Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invoked its authority under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to lift the normal 12-month bar on repeat Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) applications for people from Israel and the Palestinian Territories who were refused refugee protection between 28 September 2025 and 29 September 2026. The move, announced late on 29 September, acknowledges the rapid deterioration of security and humanitarian conditions in both jurisdictions over the past year. Ordinarily, foreign nationals who have received a final negative decision on a refugee claim or previous PRRA must wait a full year before re-applying. By waiving the bar, IRCC is signalling that new evidence of risk—such as escalating armed conflict, widespread violence and shortages of essential services—now merits immediate re-examination. Applicants will still have to demonstrate a personalized risk of persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual treatment if returned, but they are spared the procedural delay that can place them in jeopardy. The change is expected to affect several hundred failed claimants currently subject to removal orders, as well as anyone who left Canada voluntarily after a refusal but fears return. Employers that rely on temporary foreign workers from the region should review work-authorization timelines carefully; a pending PRRA does not automatically extend a work permit, and bridging options may be required to avoid status gaps. Sponsoring family members may also want to seek legal advice about parallel humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications, which can now be prepared with up-to-date country-condition evidence. For Canadian corporates with assignees or business travellers in Israel or the West Bank, the announcement underscores Ottawa’s recognition of heightened danger. Mobility managers should re-evaluate duty-of-care protocols, ensure robust evacuation plans, and inform impacted employees that Canada is adjusting its protection mechanisms accordingly.
Source: Government of Canada – IRCC
