A time-limited exemption from the 12-month PRRA bar
Effective September 29, 2026, IRCC added Israel and Palestine to the countries covered by an exemption from the 12-month bar on applying for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). The exemption applies to nationals (or former habitual residents) of those countries whose most recent negative decision, from the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Federal Court or a previous PRRA, was made from September 30, 2025 to September 29, 2026, inclusive.
A decision made after September 29, 2026 is still subject to the normal 12-month bar. The exemption removes the waiting period for the stated group. It does not grant protection, cancel a removal order or guarantee a positive PRRA decision.
PRRA applications still follow the regular process
A person who is subject to an enforceable removal order generally applies for a PRRA only after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) notifies them that they are entitled to apply and gives them the application kit. The notification letter gives 15 days to submit the application and a further 15 days to provide written submissions.
Whether removal is stayed depends on the type and timing of the application. Applying within the 15 days after notification triggers a regulatory stay until a decision is made. A late application, a subsequent PRRA application and certain port-of-entry applications do not create a regulatory stay. People affected should get advice based on their own history.
Three Francophone immigration projects
On September 29, 2026, the Government of Canada announced about $1.2 million in funding under the Francophone Immigration Support Program for projects that promote Francophone immigration and strengthen Francophone minority communities. The projects include:
- Newfoundland and Labrador: a provincial government project to build a lasting pipeline of Francophone and bilingual workers through targeted overseas recruitment, with education, health care and early childhood education as the target sectors.
- Saskatchewan: a project led by the Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan to match local employer needs with international talent, using an interactive mapping platform, events, help with credential recognition and cultural transition workshops. Target sectors include agriculture, health care, mining, energy, technology and hospitality.
- Northern Ontario: the Osez le Nord strategy developed by the Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, a coordinated promotional strategy that unites Francophone immigration stakeholders in Northern Ontario to promote regional immigration and the region's opportunities for families, workers and students.
These projects support recruitment and settlement. They are not new immigration streams, nomination draws or job offers, and IRCC did not announce a new selection pathway or invitation round with them.
What changed and what did not
- People considering a PRRA should check the date and type of their most recent IRB, Federal Court or PRRA decision.
- The PRRA exemption depends on nationality and on the date of the decision. People with decisions after September 29, 2026 remain subject to the 12-month bar.
- IRCC also updated its permanent residence fee instruction pages on September 29 for accuracy and clarity. The update did not announce new fee amounts.