IRCC updates guidance clarifying Feb. 28, 2025 arrival cutoff and processing rules for Iranian nationals' temporary measures

IRCC clarifies arrival cutoff and processing rules for Iranian nationals under temporary measures

Summary: IRCC has updated its Program Delivery Instructions to clarify eligibility and processing for Iranian nationals in Canada applying under temporary special measures for applications received on or after March 1, 2025, including the firm arrival cutoff of February 28, 2025, presence-in-Canada requirements, concurrent restoration, and fee rules. Date of update: 2026-03-13. Source: IRCC. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued updated guidance to its officers on the temporary public policy for Iranian nationals in Canada, refining key eligibility and processing points for applications received on or after March 1, 2025. The latest Program Delivery Instructions (posted March 11, 2026) clarify how files should be assessed and tracked as cases continue to be processed under the now-expired policy window. Key clarifications
- Applicants must have arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025 and remained in Canada until the date they submitted their application under these measures.
- Applicants must hold valid temporary resident status at application and at decision, and cannot apply at a port of entry.
- Applicants may apply for restoration concurrently with an extension or new permit application; officers must decide the restoration first.
- Officers may use the Entry/Exit Program to verify presence; standardized refusal language and correct organization ID tagging are required for tracking. Scope and fees
- The measures provide facilitated in‑Canada access to open work permits, work permit extensions, and initial study permits for eligible Iranian nationals who met the arrival cutoff.
- Effective 2025-03-01, these applications are subject to standard application and biometric fees, where applicable.
- Earlier fee waivers for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Iran seeking travel documents and citizenship certificates ended on 2025-02-28. Status and travel considerations
- An applicant may leave Canada while the application is pending but must be in Canada with valid temporary resident status when the decision is rendered to benefit from facilitation.
- Departing Canada can result in loss of temporary resident status under IRPA s.47(a) and IRPR s.183(4)(a).
- Clients must be physically present in Canada and within their period of authorized stay (or have maintained status under IRPR R183(5)). Validity and processing
- Work permits (including open work permits) or extensions may be issued up to two years, subject to passport/biometrics validity and officer discretion.
- Regular LMIA- or LMIA‑exempt work permit applications continue to be processed under their respective rules.
- Applications submitted on or before 2025-02-28 remain governed by the earlier instructions for that period. Policy window
- This temporary public policy took effect on 2025-03-01 and expired on 2026-02-28. The updated guidance addresses how officers should process applications received during that timeframe.

Programs affected: Work Permit, Study Permit, Temporary Resident status compliance (TRV holders must maintain status; no applications at POE). Analysis and potential impacts
- Positive: The clarified arrival and presence requirements and allowance for concurrent restoration should reduce inconsistent decisions and help eligible applicants avoid status gaps. The Entry/Exit verification and standardized refusal wording increase transparency and predictability.
- Negative: The firm February 28, 2025 arrival cutoff and requirement to remain in Canada until submission may exclude otherwise vulnerable applicants who travelled briefly. The expiration on 2026-02-28 forecloses new filings under these measures, and the standard fee requirement raises cost barriers compared to earlier fee‑waiver phases.

Date of update: 2026-03-13
Source: IRCC (Program Delivery Instructions: Temporary special measures to support Iranian nationals in Canada for applications received on or after March 1, 2025)

Tags: IRCC, Canadian immigration, Iranian nationals, temporary public policy, open work permit, study permit, restoration of status, Entry/Exit Program, processing guidance, TRV status, biometrics fees, Canada news

Closing: IRCC’s latest guidance provides needed clarity for files still in the system under the expired policy window, reinforcing strict arrival and presence criteria while preserving facilitated in‑Canada options for eligible Iranian applicants.