Federal government remits permanent residence application fees for certain out-of-status construction workers and pandemic healthcare workers

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

This new federal order grants a refund (or waiver) of the processing fees for permanent resident applications made on humanitarian and compassionate grounds by two specific groups: out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area who applied under a series of temporary public policies between 2019 and 2024, and certain foreign nationals or refugee claimants who worked in Quebec's healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The remission applies to both principal applicants and any accompanying family members who were included in those applications. The key condition is that the applicant did not meet the eligibility conditions of the specific public policy under which they originally applied but still filed a humanitarian and compassionate request. Affected individuals who paid the processing fee or still owe it should assess whether they qualify under one of the listed public policies and may wish to seek a refund or have the outstanding fee cancelled.

Who this affects: out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area · accompanying family members of eligible applicants · foreign nationals who worked in Quebec healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic · refugee claimants who worked in Quebec healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic