The Canadian government has granted 3,008 visas to Palestinians of Gaza. However, only 283 of the beneficiaries have managed to reach the country so far, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Canadian authorities explained in a briefing note that other applicants had not managed to leave the war zone yet.
Canada continues to put forward names of people who passed preliminary eligibility and admissibility reviews to local authorities for approval but does not ultimately decide who can exit Gaza. At this time, there are no crossings into Egypt.
Prior to this, Canada announced a fivefold increase in visa issuance for Palestinians of Gaza following the Israeli attack in Rafah on May 26, 2024.
More specifically, the Canadian government increased the number of temporary resident visa applications for Gazans from 1,000 to 5,000.
In an official statement issued back then, the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, raised concerns about the humanitarian tragedy ongoing in Gaza, noting that several residents in Canada are worried about their relatives in Gaza.
While movement out of Gaza is not currently possible, the situation may change at any time. With this cap increase, we will be ready to help more people as the situation evolves. Our focus remains on keeping families together.
Miller further noted that the ministry has been issuing more web codes so that individuals can apply for a temporary resident visa.
Among other things, Miller said that Israel and Egypt are both important partners in implementing these policies and helping Gazans reunite with their relatives in Canada.
Before increasing the visa issuance to Gazans, Canada introduced a temporary residency route for extended family members living in Gaza who are related to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Eligible candidates include spouses, common-law partners, children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, and grandparents of Canadian nationals or permanent residents.
Canada is working – at every level – to facilitate the exit of extended family members and advocate for their safety. We will continue to advocate for people’s safety.
In addition to the measures mentioned above, Canada has demanded a ceasefire in Gaza several times.
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