Canada has recently extended its special measures for Iranian nationals residing in the country, focusing on work permit holders. The new policy, effective until March 31, 2027, allows eligible individuals to apply for work permit extensions under specific conditions:

• Must be an Iranian national with a valid passport.
• Currently in Canada with a valid work permit during the application and decision-making process.
• Hold an initial work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025.
• Have not previously received a work permit extension under these measures.
• Meet all standard eligibility and admissibility requirements for a work permit.

Applications must be submitted before the deadline of March 31, 2027, and applicants must adhere to all other admissibility and selection criteria for the extension.

For more details on the application process, interested individuals can visit the IRCC’s official webpage.

Comparison with Previous Measures

While this new policy builds upon the previous provisions for Iranians in Canada, it is more limited in scope and eligibility requirements. Key differences include:

• The current policy is specifically tailored for Iranian work permit holders in Canada, with no additional temporary measures in place.
• Eligibility now depends on having a valid work permit and an initial permit issued by a certain date, unlike the previous policy that focused on the arrival date in Canada.
• The applicant group under the new policy is more restricted, requiring individuals to be current workers in Canada with valid permits during the application process.