What changed on October 27
IRCC published a notice on October 27, 2026 about its temporary measures for Sudanese nationals and for Haitian nationals who are in Canada and cannot return home. The existing measures were set to expire that day. Instead of renewing them as they were, IRCC is "extending these measures in a targeted way."
The new, narrower measure covers one group: people who hold a valid work permit issued under the previous Haiti or Sudan measures. They can apply to extend that permit, and the notice says this is "with standard processing fees." The extended measures expire on December 30, 2027.
Anyone who wants to extend visitor status or a study permit is directed to IRCC's regular channels. The notice does not mention fee exemptions for those applications.
What the previous measures offered
Until October 27, the Sudan measures (keyword SD2023) let Sudanese nationals in Canada with valid temporary resident status extend a visitor record, work permit, study permit or temporary resident permit, or change from one to another, without paying the application or biometrics fees. The Haiti measures (keyword HTI2024) did the same for Haitian nationals and passport holders: a new or extended open work permit, study permit, visitor record or temporary resident permit, fee-exempt. Both programs also had fee-exempt streams for family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Sudan on or after April 15, 2023 and entered Canada before July 15, 2023, or who left Haiti on or after March 1, 2024 and arrived by April 26, 2024.
The notice addresses only the work permit extension going forward. It does not describe what happens to the other streams beyond saying that visitor and study extensions use the regular process.
Who this affects
Work permit holders
If your current work permit was issued under the Haiti or Sudan measures and is still valid, you can apply to extend it under the new measure until December 30, 2027. Expect to pay the regular fees. Apply before your permit expires so you keep maintained status while IRCC decides.
Visitors and students
Extensions of visitor status or a study permit now go through the ordinary application, with the ordinary requirements and fees. Study permit applicants need to meet the usual conditions, including the provincial or territorial attestation letter where it applies.
"Standard processing fees" are not itemized in the notice. For reference, the regular work permit processing fee is $155, the open work permit holder fee is $100 where it applies, and biometrics cost $85 per person where required.
Same approach as the Iran measures
The notice says the approach "is also consistent with the approach taken for other groups affected by crises." It follows the pattern IRCC used for Iranian nationals on March 1, 2026: the broad fee-free measures ended and were replaced by a work permit extension for existing permit holders, with fees, and a fixed end date. Our March 2026 article describes that change.
What to check before you apply
As of October 28, the detailed IRCC pages for the Sudan and Haiti measures still showed the old wording ("extended until October 27, 2026") and had not yet been updated with the new eligibility conditions, instructions or any required documents. Read those pages again before you apply; the exact conditions, including which permits count as "issued under the previous temporary measures" and whether only one extension is allowed, will be set out there and in the public policy once it is posted.
Official sources
- IRCC notice: Canada updates temporary measures for people affected by crises in Haiti and Sudan (October 27, 2026)
- IRCC: Conflict in Sudan, measures for Sudanese nationals in Canada
- IRCC: Conflict in Sudan, temporary measures for family members in Canada
- IRCC: Temporary measures for Haitian nationals in Canada
- IRCC: Situation in Iran, temporary immigration measures for workers in Canada (fees)