Palestinian student quickly receives French visa while waiting for Canadian approval

OTTAWA — A Palestinian student accepted by the University of Alberta is now preparing to continue his studies in France because he says that country was able to get him out of Gaza to safety — and Canada wasn’t.

Ehab is one of about 70 students from Gaza pursuing study opportunities abroad with the help of the Canadian-based Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk network.

Most of those students are still stuck in Gaza due to border closures, and are unable to assemble the necessary biometrics to get a Canadian student visa.

Ehab is now in Marseille, France, where he says he will begin a masters program in biomedical engineering because the French government helped facilitate his evacuation from Gaza.

He says he submitted his Canadian student visa application in February for the September academic year, while his French visa application was sent in June and was approved on July 10.

The Canadian Press has agreed not to use Ehab’s last name due to security concerns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.