Canada helps individuals impacted by the ongoing crisis in Haiti. IRCC has instituted a temporary policy to aid Haitians in Canada with a valid resident status & those who are family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Haitians who have Canadian family members or who are already in the country on a work or study permit or visitor visa can now apply for a study permit, open work permit, or status extension at no cost. Three months of health insurance coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program will also be available to eligible applicants.
Who Is Eligible To Apply Under This New Temporary Policy?
Canada helps individuals impacted by the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Eligibility for this new stream is limited to those who are:
- Haitian nationals & passport holders in Canada with a valid temporary resident status
- Family members of Canadian citizens & permanent residents who:
- Left Haiti on/ after March 1, 2024
- Arrived in Canada on/before April 26, 2024
- Are presently in Canada with a valid temporary resident status
- Permanent residents of Canada who:
- Left Haiti on/ after March 1, 2024
- Arrived in Canada on/ before April 26, 2024
- Are subject to a waiting period for provincial/ territorial health coverage
- Haitian Nationals who:
- Are outside of Canada
- Have existing permanent resident applications in progress
IRCC notes that Haitian nationals outside of Canada who have lost their passports because of the ongoing humanitarian crisis but have applied to immigrate to Canada and are ready to be approved for a permanent resident visa might be able to travel to Canada without a passport.
The department estimates that over 44,000 Haitians in Canada have a valid temporary resident status.
Family members also encompass family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents from any nation who have arrived as temporary residents to Canada via assisted departures out of Haiti.
Part Of A Wider Strategy
The most recent temporary policy is part of a wider strategy that the Canadian government has instituted to address the humanitarian situation in Haiti.
At the beginning of the crisis, Canada completed assisted departures from Haiti, which successfully transported 435 Canadian citizens, 111 permanent residents, and 135 temporary residents to safety.
Moreover, late last year, IRCC also instituted a dedicated humanitarian pathway for Colombian, Haitian, and Venezuelan nationals to apply for permanent residence on a priority basis. Through this pathway, IRCC hopes to welcome 11,000 foreign nationals to Canada.