IRCC has allowed its temporary public policy for Iranian nationals in Canada to expire, meaning new applications under this special measure are no longer accepted.
The policy had allowed Iranians who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025 to apply for open work permits from inside the country. Eligible applicants also benefited from priority processing and were permitted to apply for study permits without leaving Canada.
This measure officially expired at midnight Coordinated Universal Time on March 1, 2026.
The program had originally been introduced in 2023 following civil unrest in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini. A revised version of the policy came into effect on March 1, 2025, but unlike the earlier version, it did not include exemptions from certain government fees.
Temporary public policies remain a common tool in Canada’s immigration system. Similar humanitarian measures have recently been used to support individuals affected by conflicts in Ukraine, Haiti, Gaza, and Sudan.
With the expiry of this policy, Iranian nationals must now rely on standard immigration and temporary residence pathways unless a new public measure is introduced.
