- Eligible Iranian nationals in Canada can extend their open work permits for up to two years.
- The temporary public measure remains in effect until March 31, 2027 for eligible applicants.
- Eligibility is restricted to those with valid status and permits issued before February 2025.
(CANADA) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada extended targeted temporary public measures on March 1, 2026, allowing eligible Iranian nationals already in Canada to apply for an open work permit extension of up to two years.
The time-limited extension remains in effect until March 31, 2027, giving some Iranian workers a way to keep working for most employers without shifting to an employer-specific permit.
The measures apply only to certain temporary residents in Canada who already hold, or previously held, a qualifying work permit. They do not create a new entry pathway for Iranian nationals outside Canada.
The Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, ECNS, KC, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, signed the measures on February 25, 2026. Canada published them on March 4, 2026.
Canada replaced broader emergency policies that expired February 28, 2026, narrowing the scope to work permit holders. Under the prior approach, policies like IRAN2023 supported visitors and students arriving by February 28, 2025.
The new policy shifts the focus to continuity of work authorization for eligible Iranian nationals already working in Canada. Open work permits generally allow a person to work for most employers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment-backed, employer-specific permit.
Eligibility hinges on a person’s current status in Canada and the timing of their work permit. Applicants must hold valid temporary resident status in Canada and must have a valid work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025, excluding permits issued March 1, 2025, or later, even under prior special measures.
Canada also made the extension one-time only under these special measures. Applicants must not previously have received a work permit extension through this policy, meaning a second extension is not available under the same special framework.
Basic document and presence requirements also apply. Applicants must maintain a valid passport that covers the full extension period and must remain in Canada at the time of application and decision.
Applicants must also meet general admissibility requirements, including proving intent to leave Canada at the end of their stay. The measures do not remove standard screening and completeness checks that apply to in-Canada work permit applications.
The application channel is restricted to online filing from inside Canada. Applicants must apply under subsection 201(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and Canada does not allow applications at ports of entry.
The application process runs through an IRCC secure account and uses IMM 5710 Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker. Canada directs applicants to include a passport copy under “Supporting Documents > Passport” and provide proof of eligibility under the measures.
Canada waives the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirement under the public policy but still assesses other standard criteria. Applicants must submit a complete application before March 31, 2027, and incomplete applications may be refused.
Fees remain in place under the extension. Applicants must pay standard fees of $155 for the work permit processing fee plus $100 for the open work permit holder fee, and Canada provides no waivers.
Status timing can affect whether a person can keep working while IRCC processes an application. If a person’s status expires before processing, maintained status applies, allowing legal stay in Canada while meeting original permit conditions.
Canada draws a firm line at expiry, however. Applications after a work permit expires will be refused, making timing central for workers trying to avoid a gap in authorization.
The public policy also sets limits on who should not apply under this measure. Canada excludes visitors, students, and new arrivals, and it does not offer in-Canada study permits or visitor extensions under these special measures, directing those groups to regular processes instead.
Canada applied the narrowed policy to a specific filing period. It applies to applications from March 1, 2026, while prior applications from March 1, 2025–February 28, 2026 follow old rules.
The measures can change again. Canada set the end date as March 31, 2027, and the policy can be renewed, amended, or revoked earlier without notice.
For workplaces, the extension creates a limited planning tool rather than a broad program. Employers who want to understand whether a worker may qualify must confirm the worker’s permit predates February 28, 2025, and that the worker’s passport can cover the requested period.
Workers, meanwhile, face a documentation and timing exercise that depends on their current status, their permit history, and whether they already used the one-time extension. Canada also said no other temporary measures exist for Iranian nationals, underscoring the narrow scope of this open work permit extension.
