Ottawa, Ontario
Canada Border Services Agency and Public Safety Canada
In a continued response to the egregious actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Government of Canada is sending another strong message that Canada will not be a safe haven for senior regime members who engage in terrorism and systematic and gross human rights violations.
In November 2022, the Minister of Public Safety designated the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that engages in terrorism and systematic or gross human rights violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Under this designation, any senior official who served in the Iranian government at any time from November 15, 2019 onwards is inadmissible to Canada.
Following sustained involvement by the Iranian regime in terrorism and egregious human rights violations, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs initiated a review of the initial designation, and decided to bring forward the start date of the designation to June 23, 2003. This amended date reflects the day when the Iranian regime arbitrarily detained, and subsequently tortured and killed, Iranian-Canadian photo-journalist Zahra Kazemi while in custody. This change means that any senior official who served in the Iranian government at any time since June 23, 2003 is now inadmissible to Canada. In addition to having their visa applications refused and being denied entry, they could lose their temporary or permanent resident status in Canada, and could be subject to enforcement action, including removal from Canada.
As the Iranian regime continues to engage in terrorism and human rights violations, the designation period remains open-ended, meaning there is no specified end date.
The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with our partners and use every tool at our disposal to hold the regime accountable for its violations of humanitarian or international law, whether in Iran or abroad.
