Just hours after the Express Entry draw, IRCC quietly published an update extending special immigration measures for Iranian nationals in Canada. The revised temporary public policy, released on 4 March 2026 but retroactive to 1 March, allows eligible Iranian work-permit holders whose original permits were issued on or before 28 February 2025 to apply for a one-time, two-year renewal. Visitors and students—covered under earlier iterations—are no longer eligible. The narrower focus reflects Ottawa’s shifting humanitarian strategy amid the widening Middle-East conflict. Roughly 12,000 Iranian temporary workers were at risk of losing status when the previous measures lapsed on 28 February 2026. The extension restores legal stability for employers in sectors such as tech and health care that rely on Iranian specialists. Applicants must file online through their IRCC secure account and pay standard processing fees; no fee waivers are offered this time. IRCC emphasises that maintained status will protect those who file before expiry, but late applicants will be out of status and could face removal. Companies employing Iranian nationals should audit permit expiry dates immediately, budget for renewal fees, and provide compliance checklists to avoid work-authorisation gaps. Affected employees should also consider parallel permanent-residence strategies because IRCC has not committed to extensions beyond 31 March 2027.
Source: Immigration News Canada
