OTTAWA, Canada (CMC) –The Government of Canada has given nationals of Haiti and Zimbabwe an additional six months to apply for permanent residence.

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum, and Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on Friday said “certain nationals” of both countries have been given the option “without risk of removal from Canada.”

“This measure gives those who have not applied for permanent residence in Canada, based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, a further opportunity to do so,” the Canadian Government statement said.

It said the extension is in addition to the six months that were already given to affected nationals following the lifting of the temporary suspension of removals (TSR) to Haiti and Zimbabwe on December 1, 2014.

In support of this reinstated measure, the statement said the Canada Border Services Agency “will again defer any removals pending a final decision on the applications.

“Affected Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals will have the chance to continue to build their lives in Canada.We encourage all Haitians and Zimbabweans in Canada who want to make this country their permanent home to apply for permanent residentstatus,” McCallum said.

“This is why we have reinstated these special immigration measures.”

Goodale said “the special measures being extended today,in a safe and secure manner, support Canada’s rich humanitarian tradition, andwill give more opportunities for Haitians and Zimbabweans to build successfullives in Canada.”

On December 1, 2014, the Government of Canada lifted the TSR for both countries.

Prior to the lifting, Canada said a TSR had been in place for Haiti since 2004 and for Zimbabwe since 2002.

When the TSR was lifted, the government said close to 2,200 people applied for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

The Canadian Government said about 1,000 additional Haitians and Zimbabweans “could benefit from having the special measures reinstated.”