Thousands of Turkish nationals who went to Canada after earthquakes struck Turkey in 2023 are now facing the prospect of returning home after temporary immigration measures introduced by Ottawa expired, according to Turkish media reports.
Approximately 9,000 Turkish citizens who went to Canada following the February 6, 2023, earthquakes could be required to return after temporary immigration measures adopted by Ottawa expired, the Yeniçağ newspaper reported.
The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck 11 provinces in southern and southeastern Turkey, killing 53,537 people, injuring more than 107,000 and leaving millions homeless as thousands of buildings collapsed.
The earthquakes also killed more than 6,000 people in neighboring Syria.
Canada introduced special immigration measures after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, allowing affected individuals to extend their temporary stay, apply for work permits or pursue immigration more easily.
However, those measures were designed to be temporary. Canadian authorities ended the special provisions in early 2024, meaning applicants who do not qualify under standard immigration rules must now return to their home countries.
According to the Yeniçağ report, thousands of Turkish citizens who traveled to Canada under the earthquake-related visa program now face the prospect of deportation or being required to leave the country as their temporary status expires.
The report said many of the individuals had hoped to remain in Canada longer due to the continuing impact of the earthquakes on their lives in Turkey.
Community advocates and immigration experts have called on Canadian authorities to provide a clearer pathway for earthquake survivors to remain in the country, saying that many victims are still struggling to rebuild their lives after the disaster.
Many earthquake survivors remain in temporary housing in Turkey nearly three years after the disaster. According to official figures, 360,455 people were still living in container housing as of January 26.
Following the 2023 earthquakes, Canada prioritized immigration applications from Turkish and Syrian nationals and allowed temporary residents from the affected countries to extend their status, work or study in Canada.
But Canadian officials have repeatedly emphasized that the measures were intended as short-term humanitarian support rather than a permanent immigration pathway.
The February 6, 2023, earthquakes, centered near Kahramanmaraş, devastated a wide belt of the country’s south and southeast, triggering one of the largest internal displacement crises in modern Turkish history.
More than 39,000 buildings collapsed in the first days after the earthquakes, and some 518,000 housing units were destroyed or heavily damaged in the 11 provinces. The devastation left more than 2 million people in urgent need of shelter and facing long-term displacement.