QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Visa Applications
November 6, 2025
Senator Moreau, my question is about Canada’s Gaza special measures visa program. In March 2024, then-Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Marc Miller, confirmed to Gaza special measures families that they should not have to wait to complete their visa applications in Gaza and should take any opportunity to leave for safety, for example, to Egypt.
Can you confirm that no families have had their visa applications delayed or denied because they applied from Egypt, and can you assure us that the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa officers are not penalizing Gaza special measures families for applying from outside of Gaza?
Thank you for raising this important question, Senator Woo. I have been informed that applicants don’t need to be in Gaza to have their application processed. As a matter of fact, since biometric collection is not available in Gaza, applicants must exit Gaza before being able to take their biometrics in Egypt — or anywhere else they want — to have their application proceed, das there is no specific requirement as to where biometrics must be taken.
I understand that, as of August 26, 2025, more than almost 1,790 people who exited Gaza and had Temporary Resident Visa applications in process were able to submit biometrics, complete their application and receive approval to come to Canada.
Thank you for the clarification.
Can you also advise if the government — now that it has recognized the State of Palestine — will step up its efforts to facilitate the application of visas for Palestinians to come to Canada — of course — those who are eligible to do so?
I will certainly raise the question with the minister. My understanding is that there is no restriction whatsoever concerning those requests.
