Canada gives second chance to asylum seekers from Israel and Palestine
The Canadian federal government has given a second chance to nationals and former residents of Israel and Palestine, who would otherwise have faced deportation from Canada.
On September 29, 2026, Canada granted affected individuals the opportunity to obtain permanent immigration status in Canada as protected persons, even if they had previously been refused.
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According to a post on the federal government’s notice page, the opportunity applies to those who received a final negative decision on an asylum claim or on a previous pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) between September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2026.
It also applies to those who received a final negative decision on their case from Federal Court during the same period.
Nationals and former residents of Palestine or Israel who are affected may apply for a PRRA by following the instructions on the federal government website.
Prior to the change, many affected individuals would have faced deportation from Canada due to the standard blackout period, which bars an individual from submitting a PRRA for 12 months after having received a negative decision on their application for protection.
No second chance at PRRAs is applicable to those whose negative decisions are received after September 29, 2026, as those decisions will have already taken into account the current conditions.
For an individual facing removal from Canada, submitting a PRRA to seek status as a protected person is typically the claim of last resort.
If an individual’s application for a PRRA is denied, they must leave Canada. In most cases, there is no opportunity to stay a removal order after receiving a negative decision on a PRRA.
In most cases, an individual can apply for a PRRA only while subject to an enforceable removal order and once they have been informed of their ability to do so by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
In many cases, an individual who has been granted status as a protected person can apply for Canadian permanent residence.
A successful PRRA provides protection to individuals who would otherwise be removed to a country where they would face persecution, torture, or mortal risk.
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