Canada has announced a series of special measures to help study permit applicants from China, Iran and South Korea, whose application processes have been hindered by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Several citizens of countries badly affected by the Coronavirus have been unable to lodge their Canada study permit visa applications due to widespread shutdowns of public services in the regions.

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced last week that nationals of Iran, China and South Korea will be given additional time to complete their applications with details such as photo and fingerprint submissions.
Coronavirus disruption necessitates Canada special measures for study permit applicants

The IRCC stated that significant disruption caused to daily life by the Coronavirus outbreak has necessitated the implementation of special measures for Canada visa applicants, including those applying for study permits.

The statement from the Canadian body overseeing immigration noted that they wanted to ‘provide flexibility’ for those who were unable to comply with visa application requirements ‘due to circumstances beyond their control’.

Elaborating on what constituted a ‘disruption’, the IRCC listed several factors such as:

– visa application centre closures,

– service disruptions at Canadian visa offices,

– limited access to local government offices and businesses, and

– limited access to panel physicians who can do the immigration medical exam.
Apply online for study permits under Canada Coronavirus special measures

The IRCC said that, under the Canada Coronavirus special measures for study permit applicants, the applications will be done completely online.

Initially, it requires applicants to establish contact with their relevant in-country Canadian authorities through online web forms to lay out their case for consideration.

For some visa application steps, the special measures will nearly double or triple the deadline timelines.

The biometrics, for example, must normally be provided within 30 days of applying.

However, under the new measures, this deadline will be extended to 90 days.

For those who have missed their appointments due to circumstances beyond their control or due to “disruption” as defined above, the IRCC is also encouraging those applicants to promptly contact the Canadian representation in their countries via the web form.