Refugee resettlement in Canada

Overview

Refugee resettlement in Canada

Refugee resettlement is for eligible people outside Canada who are referred by UNHCR or another designated organization, or identified through an eligible private sponsorship process. A person cannot simply self-apply for government-assisted resettlement.

Resettlement begins outside Canada

Government-assisted refugees are normally referred by UNHCR or another designated referral organization. Registering with UNHCR or a host state does not guarantee referral to Canada.

Private sponsorship lets eligible Canadian groups support refugees they identify, subject to intake rules, refugee-status evidence and sponsor eligibility. Some new community-sponsor intake is currently paused except for specified blended cases.

The three streams provide different support

Government-assisted refugees receive federal resettlement assistance and services after arrival. Privately sponsored refugees normally receive financial and settlement support from their sponsors, usually for one year.

The Blended Visa Office-Referred program matches referred refugees with private sponsors and divides income support between government and the sponsor while the sponsor provides settlement help.

Eligibility and admissibility are still assessed

Applicants must meet the applicable refugee-class definition, be outside the country of nationality or habitual residence as required and complete security, criminality and medical screening.

Identity and family composition require careful documentation, especially where displacement has made records unavailable. Explain gaps honestly and use available civil, UNHCR and other evidence.

Resettlement is not an in-Canada claim

A person already in Canada who fears return normally looks at the in-Canada refugee-claim system, with its own eligibility bars, deadlines and hearing process.

Resettled refugees become permanent residents and protected persons on arrival. Asylum claimants do not become permanent residents merely by filing a claim.