In the heart of Canada's vibrant higher education landscape, a troubling barrier has emerged for some of the region's most promising talents. Exceptional Palestinian scholars, particularly those from Gaza, have secured admission to prestigious Canadian universities, yet they remain stranded due to persistent delays and insurmountable hurdles in obtaining study visas. This situation not only affects individual dreams but also deprives Canadian institutions of vital contributions to research and innovation.

Graduate programs at top universities like the University of Toronto, University of Regina, University of Waterloo, and Toronto Metropolitan University have extended offers to these students, often with full funding attached. These scholars, excelling in fields such as engineering, public health, AI, and biomedical sciences, underwent rigorous selection processes. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements have created a vicious cycle that keeps them from boarding flights to Canada.

Understanding the Canadian Study Permit Process Step-by-Step

The study permit, a document issued by IRCC allowing international students to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada, involves several mandatory steps. First, applicants receive an acceptance letter from a DLI. They then submit an online application, including proof of funds, ties to home country, and a letter of explanation. A critical requirement is biometrics—digital fingerprints and photographs—collected at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

For most applicants, this is straightforward, with processing times averaging 8-12 weeks in 2026. However, for Palestinians in Gaza, no VAC exists locally. The nearest centres are in Cairo, Egypt, or Amman, Jordan. To reach them, students must exit Gaza via the Rafah crossing, controlled by Egypt and frequently closed amid the ongoing conflict since October 2023. This creates a paradox: they need the permit to leave but cannot obtain it without leaving.

• Step 1: Secure DLI acceptance (completed by 130+ students).
• Step 2: Gather documents and pay fees (CAD $150 permit + $85 biometrics).
• Step 3: Submit biometrics at VAC (impossible from Gaza).
• Step 4: Undergo security and background checks (additional delays reported).
• Step 5: Receive permit or refusal letter (many in limbo, neither).

IRCC has waived biometrics in past crises, such as for Ukrainians under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program or temporary foreign workers during COVID-19, allowing collection at the port of entry. No such flexibility has been extended here.

🌍 The Scale of the Crisis: Numbers and Timelines

According to the Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk (PSSAR) network, a Canada-based nonprofit matching Gaza scholars with faculty, over 136 Palestinian graduate students hold offers from 26 Canadian universities as of early 2026. This represents CAD $15 million in scholarships and stipends at risk. About 100 remain in Gaza, 27 have reached Egypt for biometrics but await final approval, and others are in Jordan.

Delays stretch up to 24 months, far exceeding standard times. Pre-2023, Palestinian study permit approval rates hovered at 21.3% (2019-2021 data), compared to 91% for Israelis, hinting at longstanding disparities. In 2025, overall Canadian study permit refusals hit 62%, driven by caps limiting new permits to 437,000. Yet, master's and PhD students like these are exempt from caps since January 2026.

Tragically, at least two students—twin sisters Sally and Dalia Ghazi Ibaid, accepted to Waterloo PhDs—were killed in an Israeli airstrike in December 2024 while awaiting visas. Four others sustained injuries.

Personal Stories: Dreams Deferred Amid Devastation

Nour, accepted to a PhD in Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto's St. George campus in May 2024, applied for her permit in June. Displaced 11+ times, she lives without reliable electricity or internet, deferring enrollment to September 2026. "We deserve this chance," she says, hoping to rebuild Gaza post-studies.

Meera, 26, from Gaza City, earned a master's spot in industrial engineering at the University of Regina with full funding. Living in a tent, she has deferred thrice. "How can they ask for biometrics when borders are closed? We're trapped," she laments.

Khaled and Raneen, a couple accepted to Western University (cardiology fellowship and nursing PhD), have faced 10+ displacements. Raneen notes, "We're losing our energy, health, passion for education." Their story underscores family separations, with 88 dependents also waiting.

Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash

IRCC's Position and Broader Policy Context

IRCC insists all applications must meet requirements, including biometrics and security screenings. "Movement out of Gaza remains challenging," they state, unable to predict Gaza-specific timelines. Enhanced checks for post-July 2023 Gaza residents contribute to delays.

Canada's 2025-2027 International Student Cap aimed to ease housing pressures but exempts graduate research students. A special pathway for Palestinians in Canada exists, but not for incoming scholars. Critics argue this ignores precedents and humanitarian needs, especially with Gaza's 12 universities destroyed.

For more on IRCC processes, visit the official study permit page.

Advocacy and University Responses

PSSAR leads the #IRCCLetThemStudy campaign, urging biometrics waivers or port-of-entry collection. Professors nationwide, including TMU President Mohamed Lachemi, have signed letters: "I have accepted exceptional Palestinian scholars... Today, they remain in Gaza."

Universities offer deferrals—U of T and Regina expanded support programs—but many call for federal action. URegina's Dr. Eman Almehdawe praises students' excellence exceeding requirements. Trent and Calgary faculty also advocate.

Read PSSAR's detailed report on delays and recommendations.

Global Comparisons: Lessons from Other Nations

While Canada hesitates, the UK, France, Ireland, and Germany have evacuated Palestinian scholars via buses to Amman or direct flights, waiving biometrics where needed. France acted by April 2025, Ireland by October. These countries recognize academic merit amid crisis, bolstering their research ecosystems.

Canada's agility for Syrians (biometrics in Jordan camps) and Ukrainians contrasts sharply, raising equity concerns.

Impacts on Canadian Higher Education

International graduate students comprise 45% of STEM doctorates in Canada, driving innovation. Losing these talents—specializing in reconstruction-relevant fields—hampers diversity and research output. Universities face empty labs, forfeited $15M funding, and reputational damage as scholars pivot to Europe.

Long-term, this signals to global talent that Canada prioritizes bureaucracy over humanitarian academic exchange.

Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash

Potential Solutions and Actionable Steps

Solutions mirror past policies:

• Biometrics exemption for Gaza admits, collected at entry.
• Expedited security checks with transparency.
• Humanitarian evacuation coordination via Egypt/Jordan.
• Policy directive from Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.

Stakeholders can contact IRCC, support PSSAR petitions, or host labs via their platform. Universities should lobby collectively.

Looking Ahead: Rebuilding Bridges for Global Scholarship

As 2026 unfolds, pressure mounts for resolution. With study caps easing for grads, approving these permits aligns with Canada's talent attraction goals. Enabling these scholars not only fulfills academic promises but positions Canada as a compassionate leader in higher education. Their eventual arrival could spark breakthroughs, aiding Gaza's recovery and enriching Canadian campuses.

For faculty seeking matches, explore PSSAR's resources. The path forward demands urgency to turn limbo into legacy.