IRCC extended its special temporary measures for Palestinians in Canada and those still in Gaza to December 30, 2027. Here's what the two-part extension actually covers.
On July 31, 2026 — the day its existing special measures for Palestinians were set to expire — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended them again, this time to December 30, 2027. It's the third extension since the measures were introduced in December 2023, and this round comes with two distinct tracks: one for Palestinians already in Canada, and one for Palestinians still trying to leave Gaza.
IRCC's special temporary measures let eligible Palestinians and certain family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents access fee-exempt or extended temporary status in Canada, in recognition of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Those measures were due to lapse on July 31, 2026. Instead of letting them expire, IRCC rolled out a "balanced extension" — its own description — running to December 30, 2027, with two separate components:
If you're already in Canada under the previous measures: you can now apply to extend an open work permit issued under those measures. Standard processing fees apply to the extension itself — the fee exemption was for the original application, not the renewal. If you're on a visitor visa or study permit instead, you extend it through IRCC's normal application channels, not a special process.
If you haven't come to Canada yet: eligible Palestinians who arrive in Canada on or before September 30, 2027, and who did not apply under the earlier version of these measures, can now apply from within Canada for a fee-exempt study permit, open work permit, temporary resident permit, or temporary resident status extension. This is the track built for people who have been unable to leave Gaza to provide biometrics or complete an application while the previous measures were still in force.
The split matters because it addresses two different problems. People already in Canada need a way to keep their status current without their permit lapsing. People still in Gaza have faced a separate obstacle entirely: many haven't been able to leave to complete biometrics or finish an application, for reasons entirely outside Canada's control. IRCC's notice is explicit about this — the extension exists specifically so that "eligible Palestinians who arrive in Canada by September 30, 2027, can access the same temporary measures as those who have arrived since 2023," rather than being shut out because a departure they couldn't control took longer than the previous deadline allowed.
As of May 31, 2026, IRCC reported 2,383 valid work permits and 236 valid study permits held by Palestinian passport holders in Canada. Those are the people the "already in Canada" track is built for. The scale gives a sense of how small this program is relative to Express Entry or the temporary foreign worker programs — but for the people in it, a lapsed permit or a missed departure window is the difference between stability and losing status.
Alongside the immigration measures themselves, IRCC's notice confirms that Canada continues to provide displaced Palestinians with temporary financial assistance, interim federal health coverage (IFHP — the program that fills the gap before provincial health coverage kicks in; see our guide to recent IFHP changes for how it works), and access to settlement services once they arrive.
If you already hold an open work permit under the previous Palestinian measures: apply to extend it before it expires — this extension isn't automatic, and the standard processing fee applies to the renewal even though your original permit was fee-exempt.
If you're on a visitor or study permit issued under the previous measures: use IRCC's regular extension channels for that permit type. There's no separate Palestinian-measures process for these renewals.
If you're an eligible Palestinian who hasn't yet been able to leave Gaza: the deadline that matters now is September 30, 2027 — you need to arrive in Canada by that date to access the fee-exempt track. Once you arrive, you can apply from within Canada for a study permit, open work permit, temporary resident permit, or status extension without the fees that would normally apply.
If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a Palestinian family member affected by this: the measures cover certain family members in addition to Palestinian passport holders directly — confirm your relative's specific eligibility against IRCC's special measures page rather than assuming based on a previous version of the rules, since eligibility criteria have been adjusted at each extension.
Tip
If your status was issued under the original 2023 measures or an earlier extension, don't assume this new extension carries your permit forward automatically. The "in Canada" track requires you to actively apply to extend your open work permit — mark your permit's expiry date now and start the renewal well before it lapses, since a gap in status is much harder to fix after the fact than a renewal filed early.
A few things worth being clear-eyed about:
- This isn't a new pathway to permanent residence. These are temporary resident measures — work permits, study permits, and temporary resident permits/status extensions. They don't by themselves lead to permanent residence.
- The fee exemption applies to specific applications, not everything. New arrivals under the September 30, 2027 track get fee-exempt applications; people already in Canada extending an existing permit pay standard fees.
- Eligibility isn't universal to all Palestinians. The measures are targeted at specific groups defined in IRCC's public policy — check the official criteria rather than assuming eligibility.
- This is separate from asylum claims. If you're claiming asylum from within Canada, your case runs through the Immigration and Refugee Board, not these temporary measures.
These measures were first introduced in December 2023 in response to the escalation in Gaza, and have now been extended three times — this is the most recent, following an earlier extension that set the prior July 31, 2026 expiry. Each extension has adjusted eligibility and deadlines rather than simply rolling the same rules forward, so if you're relying on information from an earlier version of these measures, verify it against the current notice before making plans around it.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.