CIMM – Gaza – Efforts and comparisons from other countries – May 27, 2024 – Canada.ca

Pays Assisted departures Special program for Gazans/Palestinians or access to an existing visa for Gazans/Palestinians

Canada

• Husband
• Common-law spouse
• Dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada or dependent child of his or her spouse or common-law partner
• Dependent child of a dependent child

As of May 10, Canada has assisted 870 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members to leave Gaza.

• Oui
• Temporary Public Policy for Extended Family Members of Canadians and PRs in Gaza
• Ceiling: 5,000
• VRT applications accepted in processing – total: 2,903
• Arrivals of temporary residents under the temporary public policy as of May 20, 2024: 41
• Temporary measure to support Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada
• Eligible individuals can apply for a fee-free study permit or an open work permit under the once-in-Canada measures.
• Eligible individuals have access to three months of health care under the Interim Federal Health Program.
• IRCC is currently working to enable access to settlement services for individuals arriving from Gaza, including those arriving under the temporary residence pathway.

Australia

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) prioritises assistance for Australian citizens, permanent residents of Australia and their immediate family members. Immediate family members include spouse/common-law partner and dependent children.

We are aware of reports that the Australian Government has assisted at least 207 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their family members to leave Gaza.Table footnote 1. However, we cannot confirm the validity of this data, as it has not been officially published.

No special access route.

Palestinians have access to visitor visas (subclass 600). These visas already exist and were not specifically created for the crisis. Australia is not facilitating the departure of these people.

This is not a location-specific visa: visitor visas have been granted to people with Palestinian Authority travel documents worldwide (Gaza, West Bank and elsewhere)Table footnote 2.

With this visa, people:

• can stay in Australia for up to 12 months
• can’t work
• do not have access to health care
• cannot study for more than 3 months

As of February 6, 2024, more than 2,273 visas had been issued to PalestiniansTable footnote 3.

UNITED STATES

Immediate family members of U.S. citizens include:

• the spouses
• unmarried children under 21 years of age
• parents of US citizens

If the U.S. citizen is under 31 years of age, immediate family members also include any siblings who are also unmarried and under 21 years of age.

Immediate family members of legal permanent residents include:

• the spouses
• unmarried children under 21 years of age

According to the State Department, as of May 13, 2024, more than 1,800 U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other eligible individuals have departed the Gaza Strip.Table footnote 5.

No special access route.

United Kingdom

To be eligible, the person must:

• be the spouse/partner of a British national, or a child aged 17 or under currently living in the UK; and
• hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for more than 6 months

No special access route.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) provides assistance to New Zealand citizens, New Zealand permanent residents and their family members, including spouses/partners and dependent children aged 24 and under.

No special access route.

Italy

Assisted departures for citizens, dual citizens and immediate family members.
As of 13 April 2024, Italy had carried out three medical evacuations from Gaza, transferring 156 Palestinian civilians, who have since been housed in Italian health facilities.Table footnote 6 We cannot confirm the validity of this data as it has not been officially published.

No special access route.