Who can receive settlement supports?
Clients can get free settlement services (outside of Quebec) if they meet the requirements for 1 of the 3 groups below:
1. They hold a passport or another travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority, and they:
- left Gaza on or after September 1, 2023;
- arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026;
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
2. They’re the immediate family member of someone under group (1), and they:
- arrived in Canada by December 31, 2026;
- have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
3. They were part of the Government of Canada-assisted departures out of Gaza or the West Bank between November 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, and they have valid temporary resident status in Canada.
How do clients demonstrate their eligibility for settlement services?
Before you provide settlement services to temporary residents from Gaza, they must show you their immigration status document (visitor record, open work permit, study permit or temporary resident permit). This document should have the code “MOME2023” in the remarks section.
Please note that for clients in group 1 above, Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) should verify the client’s nationality and date of departure before offering services, even if they have the code on their documents. To do so, SPOs should confirm the following:
If the client left Gaza:
- Proof they left Gaza on or after September 1, 2023 and proof of nationality such as a passport or travel document that was issued by the Palestinian Authority, or
- proof they received assisted departure support from the Government of Canada to leave Gaza between November 2023 and December 2024.
If the client left the West Bank:
- Proof they received assisted departure support from the Government of Canada to leave the West Bank between November 2023 and December 2024.
Please note that clients in group 2 or 3 may be of any nationality and are eligible as long as they meet the specified criteria.
If a client’s immigration status document does not have a code or you are unable to verify their eligibility, please ask them to contact IRCC by filling out a web form. Do not tell clients who don’t have a code to return to a port of entry (airport, land border or marine terminal).
Use the provided documents to check eligibility and offer assistance for urgent needs if required. However, you must have proper proof of eligibility before giving clients access to full services.
Recording client information
Client information can be entered into iCARE the same way as for any other client receiving settlement services, using their unique client identifier (UCI).
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to serving your clients. We will provide further updates when available.
Kind regards,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada