Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleIranian men who did compulsory military service, some of them assigned to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), are pressing Ottawa for clearer rules. Many received federal letters warning they may be barred from staying in Canada.
The campaign has grown since August. That was when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent procedural fairness letters to applicants, many of them seeking permanent residence. The letters said they could be found inadmissible on security grounds.
How the issue started
On June 19, 2024, the federal government listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. Public Safety Canada said at the time that thousands of senior Iranian officials, including top IRGC members, are inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Iranian men must do military service, and some are assigned to the IRGC without choosing it. Former conscripts say that past service is now showing up in their immigration files.
CBC News reported that it reviewed about 50 letters dated Aug. 6, all with the same wording, and that more than 400 families are affected. Applicants were given 30 days to respond. Toronto lawyer Lorne Waldman told The Canadian Press he had heard of more than 500 such letters.
What advocates want
On Sept. 22, former conscripts and supporters held a news conference and rally on Parliament Hill. Earlier protests took place in Montreal and other cities.
Ardeshir Zarezadeh, president of the International Centre for Human Rights, said “those conscripts never intended to serve in IRGC.” Advocates want the government to publish guidance separating forced service from voluntary membership. They also want each case assessed on its own facts.
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis has pointed to a private member’s bill he introduced in 2023. It would have exempted conscripts who could show they left after mandatory service and took no part in terrorism or rights abuses. The bill did not advance.
Toronto lawyer and activist Kaveh Shahrooz called the letters “careless and negligent,” according to CBC. Families describe years of waiting for permanent residence. Some say they cannot go back to Iran because they have opposed the regime publicly.
CBC also reported that the United Kingdom and Australia have published guidance that treats involuntary conscripts differently from supporting members.
The government’s position
IRCC says it has not adopted a blanket approach. It said in statements that compulsory service alone “does not necessarily result in inadmissibility.”
The department says the letters are not final decisions. Spokesperson Mary Rose Sabater said they give applicants a chance to respond before a decision is made. She added that IRCC cannot disclose details of its screening.
The government says the IRGC listing aims to keep people tied to the Iranian regime out of Canada. As of July 6, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency had found 48 people inadmissible on the basis of IRGC membership, Global News reported.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab has not issued public guidance on conscripts. Advocates continue to call on her to do so.
Why it matters
Canada is home to a large Iranian community, including in Metro Vancouver. For families already settled here, the outcome could decide whether they can stay.
Anyone who receives a procedural fairness letter must reply within the deadline it sets. Lawyers advise getting legal help before responding.
Sources: CBC News, The Canadian Press, Global News, Public Safety Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
