IRCC introduces new in-Canada measures for eligible Palestinians

What took effect

IRCC published operational instructions on August 24 for two temporary public policies that took effect August 1, 2026. Both are scheduled to expire December 30, 2027, unless revoked earlier.

The first policy creates fee-exempt in-Canada options for eligible people whose authorized temporary stay began on or before September 30, 2027. The second allows certain people who received a work permit under an earlier Palestine-related public policy to apply for one open-work-permit renewal, but standard fees apply to that renewal.

Who may qualify under the new fee-exempt measure

• A Palestinian Authority passport or travel-document holder who is in Canada with valid temporary status and whose current authorized stay began on or before September 30, 2027.
• A foreign-national family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who left Palestine on or after October 7, 2023, is now in Canada with valid temporary status, and has an authorized stay that began on or before September 30, 2027.
• The applicant must not already have received an exemption under one of the listed earlier Palestine-related public policies.
• All other eligibility and admissibility requirements not specifically exempted remain in force.

Applications and fees covered

Depending on the person's facts and the application submitted, the first policy can waive processing fees for a temporary-status extension or temporary resident permit, a work permit, or a study permit. It also provides the regulatory exemptions needed for eligible applicants to apply for an open work permit or study permit from inside Canada.

This is not automatic status and it does not approve every application. A person must submit the correct application while meeting the policy's status, identity, timing and family-relationship conditions. Applications received from August 1, 2026 through the policy's expiry may be assessed under the measure.

Renewing a work permit issued under an earlier policy

The second policy is narrower. It applies to eligible Palestinian Authority document holders and qualifying family members in Canada who have valid temporary status and, when they apply, hold a valid work permit issued through one of the listed earlier Palestine-related policies.

They may apply from inside Canada for one work-permit renewal. The policy removes a regulatory barrier to issuing the open permit, but IRCC states that standard work-permit fees apply. An expired permit, a permit issued outside the listed policies, or a second renewal under this same policy does not meet the stated conditions.

Before applying

Applicants should match their passport or travel document, current status, entry and authorized-stay dates, family relationship and prior permit history to the exact policy wording. The older Palestine measures are relevant because the two new policies treat people who previously received an exemption differently.

Anyone close to a status expiry should not rely on the headline alone. The correct application must be filed on time, and maintained status depends on the application and circumstances rather than on the announcement itself.