3,000 Gazans Granted Canadian Visas to Date

Gazans look at the debris of destroyed tents and makeshift housing structures following an Israeli military strike on the al-Mawasi camp for internally displaced people (IDP), near the city of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on July 13, 2024. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images)

Ottawa has approved visas for 3,008 Gazans to date, according to government documents.

Canada, through its 5,000-visa program, is “the only country in the world” to provide residency opportunities to Gazans who do not qualify under immigration programs, Immigration Canada said in a June 3 briefing note first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

Canada offers a “dedicated pathway for extended family members of its citizens or permanent residents in Gaza,” the note reads, adding that Ottawa is “being as flexible as possible to help as many extended family members of Canadians affected by the conflict.”

So far, 283 of the 3,008 Gazans approved for temporary three-year permits have made it out of the war-torn region.

Gaza has been plagued by war since Hamas launched its terrorist attack against Israel last October, killing nearly 1,200 and taking an additional 240 hostages.

The number of Gazans to make it to Canada is due in part to the “unpredictable” situation at the Rafah border crossing, Ottawa said in a recent travel advisory. The briefing document notes that there are “no crossings into Egypt” at this time.

“Canada continues to put forward names of people who passed preliminary eligibility and admissibility reviews to local authorities for approval but does not ultimately decide who can exit Gaza,” the note reads.

5,000-Visa Program

The federal government set a new 5,000-person cap on temporary resident visas for Palestinians looking to escape the Gaza Strip at the end of May, a five-fold increase from the 1,000 visas allotted under a new government program announced at the beginning of the year.

The move came despite the border being closed, making it impossible for Gazans to leave.

“The situation may change at any time, and with this cap increase we'll be ready to help more people,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller told the House immigration committee May 27.

“We have also confirmed that those in Gaza who already possess a valid temporary resident or super visa can identify themselves to us through our crisis web form if they need our help to exit.”

Ottawa launched the opening of its “temporary resident pathway” on Jan. 9 for extended family members in Gaza of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The program was announced after months of Palestinian Canadians asking the government for help in rescuing their loved ones as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

The temporary residency program is designed to enable Palestinians to take refuge in Canada for three years as long as their families are willing to  support them financially. Eligible relatives include a spouse, common-law partner, child, grandchild, sibling, parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, as well as the eligible person’s immediate family members.

Upon reaching Canada, eligible people can apply for a fee-exempt study permit or open work permit to “help them to better support themselves in Canada,” Immigration Canada said in a news release. They will also be granted access to three months of health coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program to “address any urgent medical needs upon arrival,” as well as settlement services that include language training.