BREAKING: Canada revitalizes measures for Iranians to obtain work permit extensions

As of March 1, 2026, Canada has changed and extended its special measures for Iranian nationals in the country—now limited to certain work permit holders—through March 31, 2027

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation

Under the newest iteration of these work permit measures, Iranians in Canada can access work permit extensions provided that they:

• Are an Iranian national and hold a valid passport.
• Are in Canada and have a valid work permit both when you apply for the extension and when IRCC makes a decision on your application.
• Hold a valid initial work permit that was issued on or before February 28, 2025.
• Have not previously received a work permit extension under these special measures (no second extension is available).
• Also meet all standard eligibility and admissibility requirements for a work permit.

Applications under this policy must be submitted before March 31, 2027.

Eligible applicants must also meet all other admissibility and selection requirements for a work permit extension, not specifically exempted by this policy.

More information about application procedures can be found at IRCC's webpage.

Is this policy a continuation of the previous measures for Iranians?

While this policy follows closely on the heels of the recent expiry of the "temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada", with the intention of continuing to offer special provisions to Iranians in Canada, the current policy is notably narrower in both scope and provisions than the measures that it replaced.

Most obviously, the current policy:

• Is narrower scope: It is meant for Iranian work permit holders in Canada only (work-permit extensions), and IRCC states no other temporary measures are in place.
  • The policy that expired Feb 28, 2026, also facilitated open work permits and in-Canada study permits (in addition to extensions).
• Has a different “cut-off” concept:
  • Eligibility for the current policy hinges on having a valid work permit and an initial work permit issued no later than Feb 28, 2025.
  • Under the Expired policy, eligibility hinged on arriving in Canada on or before Feb 28, 2025.
• Applies to a more restrictive applicant group:
  • The current policy requires you to be a worker in Canada with a valid work permit at the time of application (and when the decision is made).
  • The expired policy covered a broader set of Iranian temporary residents (workers and those seeking study permits from inside Canada) as long as they met the arrival cut-off and had a valid status.
• Does not allow visitors or students to change statuses under special measures anymore. These individuals must now use regular application processes for a work or study permit.
  • Under the expired policy, eligible applicants could apply for an initial study permit from within Canada under the special measures.
• One-time use restriction is explicit now: The current measures exclude people who’ve already been issued a work permit under these special measures (no second extension).

Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation