Canada has extended special permits that allow humanitarian groups and Syrian diaspora organizations to work with sanctioned Syrian banks for another six months, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced, according to a Global Affairs Canada press release. The General Permit, first issued in March 2025, lets Canadians and organizations in Canada make transactions with institutions like Syria’s Central Bank that would normally be banned under Canada’s economic sanctions. The move comes as Syria navigates a critical political transition after decades of Assad regime rule.
Most Syrians now live in poverty after 13 years of civil war and decades of oppression under the former government. Millions need humanitarian help, but Canada’s sanctions on 225 Syrian individuals and 56 entities—including senior Assad regime officials and state-linked organizations—have made it difficult for aid groups to operate. The permit creates a legal pathway for relief work while keeping pressure on those responsible for Syria’s suffering.
The extension supports Canada’s broader commitment to Syria’s democratic transition and helps ensure Syrian people can “live with dignity and security,” Anand said. Canada has poured more than $4.7 billion into Syria and neighboring refugee-hosting countries since 2016, while resettling over 100,000 Syrian refugees since 2015. The country also maintains legal proceedings against Syria at the International Court of Justice for torture and cruel treatment of its citizens.
The six-month extension gives humanitarian organizations, nonprofits, and Syrian community groups more time to plan and execute aid programs during this pivotal moment in Syria’s history.
