As part of the government’s response to the tragedy in Beirut, Canada is making it easier and faster for Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents to return home. The Government of Canada is prioritizing travel documents for Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents in Lebanon. We’ll also waive some fees, making your return to Canada easier.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also prioritizing visitor visa applications for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents who’ve been personally affected by the explosion in Beirut so they can join their loved ones in Canada.

Immediate family members include

• spouses
• common-law partners
• dependent children
• parents or step-parents

We’ll also be providing support to Lebanese citizens so they can stay longer in Canada temporarily if they’re not able to return home because of the explosion. They can apply to extend or renew their stay as a temporary resident in Canada, and IRCC will waive the application fees.

Who is eligible for assistance

You can apply to receive assistance if you’re a

• Canadian citizen in Lebanon and urgently need a travel document to return to Canada, such as a
  • Canadian passport
  • temporary passport, or
  • emergency travel document
• Canadian citizen in Lebanon and need your citizenship certificate (proof) to apply for a travel document to urgently return to Canada
• Canadian permanent resident in Lebanon and urgently need a permanent resident travel document to travel to Canada
• Lebanese citizen personally affected by the explosion in Beirut, and are an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident, and urgently need a visitor visa to join your loved ones in Canada
• Lebanese citizen and your temporary resident status in Canada will soon or recently expired and you are unable to return home due to the explosion

If you’re eligible for assistance, read the instructions below to find out what you need to do to apply based on your situation.

If you have questions after reading the instructions related to your situation, email IRCC at [email protected]. We’ll respond within 5 business days.

How to qualify

To qualify for assistance, you need to

• apply between September 3, 2020, and January 31, 2021
• follow the instructions below for the type of application you need
• have been living in an affected area at the time of the explosion, if you’re applying as an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident
• include proof that you have been personally affected by the explosion at the Port of Beirut both when you
  • submit your application, and
  • email us to tell us you’ve applied

Each request will be considered case by case.