Pre-removal risk assessment rules temporarily lift the usual 12-month waiting period for some nationals and former residents of Israel and Palestine seeking protection before removal.
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Pre-Removal Risk Assessment Update
Under an IRCC notice dated September 29, 2026, eligible people may be able to apply for a PRRA if they received a qualifying final negative decision between September 28, 2025, and September 29, 2026.
The measure does not guarantee permission to remain in Canada or a positive result. Each application will continue to be assessed individually using the evidence submitted and the applicable legal rules.
Who May Benefit From The PRRA Change
Nationals and former residents of Israel or Palestine may be eligible if, during the specified period, they received a final negative decision on:
- an asylum or refugee claim from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada;
- a previous PRRA application; or
- a Federal Court decision related to their case.
The pre-removal risk assessment exemption applies only to people who meet the applicable PRRA requirements. Eligibility also depends on the person’s individual history, removal status, decision dates and case-specific circumstances.
What The 12-Month Waiting Period Normally Does
In most cases, a person must wait 12 months after their last negative protection decision before becoming eligible to apply for a PRRA.
The waiting period can apply after a negative decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board, a negative decision on a previous PRRA application, an abandoned or withdrawn refugee claim or PRRA application, or a Federal Court decision refusing judicial review.
IRCC may create an exemption when conditions in a person’s country of origin change suddenly. The Israel and Palestine notice is an example of this type of exemption.
What A PRRA Examines
A pre-removal risk assessment examines whether a person would face a legally recognized risk if removed from Canada. The assessment can consider persecution, danger of torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
Being eligible to apply does not guarantee that the person will be allowed to stay in Canada. IRCC officers decide cases individually based on the information provided.
CBSA Must Confirm Application Eligibility
The exemption does not mean that every Israeli or Palestinian national or former resident can submit a PRRA immediately.
When the Canada Border Services Agency begins the removal process, a CBSA officer checks whether the person is eligible. A person can apply only after a CBSA officer notifies them that they may do so and provides the application form and instructions.
Applicants in the pre-removal risk assessment process must follow the deadline in the materials provided by CBSA. Under IRCC’s general instructions, the complete application must be submitted within 15 days if the form and guide are received in person, or within 22 days if they are received by mail.
Negative Decisions After September 29, 2026
The temporary exemption does not apply to nationals or former residents of Israel or Palestine who receive a final negative decision after September 29, 2026.
According to IRCC, those individuals are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months because current country conditions would already have been considered during their asylum claim or PRRA process.
The date and type of the most recent final negative decision are therefore important. Applicants should not rely only on the date of an earlier claim or hearing.
Restricted PRRA Cases
Some people may be eligible only for a restricted PRRA. This may include people subject to a removal order for specified serious inadmissibility grounds or people whose refugee claim was excluded under the Refugee Convention.
In those circumstances, the assessment may be limited to certain risks, such as danger of torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, rather than including every possible protection ground. The exact scope depends on the person’s legal circumstances.
Evidence And Application Updates
Applicants must keep their pre-removal risk assessment application up to date and inform IRCC of changes to the application. They should preserve documents and other evidence explaining why they face risk and how the evidence relates to their individual circumstances.
If a person previously had a refugee claim or PRRA application rejected, the application may be limited to new evidence. IRCC describes new evidence as information that arose after the most recent rejection, could not be accessed earlier, or could not reasonably have been expected to be presented in time for the previous decision.
Applicants should clearly identify and explain why submitted evidence is new or was previously unavailable.
Removal And Application Deadlines
For a first pre-removal risk assessment application submitted within the deadline, the removal order is generally stayed while the application is processed. IRCC says removal will generally proceed if the person declines to apply, misses the deadline, receives a refusal, or withdraws or abandons the application.
The stay rules depend on the person’s actual eligibility, the timing of the application and the applicable legal circumstances. The Israel and Palestine exemption does not automatically cancel a removal order or stop a scheduled removal before the person is confirmed eligible and complies with the process.
Work And Health Coverage
A first PRRA applicant who submits on time may be able to apply for a work permit if they do not already have a valid permit. It is illegal to work in Canada without a work permit issued by IRCC.
People submitting a second or later PRRA application, or submitting an application late, are not entitled to work in Canada on that basis while waiting for a decision.
A person who previously made a refugee claim may be eligible for coverage of certain medical costs under the Interim Federal Health program, depending on the applicable rules and circumstances.
What The Notice Means In Practice
The September 29, 2026 policy update creates a possible earlier route to a PRRA for a defined group of nationals and former residents of Israel and Palestine.
It does not reopen every refused asylum claim, guarantee protection, or automatically allow a person to remain in Canada.
The key initial checks are the person’s country connection, the date and type of the final negative decision, their PRRA history and whether CBSA has confirmed eligibility.
Applicants should keep copies of decisions, removal documents, forms, supporting evidence and communications with Canadian immigration authorities. Because PRRA cases can involve short deadlines and serious consequences, applicants may wish to consult an authorized Canadian immigration lawyer or licensed consultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may qualify for the Israel and Palestine PRRA exemption?
Nationals and former residents of Israel or Palestine may be eligible if they received a qualifying final negative decision between September 28, 2025, and September 29, 2026. Eligibility must still be confirmed through the PRRA process.
Does the policy guarantee that an applicant can stay in Canada?
No. Eligibility to apply does not guarantee permission to remain in Canada or a positive PRRA decision. Officers assess each case individually.
What types of decisions may qualify?
The notice refers to final negative decisions on an asylum or refugee claim from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, a previous PRRA application, or a related Federal Court decision.
Do people with negative decisions after September 29, 2026 qualify for the exemption?
No. IRCC says nationals and former residents of Israel or Palestine with a final negative decision after September 29, 2026, are not eligible for this exemption during the following 12 months.
Can every person covered by the notice file a PRRA application directly?
No. A CBSA officer must generally confirm that the person is eligible and provide the application materials before the person applies.
Fact-Checked: Fact-checked against IRCC’s September 29, 2026 notice and current official IRCC PRRA eligibility, exemption and application guidance on October 2, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. PRRA eligibility and outcomes depend on the facts and procedural history of each case.
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