Canadian officials announced that a dedicated humanitarian pathway to provide permanent residence to Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan foreign nationals is now open for applications.

‌Key Points:

• As previously reported, Canada will provide a new pathway to permanent residence for citizens of Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela who are residing in Central or South America or the Caribbean.
• As part of that effort, Canada announced that they will welcome 15,000 migrants on a humanitarian basis from the Western Hemisphere.
• Foreign nationals who have extended family connections in Canada will be eligible to apply for this new pathway. The Canadian citizen or permanent resident who agrees to support the foreign national and their family members will serve as an anchor for one year.

BAL Analysis: The application can be accessed using the online Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada portal. A signed statutory declaration from the anchor confirming support is required. The new program is designed to provide an opportunity for those with extended family ties in Canada to apply for permanent residency. The Canadian government confirmed their intent to continue to support vulnerable individuals by providing safe and regular migration pathways.