Canada has announced new measures to support the families of Canadian citizens and permanent residents affected by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Study Permits and Open Work Permits are available without application fees for family members of citizens and permanent residents who have left Israel and the Palestinian territories. The same permits are available to Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada who feel it is unsafe to return.

The measures were announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Thursday.

“The scale of this humanitarian crisis is devastating and the situation on the ground is challenging,” Miller said.

“Israelis and Palestinians in Canada will continue to find safety here and we will do what we can to help loved ones who have fled the region, as well as eligible family members who remain in Gaza. 

“We will continue to remain flexible with our response so we can meet the unique needs of those who require our support.”

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Gaza has been gripped by war since Israel retaliated to a Hamas terror attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 Israelis. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli air and ground incursion in the densely populated enclave.

Fee-exempt Study or Open Work Permits

• To be eligible to apply for fee-exempt study or open work permits, immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents and Israelis or Palestinians already in Canada must have valid temporary resident status.
• Permanent residents and family members of permanent residents and Canadian citizens who came to Canada following their assisted departure from Gaza may be eligible to apply online for time-limited medical coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program to support immediate medical needs upon arrival.

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For Those With Loved Ones Living In Gaza

• Eligible applicants include the spouse, common-law partner, child (regardless of age), grandchild, sibling, parent or grandparent of a Canadian anchor, as well as their immediate family members (spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, and dependent child of a dependent child). The Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be currently residing in Canada.
•  Proof of relationship documents may include:
  •  a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s birth certificate
  • a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s baptismal certificate
  • another official document naming the applicant as the parent or grandparent, such as their family book or civil registration documents.