Program delivery update: COVID-19 – Public policy exempting certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada from immigration requirements

December 31, 2020

A temporary public policy was established on July 14, 2020, to exempt foreign nationals from certain requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) if they met certain conditions. The public policy has been extended to August 31, 2021. In addition, the eligibility criteria were expanded to include foreign nationals who were in Canada from January 30, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Applications received on or before August 31, 2021 may benefit from this public policy.

The public policy provides an exemption from the requirement to apply for restoration within 90 days of losing temporary resident status for all foreign nationals (former workers, students and visitors) in Canada. Temporary residents who had valid temporary resident status on or after January 30, 2020 but whose status expired on or before May 31, 2021, will have until August 31, 2021 to apply to restore their status instead of the current 90 days.

This public policy comes into effect on December 31, 2020, and remains in effect until August 31, 2021.

Updated instructions

• Public policy exempting certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada from immigration requirements: COVID-19 program delivery