The Canadian government has decided to establish a new temporary residency route for extended family members residing in Gaza who are related to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
As Canadian authorities stated in a press release, this measure aims to offer a temporary haven for Palestinians affected by the Gaza crisis, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship noted that eligible family members include spouses, common-law partners, children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Additionally, immediate family members, such as spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, and dependent children of a dependent child, are included.
Last month, the Canadian authorities announced temporary residency for Canadian citizens’ relatives affected by the war in Gaza.
Under these measures, the Interim Federal Health Program will provide eligible individuals with three months of health coverage to help with any immediate medical needs upon arrival.
In addition, they can apply for a work permit or a fee-exempt study permit after they are in Canada.
This will help them to better support themselves in Canada while the crisis in Israel and the Palestinian Territories continues.
The Ministry also mentioned that they would receive assistance in connecting with the local society and labor market, as well as language training.
Regarding these measures, Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller highlighted the challenging and volatile conditions in Gaza.
These new measures provide a humanitarian pathway to safety and recognize the importance of keeping families together given the ongoing crisis. We will continue to monitor the situation in Gaza very closely as it evolves and adapt our response accordingly.
The Canadian government has decided to grant visas to 1000 relatives of Canadians living in Gaza. If the candidates are accepted and their Canadian relatives agree to provide them with financial support throughout this time, they will be granted temporary visas that will last for three years.
The Ministry further noted that it is collaborating with regional partners to make it easier for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible family members – including extended family members – to leave the country using the new pathway.
However, according to the Ministry, leaving Gaza remains very difficult, and the possibility is uncertain due to entry and exit conditions set by countries and other regional actors.
Henceforth, individuals who successfully manage to exit Gaza, must fulfill all admissibility criteria, including biometrics, for Canada approval.