Canada Extends Palestinian Open Work Permit Measures: August 24, 2026 Public Policies

On August 24, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published two temporary public policies that together extend and refresh Canada’s safe-haven measures for foreign nationals of Palestine. One policy covers new arrivals to Canada as temporary residents on or before September 30, 2027. The second policy extends open work permits for people already in Canada under earlier Palestinian public policies whose current permits are approaching expiry. Both policies are listed on IRCC’s official Public policies page.

Written and reviewed by Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB (R708308), Director, VG Immigration Services Inc. Last reviewed: September 11, 2026.

Policy 1 — Facilitated temporary residence for foreign nationals of Palestine arriving by September 30, 2027

The first policy, titled “Temporary public policy for foreign nationals of Palestine who will arrive in Canada as temporary residents on or before September 30, 2027,” establishes facilitated processing for eligible Palestinians arriving in Canada during that window. It supplements the earlier Palestinian family-based measures introduced during the conflict in Gaza and is designed to preserve access to work and study authorization for people whose lives remain disrupted.

The full policy text is available on IRCC’s Public policies page. Confirm eligibility conditions, application procedures, and processing details directly from the official policy — informal summaries can miss the specific criteria that determine whether a person qualifies.

Policy 2 — Open work permit extensions for people already in Canada under prior Palestinian measures

The second policy, titled “Temporary public policy to facilitate extensions of open work permits for foreign nationals in Canada who were facilitated under previous public policies for foreign nationals of Palestine,” is aimed at Palestinians already in Canada whose current open work permits were issued under earlier public-policy measures and are approaching expiry.

Without this policy, many affected individuals would face a difficult choice: apply for a new open work permit under standard rules (which often requires spouse-of-worker or spouse-of-student eligibility, refugee status, or another underlying basis) or lose the right to work while awaiting a next step. The August 24, 2026 measure preserves their access to open work authorization by allowing extensions to be issued under the same facilitative framework.

Who is affected in practice

The two policies most directly affect three groups:

• Palestinians already in Canada on open work permits issued under the 2024–2025 public policies for family members of Canadians affected by the situation in Gaza, particularly those whose permits are expiring in late 2026 or early 2027.
• Family members abroad preparing to arrive in Canada under the facilitated temporary-residence stream before the September 30, 2027 cutoff.
• Employers and sponsors in Canada supporting affected individuals through workplace continuity, community support, or private-sponsorship-style assistance.

What to do now

If you or a family member may be affected:

1. Confirm the exact expiry date of the current work permit and identify which prior public policy authorized it. This determines whether the August 24, 2026 extension policy applies.
2. Check the two IRCC policies in full at canada.ca — Public policies. Each policy lists the eligibility conditions, exemptions used, and application steps.
3. File the extension well before the permit expires to preserve implied status and continued work authorization under section 186(u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
4. Do not let status lapse. If a permit has already expired, a restoration application under IRPR section 182 must be filed within 90 days, and the applicant must not work until a new permit is issued.

Frequently asked questions

Does the August 24, 2026 policy apply to Palestinians who arrived in Canada before the earlier public policies existed?

The extension policy applies specifically to people whose current open work permits were “facilitated under previous public policies for foreign nationals of Palestine.” Someone who arrived under a different route (regular study permit, work permit, visitor visa) is not covered by the extension policy but may qualify under other public policies or regular pathways depending on their circumstances.

Is a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or job offer required?

No. These are open work permits — the LMIA-exempt structure of the earlier Palestinian measures continues. Applicants do not need an employer-specific job offer or an LMIA to extend or receive an open work permit under these policies.

Can I bring dependants under these policies?

Both policies contemplate accompanying family members. The specific rules for dependants (age of child, marital status of spouse, documentation requirements) are set out in the policy text itself; confirm from the official IRCC page before filing.

How long is the extension?

Duration depends on the applicant’s passport validity, medical exam validity (if applicable), and IRCC discretion under the public policy. Extensions cannot exceed passport validity minus one day.

What if my permit expires while I’m waiting for the extension decision?

If you applied before your current permit expired, you have implied status under IRPR section 186(u) and may continue working under the same conditions until IRCC decides. If your permit already expired and you did not apply on time, you must stop working immediately and file a restoration application within 90 days.

Book a Consultation

These policies are narrow in scope and detail matters — the exact wording of “facilitated under previous public policies” determines eligibility. If you are unsure whether your prior work permit was issued under a covered public policy, or you need help preparing the extension application before your current permit expires, Book a Consultation with Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB (R708308), Director of VG Immigration Services Inc.