 90 days before expiry and tracking employees’ international travel, as departure during processing voids eligibility.
Applicants who need extra support navigating the online forms or weighing alternative visa strategies can turn to VisaHQ, an established immigration services platform. Its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists and live assistance, helping both Iranian nationals and their employers stay compliant under tight timelines.
For employers the extension offers breathing room to retain specialised Farsi-speaking staff in finance, tech and community services while exploring permanent-residence options. However, HR teams must verify issuance dates carefully—any Iranian worker whose permit was reissued after the 2025 cut-off is no longer eligible and will need an LMIA-backed application or another mainstream route. The policy reflects Ottawa’s balancing act: providing humanitarian relief amid Iran’s ongoing instability while advancing its objective of shrinking the overall temporary-resident population. Advisers recommend submitting extension files at least 90 days before expiry and tracking employees’ international travel, as departure during processing voids eligibility.
