Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada’s temporary public policy for family members of citizens or permanent residents who fled the conflict in Sudan has been extended by six months to October 27.

The original policy, signed on April 30, 2023, was due to expire on April 30 this year.

It exempts eligible foreign national family members who have left Sudan since the violence erupted from the requirement to pay the applicable Temporary Resident Visa and Temporary Resident Permit processing fee.

It also exempts them from paying fees for the provision of services in relation to the collection of biometric information, to facilitate their travel to Canada.

“Inside Sudan, the humanitarian situation remains dire due to ongoing fighting and shortages of food, water, and fuel, limited communications and electricity, and very high prices of essential items,” read the news release.

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“The UN reports 20.3 million people in Sudan face severe hunger, more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas aren’t functioning, and 19 million children are out of school.”

This public policy, in recognizing that those who came to Canada on or after April 15, 2023 may not be able to return, provides eligible foreign nationals who have been admitted as temporary residents with continued ability to apply for fee-exempt open work permits and study permits to aid in their settlement, along with a fee waiver for their application for permanent residence under the family class.

Exemption may be granted from the requirements of the Regulations listed below when a foreign national meets these conditions:

1. The foreign national:
   1. is the family member – per the definition of subsection 1(3) of the Regulations – of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023;
   2. is outside of Sudan in a third country;
   3. left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023; and
   4. has submitted an application for a temporary resident visa using the electronic form identified for evacuated family members from Sudan.

1. The foreign national:
   1. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status and
      1. holds a temporary resident visa or temporary resident permit issued after meeting conditions under 1), or
      2. meet conditions 1(i) and (iii);
   2. entered Canada before July 15, 2023; and
   3. has applied for a work permit under section 200 of the Regulations

3. The foreign national:
   3. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status and
      3. holds a temporary resident visa or temporary resident permit issued after meeting conditions under 1), or
      4. meet conditions 1(i) and (iii);
   4. entered Canada before July 15, 2023; and
   5. has applied for a study permit under section 216 of the Regulations

4. The foreign national:
   4. is in Canada with valid temporary resident status and
      4. holds a temporary resident visa or temporary resident permit issued after meeting conditions under 1), or
      5. meet conditions 1(i) and (iii);
   5. entered Canada before July 15, 2023; and
   6. has applied for a Permanent Resident Visa as a member of the Family Class or for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class.

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Possible Exemptions

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 1)

• Subsection 296(1) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for a Temporary Resident Visa;
• Subsection 298(1) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for a Temporary Resident Permit;
• Subsection 315.1(1) – the requirement to pay for the provision of service in relation to the collection of biometric information.

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 2)

• Paragraphs 199(a)-(i) – the requirements that a foreign national must meet in order to apply for a work permit after entering Canada;
• Paragraph 200(1)(c) – the requirement to be described under this paragraph of the Regulations;
• Subsection 299(1) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for a work permit;
• Subsection 315.1(1) – the requirement to pay for the provision of service in relation to the collection of biometric information

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 3)

• Section 213 – the requirement to apply for a study permit before entering Canada;
• Subsection 300(1) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for a study permit;
• Subsection 315.1(1) – the requirement to pay for the provision of service in relation to the collection of biometric information.

For foreign nationals who meet the conditions listed in 4)

• Paragraph 295 (1)(a) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for a Permanent Resident Visa as a member of the Family Class;
• Subsection 301(1)(a) – the requirements to pay an application processing fee for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class
• Subsection 315.1(1) – the requirement to pay for the provision of service in relation to the collection of biometric information.