In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, International
Network, at IRCC explained that
[The IRCC does not] affix visa counterfoil to a Somalian passport as this is not a travel document recognized
for purpose of traveling to Canada.
However, if an officer is satisfied as to bona fide of return of Somalian nationals who wish to travel to Canada,
then, a TRP needs to be applied for in order to affix the same to an SJTD. The TRP is issued to enable a foreign
national to travel despite a lack of a travel document as per IRP Regulations. Nonetheless however, the issuing
visa office will ask to see that the person has a valid Somalia passport to cover the duration of stay in Canada
and to ensure that the foreign national has a passport to return back to Somalia. Travel itinerary (flight
booking) is needed for the issuance of SJTD. (Canada 12 Sept. 2017)
The Director further explained that
[t]here is no specific application kit for a TRP and no specific document required list. It is determined on a
specific basis for each individual case.
To be eligible for a TRP, your need to enter or stay in Canada must outweigh the health or safety risks to
Canadian society, as determined by an immigration or a border services officer. Even if the reason you are
inadmissible seems minor, you must demonstrate that your visit is justified.
There is no application form to apply for an initial TRP. Applicants should submit an application for a TRV along
with supporting documents to explain why they are inadmissible and why it would be justified for them to enter
Canada. (Canada 12 Sept. 2017)
3. Somali Passports
According to the Director,
[a]ny passport purporting to have been issued by Somalia is not considered a travel document for the
purposes of R50(1) or R52(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. We don't affix visa
counterfoil to a Somalian passport as this is not travel document recognized for purpose of traveling to Canada
(Canada 12 Sept. 2017)
The Director also referred to the IRCC's Operational Bulletin 190 of 12 March 2010 on Unreliable Travel
Documents (Canada 12 Sept. 2017). According to the Bulletin, which includes "[a]ny passport purporting to
have been issued by Somalia" on a list of unreliable travel documents,
[i]f a temporary resident application or permanent resident application is submitted with a travel document
that has been designated as unreliable, the travel document requirements of R50(1) [documents required from
permanent residents (Canada 2002)] or R52(1) [documents required from temporary residents (Canada
2002)] are not met and the application is not complete. The applicant should be advised to provide an
acceptable travel document.
For greater clarity, unreliable travel documents must not be accepted for file creation or processing, and visa
counterfoils must not be affixed to them. (Canada 12 March 2010)
The Director further added that "[u]ntil further notice, the new biometric Somali passport is not recognized for
the purpose of traveling to Canada" (Canada 12 Sept. 2017).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the
Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to
the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in
researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. 12 September 2017. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Correspondence from a
Director to the Research Directorate.
Canada. 15 August 2017. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). "
Application for Visitor Visa
(Temporary Resident Visa - TRV) [Somalia]." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]
Responses to Information Requests - Immigration and Refugee Board of... http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=45...
2 of 3 3/15/2018 10:05 AM