Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a temporary public policy to help reunite Sudanese nationals affected by the ongoing conflict with their families in Canada. This special measure allows eligible applicants to apply for permanent residence under specific humanitarian conditions.
The policy came into force on February 27, 2024, and will remain valid until February 26, 2025, or until the cap of 3,250 applications has been reached. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and any submissions beyond the cap will be returned.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility is based on both the applicant’s circumstances and their family connection in Canada.
- Principal applicants inside Canada must:
- Hold valid temporary resident status.
- Be physically present in Canada at the time of application and approval.
- Principal applicants outside Canada must:
- Have been residing in Sudan on April 15, 2023.
- Show there is no durable solution available in Sudan or any other country.
- Intend to live in a province or territory outside Quebec.
- Have an eligible family “anchor” in Canada.
- Relationship to Canadian anchor must be one of the following:
- Child (of any age), grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling.
- Spouse or partner of someone affected by the Sudan conflict.
- Surviving spouse or partner of a missing or deceased person affected by the conflict.
Anchor Requirements
The Canadian anchor plays a critical role. They must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 or older.
- Reside in Canada outside Quebec.
- Meet financial requirements through one of the following:
- Minimum Necessary Income (MNI): based on Canada’s low-income cut-off.
- Minimum Necessary Funds (MNF): savings held in trust in Canada.
- Combination of income and funds.
Anchors must sign a statutory declaration confirming they will support the applicant and cannot accept financial compensation in return.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted online through the Permanent Residence Portal. Applicants unable to use the portal may request an alternative format.
- Required documents for the principal applicant include:
- Completed application forms (IMM 0008, IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 0207, IMM 5546).
- Proof of residence in Sudan as of April 15, 2023.
- Passport or identity documents.
- Proof of relationship to the Canadian anchor.
- Processing fees payment receipt.
- Required documents for the anchor include:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.
- Proof of residence in Canada outside Quebec.
- Proof of income or funds.
- Signed statutory declaration (IMM 0208).
Fees
Applicants are required to pay only the processing fee:
- $635 for principal applicant.
- $635 for spouse or partner.
- $175 per dependent child.
Exemptions:
- No biometrics fee.
- No Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
Admissibility and Medical Exams
Applicants and accompanying family members must pass:
- Medical checks (with some flexibility for non-accompanying dependants).
- Criminality and security checks under Canadian immigration law.
Those approved are eligible for Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage for three months and may qualify for transportation loans to cover travel to Canada.
Family Members
- Both accompanying and non-accompanying family members must be listed on the application.
- Family members outside Canada must not be inadmissible under IRPA.
- In-Canada family members must hold valid temporary status.
- New dependants (for example, a newborn) can be added during processing, subject to medical and background checks.
Exemptions Under This Policy
To ease processing, eligible applicants may be exempted from:
- Financial inadmissibility.
- Passport or travel document requirements (if unavailable due to conflict).
- Medical exam requirements for non-accompanying family members.
Why This Matters
This policy provides a humanitarian pathway for Sudanese nationals and their families affected by the conflict. It ensures that families with close ties in Canada have a chance to reunite and build a stable future. The 3,250-application cap reflects Canada’s effort to balance humanitarian assistance with immigration system capacity.
Quick Facts
- Policy start date: February 27, 2024.
- End date: February 26, 2025, or when 3,250 applications are accepted.
- Application method: Permanent Residence Portal (online).
- Cap: 3,250 applications.
- Target group: Foreign nationals affected by Sudan conflict with Canadian family ties.
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