On March 4, 2026, Canada extended its special immigration measures related to the situation in Iran (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/iran.html). However, this extension introduced the most restrictive version of the policy since it was first implemented in 2023. Although the measures are now extended until March 31, 2027, their scope has been significantly narrowed and only a limited group of individuals may benefit from them.
Under the 2026 update, the measures apply only to certain Iranian nationals who are already working in Canada. In practical terms, the policy is now limited exclusively to Iranian work permit holders.
To qualify, an applicant must be an Iranian national with a valid passport who is currently in Canada holding a valid work permit. The policy requires the applicant to have a valid work permit both at the time of submitting the application and when a decision is made on the application. In addition, the individual’s initial work permit must have been issued on or before February 28, 2025.
The policy also limits the use of these measures. According to IRCC, applicants cannot obtain more than one work permit extension under these special measures. As with all work permit applications, applicants must also meet the general eligibility and admissibility requirements under Canadian immigration law.
Importantly, no other temporary immigration measures currently remain in place for Iranian nationals. Visitors and study permit holders are no longer covered by any special program and must now apply through the regular immigration process.
This represents a significant change from earlier versions of the policy.
When the measures were first introduced in 2023, they were considerably broader. Iranian temporary residents in Canada could extend their temporary status, change their status (for example, from visitor to worker), or apply for additional open work permits or study permits without paying government fees. At the same time, Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Iran could obtain certain travel or citizenship documents without paying application fees.
In 2024, Canada extended these measures until February 28, 2025, without major changes. The fee exemptions remained in place, and Iranian temporary residents could still extend or change their status without paying application or biometric fees.
The first major restrictions appeared in the March 2025 extension. From that point forward, the measures applied only to Iranian nationals who had arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025. The scope of eligible applications was also reduced primarily to initial work permit applications, work permit extensions, and initial study permit applications. Extensions of visitor status and study permit extensions were no longer covered under the special measures. In addition, most fee exemptions were removed and applications submitted after March 1, 2025, became subject to regular government fees. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Iran also lost their fee exemptions for travel documents and citizenship certificates.
The 2026 extension narrows the program even further by limiting eligibility exclusively to Iranian nationals who currently hold work permits in Canada.
Ambiguities in the 2026 Version of the Policy
Despite the extension of the policy, several aspects of the current wording remain unclear.
First, the policy requires applicants to hold a valid work permit not only when submitting the application but also when a decision is made. Based on our experience and information shared by applicants, the processing time for these applications has often been several months. On the face of the policy, maintaining status under section 183(5) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations may not appear sufficient because the policy explicitly refers to holding a “valid work permit” when the decision is made. If interpreted strictly, applicants may need to apply well before the expiry of their current work permit to account for uncertain processing times.
That said, there appears to be a contradiction between what IRCC has published on the webpage describing these special measures and the Ministerial Instructions explaining how officers should process work permit applications under this policy
(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies/iran-2026.html).
While the IRCC webpage directed to applicants refers to holding a “valid work permit when a decision is made,” the Ministerial Instructions require the applicant to hold “valid temporary resident status” at the time of the decision.
The difference is significant. If applicants must hold a valid work permit at the time of decision, they would need to apply well before their permit expires. If the permit expires during processing, even if the applicant has maintained status, they could potentially become ineligible under the policy. However, if maintaining valid temporary resident status is sufficient, applicants could apply anytime before the expiry of their work permit, even shortly before the expiry date, and still remain eligible as long as they maintain status in Canada.
Another ambiguity relates to whether individuals who previously benefited from earlier versions of these measures can use the 2026 policy.
The IRCC website states that applicants may extend their status if they “haven’t previously been issued a work permit under these special measures.” Similarly, the Ministerial Instructions indicate that eligibility requires that the foreign national has not already been granted an exemption under this public policy. If interpreted literally, this wording suggests that the 2026 measures apply only to individuals using the policy for the first time since its introduction in 2023.
If that interpretation is correct, the practical impact of the policy may be limited. Many Iranian nationals already relied on these special measures when they were first introduced in 2023.
IRCC also notes that “if you were already issued a work permit extension under these special measures, you can’t get a second extension.” This statement leaves room for interpretation. It is not entirely clear whether the restriction applies to extensions granted under earlier versions of the policy or only to extensions granted during the current policy period.
IRCC publishes some of its internal policies and operational guidance on its website as a courtesy to stakeholders (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/temporary-public-policy-iranian.html). The relevant operational guidance for the 2026 special measures states that:
“Officers may encounter cases where a client has applied more than once for a work permit extension. In such cases, the officer should verify that the previous work permit extension application was submitted between March 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, and that a work permit extension was already granted. In cases where the client has already received an extension under this public policy, even if the duration was shortened due to passport validity, the client would not be eligible for a second work permit extension.”
Based on this language, one possible interpretation is that an applicant may apply for a work permit extension only once between March 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, regardless of how many times they may have previously applied for extensions under earlier versions of these measures since 2023. In other words, the limitation may apply only to applications submitted during the current policy period.
This interpretation would be consistent with the fact that work permits issued under these measures may be granted for up to two years. However, the wording of the policy does not clearly confirm this interpretation.
Length of Work Permits Issued Under This Policy
IRCC’s operational guidance allows officers to issue work permits valid for up to two years. As with all work permits, the validity of the permit cannot exceed the validity of the applicant’s biometrics or passport. If a work permit is issued for a shorter period because of passport or biometric validity, applicants will not be able to apply again under this policy after renewing those documents.
Does Leaving Canada Affect Eligibility?
According to IRCC operational guidance, applicants must be physically present in Canada both when submitting their application and when the officer makes a decision. However, leaving Canada temporarily before or after submitting the application does not necessarily affect eligibility.
IRCC clarifies that the overall intent of this public policy is that applicants generally maintain their presence in Canada. Short absences, such as trips of one or two weeks, may be acceptable. However, leaving Canada repeatedly or for extended periods without a compelling reason could lead an officer to question whether the applicant meets the intent of the policy and may affect the outcome of the application.
Given these uncertainties, further clarification from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada would be helpful. Many Iranian nationals in Canada continue to face difficult circumstances, and clearer guidance would help applicants and practitioners better understand who remains eligible for these measures and how they can benefit from them.
