More than 70 students from Gaza who received full admissions and scholarships to Canadian universities have faced visa delays of 12 to 16 months since 2024, according to Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk. The group helps Palestinian students and scholars access graduate education and research opportunities abroad.
With the school system in disarray in Gaza, many students worry that they will also lose the chance to pursue post-secondary education in Alberta.
Video: Laila Malik reports on the impact of visa delays
A Palestinian student’s dream delayed
Nada Alrayyes is an environmental engineer currently still stuck in Gaza who has been admitted to the University of Calgary for a master’s program.
She has a research grant waiting for her, but it has been more than 16 months since she applied, and she still has not received her visa.
“In the middle of this war, my admission to the University of Calgary represents more than just an academic opportunity. It is a ray of hope for me and my family,” said Alrayyes in an iteriview conducted by Google Meet. “It is my chance to reclaim my future and, one day, help reconstruct my country.”
Other nations act, while Canada remains slow
Since Israel began its assault on Gaza, the UN has expressed concern over a systematic pattern of attacks on educational institutions, with more than 80 per cent of Gaza’s schools damaged or destroyed, a practice described by the United Nations as scholasticide.
Other countries, including the U.K., Ireland, France and Germany, have already admitted Palestinian students, facilitating safe passage and visas within weeks.
Still, Canada has yet to act.
“I have submitted my visa application to IRCC last year, and I continue to follow up, but I have received no response,” said Nada.
Isabelle Dubois, a spokesperson with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), recognized how difficult it remains for applicants in Gaza to leave the territory.
“Countries surrounding Gaza have closed their borders, making movement out of Gaza extremely difficult,” said Dubois in an emailed statement. “Each country sets its own entry and exit requirements. We cannot comment on policies implemented by other countries, nor can we comment on future policy decisions.”
Efforts made by PSSAR
Robyn Mae Paul, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering, has been working directly with Gaza students, like Alrayyes, through Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk. The organization supports students and scholars in Palestine with fully funded graduate studies and research opportunities worldwide.
“When they get their acceptance into our programs, you can feel the excitement and hope in their words,” said Paul. “As the months go on, it’s really hard for them to keep that hope. It’s not only mentally hard, but it’s delaying their academic year.”
Paul says the University of Calgary has done its part to admit students, and that the delays are coming directly from IRCC.
“It’s really the Immigration Minister Lina Diyab that is delaying these students in their ability to continue their academic careers,” said Paul. “The Minister of immigration has specifically stated that they are not prioritizing Palestinian students in being able to bring them to Canada.”
Canada’s Immigration Response
IRCC stresses that all prospective international students must meet the requirements before they can travel to Canada. This includes obtaining a letter of acceptance, securing an approved study permit and undergoing security screening.
“We understand that some students, including those with acceptance letters from Canadian institutions, have been experiencing increased processing times for their study permit applications,” said Dubois. “While an offer of admission is an important step, it does not automatically lead to a study permit.”
Paul said Canada, up until his point, has done nothing for Palestinian students, including those who have all their biometrics completed, or students who are outside of Gaza waiting in Egypt for a Canadian visa.
“They have chosen deliberately not to prioritize or provide visas for Palestinian students for over a year now,” said Paul. “Even though they have everything, they have all the documentation, they are still not providing visas to these students.”
Paul noted that other countries have gone beyond the bare minimum to coordinate safe passage for accepted students.
“Canada really is an outlier. When France, the United Kingdom, and Italy have been making efforts to get students out of Gaza, they’re able to coordinate a bus to get students across the border, and they’ll say, ‘we have four extra spots on this bus,’ and so they’ll connect with Italy, and Italy can fill those four spots,” said Paul. “They are supporting each other in this humanitarian crisis, when Canada has done nothing but inaction.”
A Call to Action
Paul says that with the possibility of the Rafah border opening, Canada can “leverage… this opportunity” to facilitate the safe passage of about 70 to 100 students admitted to Canadian universities and should use this moment to prioritize them.
“Even though Canada and the Minister of Immigration, Lina Diyab, up to this point have chosen inaction, there is this key opportunity right now,” said Paul.
Alrayyes wants fellow researchers, professors, and academic institutions in Canada to help students stuck in Gaza leave so they can study.
“I’m making a direct plea to the world, especially to Canada’s Immigration Ministry (IRCC): please, see us as scholars and scientists who can make a real difference if we’re just given the chance,” said Alrayyes. “Don’t let this dream die in the rubble of the war in Gaza. With severe hunger and daily airstrikes, we urgently need prompt action.”