Canada continues humanitarian effort for people in the Americas

New humanitarian pathway for Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan foreign nationals launches today

November 17, 2023—Ottawa—The world is facing an unprecedented migration crisis. With record numbers of people displaced internationally, Canada recognizes the need to take action and is working to support vulnerable individuals by providing them with safe and regular migration pathways. This is why Canada is providing an alternative to irregular migration by welcoming 15,000 people from the Western Hemisphere through a family-based humanitarian pathway in addition to our existing programs.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced that the dedicated humanitarian pathway to provide permanent residence to Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan foreign nationals is now open for applications.

To qualify for the pathway, the principal applicant must be a child (regardless of age), grandchild, spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who agrees to support them and their family members as an anchor for one year.

Those coming to Canada through the new humanitarian pathway will receive pre‑arrival services, including an employment skills assessment and a referral to a settlement service provider organization in their community. They may also be eligible for transitional financial assistance from the Resettlement Assistance Program.

Canada is also already welcoming people from the Americas by

• bringing in an additional 4,000 people through Canada’s existing temporary worker programs, including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
• leveraging Canada’s existing refugee labour mobility pathway, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

These measures are meant to alleviate migration pressures in the Western Hemisphere. The new humanitarian pathway provides an alternative to irregular migration northbound through Central America for some of those who are displaced due to political, social and economic instability. IRCC will continue to monitor the progress of the pathway and adjust as required toward these goals.

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