Canada Announces New Permanent Residence Pathway for Families of Canadian Victims of Recent Air Disasters
On 12 May 2021, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced a new public policy put in place to facilitate immigration for families who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones due to recent air disasters.
In-Canada families of victims who were Canadian citizens, permanent residents or foreign nationals who were found eligible on their permanent residence application can apply for permanent residence under this new public policy. The policy will remain in effect until 11 May 2021.
All standard application fess and biometric requirements still apply, as do admissibility requirements. However, applicants are still eligible even if they have lost their status in Canada.[2]
The public policy only applies to members of victims’ families who are currently in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working on further measures to facilitate permanent residence applications for certain members of victims’ families who are outside of Canada and an announcement will be made once those measures are also put in place. For full details of who can and cannot apply, you can visit the dedicated page.
Furthermore, IRCC is also extending the original temporary residence policy for families of victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752. This will allow those who were issued a temporary residence visa following the disaster, but who did not travel to continue to benefit from special assistance and come to Canada if they wish to. It also helps those who are now eligible to apply for permanent residence under this new policy, as they will be able to extend their temporary resident status until their permanent residence application is processed.
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