Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab has signed a temporary public policy that takes effect on April 24 2026, giving foreign nationals from Gaza who already hold Canadian Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) an additional 24 months to enter the country. The measure covers extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were approved under last year’s Gaza special-facilitation program but became stranded after Israel-Gaza border closures. Under the policy, eligible visa-holders are exempt from demonstrating sufficient funds and from proving that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorised stay—two requirements that often trip up humanitarian cases.
![Canada Extends Special Visa Measures for Gaza Residents Unable to Travel]()
Travellers and their sponsoring organisations who still need assistance gathering supporting documents or coordinating last-mile formalities can turn to VisaHQ, which specialises in Canadian visa services and real-time regulatory guidance; see https://www.visahq.com/canada/ for details.
All other admissibility checks, including security and medical screening, remain in place. The program will remain open until March 31 2028, but Ottawa reserves the right to revoke it without notice if security conditions change. For employers, universities and sponsoring relatives, the extension offers clarity: holders of affected TRVs can board commercial flights as soon as safe exit routes from Gaza become available, without re-applying or paying new processing fees. Global-mobility teams should, however, build in extra lead time for exit permits from Egyptian or Israeli authorities and budget for onward domestic travel once the newcomers arrive in Canada. Observers say the move signals Ottawa’s intent to balance humanitarian commitments with operational realities. IRCC’s own data show that only 37 % of the 14,200 visas issued under the Gaza measures since 2024 have been used, largely due to border closures at Rafah and Erez. By pausing financial-ability tests, Canada hopes to capture the remaining cohort before visas expire. Organisations supporting relocated staff and family members should note that temporary residents arriving under this policy are eligible for open work permits once in Canada, streamlining their transition into the labour market—particularly valuable in sectors facing acute talent shortages.
Travellers and their sponsoring organisations who still need assistance gathering supporting documents or coordinating last-mile formalities can turn to VisaHQ, which specialises in Canadian visa services and real-time regulatory guidance; see https://www.visahq.com/canada/ for details.
All other admissibility checks, including security and medical screening, remain in place. The program will remain open until March 31 2028, but Ottawa reserves the right to revoke it without notice if security conditions change. For employers, universities and sponsoring relatives, the extension offers clarity: holders of affected TRVs can board commercial flights as soon as safe exit routes from Gaza become available, without re-applying or paying new processing fees. Global-mobility teams should, however, build in extra lead time for exit permits from Egyptian or Israeli authorities and budget for onward domestic travel once the newcomers arrive in Canada. Observers say the move signals Ottawa’s intent to balance humanitarian commitments with operational realities. IRCC’s own data show that only 37 % of the 14,200 visas issued under the Gaza measures since 2024 have been used, largely due to border closures at Rafah and Erez. By pausing financial-ability tests, Canada hopes to capture the remaining cohort before visas expire. Organisations supporting relocated staff and family members should note that temporary residents arriving under this policy are eligible for open work permits once in Canada, streamlining their transition into the labour market—particularly valuable in sectors facing acute talent shortages.
