Crisis in Gaza: Special measures for extended family

Special measures to apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) are in place for Palestinians who

• live in Gaza
• are related to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lives or intends to live in Canada
• will be supported in Canada by the Canadian citizen or permanent resident for a period of 1 year

If you’re eligible, your family members can also apply for a TRV under these measures.

These temporary measures will end when 1,000 complete TRV applications have been received and have been accepted for processing or 1 year after these measures come into effect, whichever comes first.

After entering Canada, in most cases you can stay for up to 3 years as a temporary resident, as long as your passport and biometrics are valid for the entire time. If your passport or biometrics expire in less than 3 years, your status as a temporary resident will expire at the same time. You can apply to extend your status before it expires, but you need to make sure your passport and biometrics are up-to-date before you apply.

You can also apply for a fee-exempt study permit or a fee-exempt open work permit after entering Canada, under the special measures for Israeli nationals, Palestinian passport holders and family members in Canada. These documents allow you to study or work during your stay.