The Canadian federal government has provided a second opportunity for nationals and former residents of Israel and Palestine to obtain permanent immigration status. This measure, granted on September 29, 2026, allows individuals facing deportation to apply for protected person status, even if their prior claims were refused.

This opportunity applies to those who received a final negative decision on an asylum claim, a prior pre-removal risk assessment, or from Federal Court between September 28, 2025, and September 29, 2026. Affected individuals can apply for a pre-removal risk assessment by following instructions on the federal government website.

Before this change, many individuals would have faced deportation from Canada due to a standard blackout period. This period prevented individuals from submitting a pre-removal risk assessment for 12 months after a negative decision on their protection application. A pre-removal risk assessment is typically a last resort for individuals facing removal from Canada to seek protected person status.

This change prevents many affected individuals from facing deportation from Canada. A successful pre-removal risk assessment provides protection to individuals who would otherwise be removed to a country where they could face persecution, torture, or mortal risk. In many cases, individuals granted protected person status can apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The Canada Border Services Agency informs individuals of their ability to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment. This second chance for pre-removal risk assessments does not apply to those whose negative decisions are received after September 29, 2026, because those decisions will have already considered the current conditions.