Sudanese nationals are permitted to stay longer in Canada

Canada continues to demand an end to the bloodshed in Sudan and expresses its grave concern for the security of its citizens. They are working to assist those looking for safety in Canada, including Sudanese citizens already living there who might not want to go back at this time.

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, provided additional information about these unique measures to assist Sudanese citizens temporarily residing in Canada.

Sudanese nationals residing in Canada as of April 30, 2023, are eligible to apply for a free extension of stay or change to a visiting, student, or temporary worker status. This includes free open work permits that grant entry to the labor market and more freedom to sustain oneself while residing in Canada. These actions will provide a safe haven, maintain family unity, and protect the Sudanese population already residing in Canada.

Outside of Canada, certain applicants for permanent residence might not have access to their travel documents for Sudan. As a result, they are also removing the requirement for having a passport or other kind of travel authorization in order to be granted a permanent resident visa to enter Canada. These steps add to the fee waivers for passports and travel papers for Canadians and Canadian permanent residents in Sudan, as well as the prioritization of completed applications for temporary and permanent residence from people in Sudan that are currently in their system for when it is safe to go.

The Canadian government supports its citizens in Sudan

The Canadian government is acting to evacuate Canadians as Sudan’s security situation deteriorates further.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, gave an update on aid to Canadians in Sudan today. They also discussed departures that were carefully planned in conjunction with allies and partners.

Canada has been leading conversations with the G7 nations, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, as well as representatives from the United Nations and the World Bank on how to respond to the crisis.

Personnel and military aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have been stationed in the area. In a complex and changing security environment, continual military planning is taking place. As conditions permit, the CAF is helping with transportation efforts.

The CAF is still very well connected in the area and is collaborating closely with its allies and partners. The CAF must plan carefully and work closely with other like-minded nations who are organizing missions with similar objectives to ensure the safe extraction of Canadian people.

Canada places a high priority on the security and safety of its citizens abroad

For calls and emails from Canadians in Sudan seeking aid and advice, Global Affairs Canada has more than 110 surge capacity responders at the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

1703 Canadians were listed as being in Sudan as of 1 PM on April 25 by Global Affairs Canada, and 573 of them had asked for help leaving the country. The Canadian government has arranged for more than 100 Canadians to leave with the aid of the Allies. Officials from Canada are in touch with Canadians who are currently in Sudan and have requested assistance in order to expedite departure aid and give them crucial information about evacuation possibilities.

Sudanese nationals will receive assistance from Canada

Canada is still calling for an end to the violence in Sudan and supports its citizens in their efforts to bring about peace. They are quite worried about the safety of the local populace, and they recognize that some Sudanese citizens now living in Canada would prefer to temporarily extend their stay rather than go back home at this time.

The government of Canada will implement new immigration measures, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced today. This is to assist Sudanese temporary residents who are currently in Canada but may not be able to return home due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in their country.

Sudanese nationals will be able to continue their free education, employment, or family visits after these restrictions are put in place by applying for an extension of their status in Canada and switching between temporary streams. These steps will assist maintain the security of the Sudanese community already residing in Canada, keep families together, and provide them with a safe place to remain. In the coming days, information will be released.

Their current capacity to process new applications is impacted by the fact that the situation in Sudan is continuously changing and that traveling throughout the nation is still challenging and risky. The Canadian government will give first priority to processing completed temporary and permanent residence applications currently in the system from those who are still in Sudan so they can leave when it is safe to do so. This will help those who are still in Sudan apply for immigration more easily and leave when it is safe to do so. This includes requests for visiting visas so eligible members of a person’s immediate family who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can visit them.

For Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Sudan who want to leave, Canada will also eliminate the costs associated with obtaining passports and travel documents.

Brief facts

• Those eligible for priority processing will continue to be subject to all other statutory eligibility and admissibility requirements.
• The IRCC is getting ready to send more officers to the area to assist those already there in assisting immigration-related operations.
• The Canada Border Services Agency has no scheduled removals to Sudan at this time, and t are also ceasing all work on Sudan removals.
• In the following days, more details on the actions taken for Sudanese citizens in Canada will be posted on the IRCC website.

Citizens of Canada in Sudan who require immediate consular help can get in touch with the Emergency Watch and Response Centre of Global Affairs Canada:

• By calling +1 613-996-8885
• By text message at +1 613-686-3658
• Via Whatsapp at +1 613-909-8881
• Via Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad
• By e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca

Canadians in Sudan are encouraged to visit travel.gc.ca frequently for updates and to register with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive direct updates.