A new humanitarian pathway for the people of Sudan
Canada is responding to the ongoing crisis.
An important part of Canada's immigration policy is to help people in need who are suffering from war, upheaval and oppression around the world. Since the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war on April 15, Canada has announced temporary support measures for people forced to flee there and people who cannot return. On December 28, 2023, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the addition of these measures and the transformation of them into a full humanitarian pathway.
"This humanitarian pathway will help reunite loved ones and save lives. We recognize the resilience of the Sudanese people, and are grateful for their continued contributions to their communities and our country," Miller commented.
The new Canadian residency program is for Sudanese citizens and for non-Sudanese who were living in Sudan at the start of the conflict on April 15, 2023.
Who is eligible to participate in the program?
Sudanese passport holders or residents of Sudan who were living in the country by April 15 must be related to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada to apply: a child of any age, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling.
And the relative in turn must agree to support the applicant and help him/her build a new life in Canada.
IRCC promises to publish more detailed requirements and a list of documents on its website soon.
Already existing support measures
The current Sudanese aid measures also remain valid — they have been extended until October 27, 2024. These measures include:
- Allowing Sudanese citizens in Canada to apply for an extension of stay or change of status as a tourist, student or temporary worker free of charge;
- Elimination of temporary residence application fees for foreign nationals who left Sudan with their Canadian relatives;
- Prioritizing already established applications for temporary and permanent residence from people still in Sudan;
- Elimination of the requirement to have a passport or travel document to obtain a permanent resident visa to enter Canada;
- Elimination of passport and permanent resident document fees for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Sudan who wish to leave the country.
In 2023, Canada provided more than CA$ 165 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan and neighboring countries affected by the crisis.
