IRCC updated its internal processing instructions for humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications on June 25, 2026. These are program delivery instructions (PDIs) used by immigration officers, and understanding what changed can help you know what to expect when you or someone you know has an H&C application in the system.
The updates cover the full H&C processing cycle inside Canada, from how officers assess Stage 1 applications to how they handle Stage 2 permanent residence decisions. Two older instruction pages were also deleted as part of this cleanup. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what changed and what it means for applicants.
What Are H&C Applications?
A humanitarian and compassionate application lets people who do not qualify under standard immigration programs ask to become permanent residents based on their personal circumstances. Officers weigh factors like how settled you are in Canada, family ties, your children's best interests, and what hardship you would face if you had to leave. It is not a guaranteed path, but it is a meaningful one for people in difficult situations.
H&C applications processed inside Canada go through two stages. Stage 1 is the core assessment: an officer decides whether your circumstances justify an approval in principle. If Stage 1 is positive, you then go through Stage 2, which is the actual application for permanent residence. Stage 2 covers medical exams, criminal checks, and all the standard PR eligibility requirements. Both stages now have updated officer guidance following the June 25, 2026 PDI release.
The instructions updated on June 25 apply to in-Canada processing only. They do not cover H&C requests made from outside Canada or H&C considerations embedded in refugee and protected person applications. If your situation involves those pathways, the June 2026 update does not directly change your processing rules.
You can find the main IRCC immigration page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html for general program information, or check processing times through the IRCC processing times tool.
Which Instructions Were Updated
IRCC updated eleven separate instruction pages as part of this Part 3 release. Each page guides officers through a specific step or scenario in the H&C process. Together, they cover the full lifecycle of an in-Canada H&C application.
| Updated Instruction Page | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Processing in-Canada applications | General processing rules for all in-Canada H&C files |
| Stage 1 processing: all applicants | Core Stage 1 assessment rules that apply to everyone |
| Stage 1: applicants with family relationships | How family ties in Canada factor into the Stage 1 review |
| Stage 1: applicants under a removal order | How officers process Stage 1 when the applicant faces removal |
| Stage 1: consecutive or concurrent H&C applications | Rules for people who have filed more than one H&C application |
| Positive Stage 1 assessment (approval in principle) | What officers do when they approve Stage 1 |
| Stage 1 approval: Request for CSQ (Quebec applicants) | Steps for applicants who need a Certificat de Sélection du Québec |
| Negative Stage 1 assessment | How officers handle a Stage 1 refusal |
| Processing the application for permanent residence | Stage 2 processing rules for the PR application itself |
| Positive Stage 2 assessment | What happens when Stage 2 is approved |
| Negative Stage 2 assessment | What happens when Stage 2 is refused |
The breadth of these updates is notable. IRCC did not tweak one corner of the process. They revised guidance at every major decision point: initial intake, family-based considerations, removal order scenarios, multiple filings, approval in principle, the Quebec selection certificate step, refusals at both stages, and final PR processing. That suggests the June 25 changes reflect a systematic internal review rather than a single policy fix.
These instruction pages are not the law itself. The legal basis for H&C applications remains Section 25 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The PDIs are how IRCC tells its officers to apply that law consistently. When instructions are updated, it can affect how officers weigh evidence, write decisions, or communicate with applicants, even if the legal test has not changed.
What Was Deleted and Why It Matters
Two instruction pages were removed entirely in this update. The deleted pages were titled "Positive Stage 1 assessment: Interim documentation" and "Positive Stage 1 assessment: applicant has left Canada." Their removal is significant for certain applicants and worth understanding.
The "Interim documentation" page previously gave officers guidance on what temporary documents to issue after a Stage 1 approval while the applicant waited for their Stage 2 PR application to be processed. Deleting this page does not mean interim documentation no longer exists as a concept, but it does suggest IRCC may have folded that guidance into the updated "Positive Stage 1 assessment" page or changed how it handles the post-approval waiting period. If you have recently received a Stage 1 approval and have questions about your status documents, contact IRCC directly or speak with a regulated immigration consultant.
The second deleted page, "applicant has left Canada," covered a very specific situation: what officers should do when someone who received a Stage 1 H&C approval subsequently departed Canada. This is a high-stakes scenario. Leaving Canada during a pending H&C application can have serious consequences, and the fact that a dedicated guidance page existed at all reflects how complex this situation is. Deleting it likely means the scenario is now addressed within the consolidated "Positive Stage 1 assessment" instructions or other related pages. Either way, if you have an approved Stage 1 and are considering travel outside Canada, get professional advice before you leave.
The removal of these two pages simplifies the instruction set on paper, but it also removes visible, standalone guidance that applicants and their representatives could previously reference directly. Going forward, officers will rely on the revised consolidated pages instead.
What This Means If You Have an H&C Application
If you filed an H&C application before June 25, 2026, your application will be assessed under these updated officer instructions. PDI changes apply to applications already in the queue as well as new ones, unless IRCC specifically says otherwise. That means officers reviewing your file now are working from the June 2026 guidance, not the previous version.
For most applicants, the day-to-day reality will not feel different. The legal standard under Section 25 of IRPA has not changed. Officers still weigh the same core factors: establishment in Canada, family ties, the best interests of any children involved, country conditions, and health considerations. What the PDI update does is clarify how officers apply those factors, structure their decisions, or handle edge cases. Better internal guidance generally helps consistency, which is good for applicants who want predictable, fair decisions.
If you are under a removal order and have an H&C application pending, the updated Stage 1 instructions for applicants under removal orders are directly relevant to your file. Officers now have refreshed guidance on how to handle your situation. This is one of the most time-sensitive H&C scenarios. If your removal date is approaching, contact IRCC or a legal representative immediately. The IRCC Help Centre can provide case-specific guidance or connect you with resources.
Quebec applicants who have received a positive Stage 1 assessment also have updated guidance affecting their file. The step requiring a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) is part of the process for anyone intending to settle in Quebec. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants, and even in the H&C stream, a CSQ is required before IRCC can finalize PR status for Quebec-bound applicants. The updated instruction page for this step reflects that IRCC wanted to sharpen how officers manage this province-specific requirement.
If you have filed multiple H&C applications, either at the same time or one after another, the updated page on consecutive or concurrent applications is worth knowing about. IRCC has long had rules to prevent applicants from using repeated applications to delay removal or restart the clock. Officers now have fresh guidance on how to assess these situations. If you are in this position, your representative should review how the consolidated instructions might affect your case.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do the June 25, 2026 updates change the legal requirements for H&C applications?
No. The legal basis for H&C applications is still Section 25 of IRPA. The June 2026 changes update how IRCC officers are instructed to process and assess applications, not the underlying eligibility law.
My application was filed before June 25, 2026. Does this update affect me?
Yes. Program delivery instructions apply to all applications being processed, including those already in the system. Officers reviewing your file after June 25 use the updated guidance.
The "Interim documentation" page was deleted. Can I still get interim status documents after a Stage 1 approval?
Deleting the instruction page does not automatically end the practice. It likely means the guidance was consolidated into another page. Contact IRCC or your representative to confirm what documentation you should expect after a Stage 1 approval.
I want to travel outside Canada. I have a Stage 1 H&C approval. Is that safe?
The deleted instruction page on "applicant has left Canada" signals this is a complex area. Get advice from a regulated immigration consultant or immigration lawyer before leaving Canada. Departing during an active H&C process carries real risk.
Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: June 30, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult IRCC or a qualified legal aid service for guidance on your specific situation.
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