Eligibility Quiz
Are you currently outside of Canada?
Requirements
To qualify for resettlement, you must meet the criteria for one of two specific legal classes and be referred by an authorized body.
1. Convention Refugee Abroad Class
You may qualify under this class if you meet the following three criteria:
- Location: You are currently outside your home country or the country where you normally live.
- Persecution: You have a well-founded fear of persecution based on your race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group (such as gender or sexual orientation).
- No Solution: You do not have any other stable option for protection, such as an offer of resettlement from another country or the ability to safely integrate into the country where you are currently staying.
2. Country of Asylum Class
This class is for individuals who may not meet the strict definition of a "Convention Refugee" but still require protection. You may qualify if:
- Location: You are outside your home country or the country where you normally live.
- Hardship: You have been seriously and personally affected by civil war, armed conflict, or a persistent and massive violation of human rights.
- Support: You are either self-supporting or are being sponsored by a private group in Canada.
Referral and Sponsorship Streams
You cannot "self-refer." You must be processed through one of these streams:
- Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR): Referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or another designated referral organization. The Canadian government provides initial financial support.
- Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR): Sponsored by a group of Canadians or a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). Note: A temporary pause is currently in effect for the Group of Five and Community Sponsor streams until December 31, 2026.
- Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR): A hybrid where the UNHCR refers the case, but a private sponsor provides six months of financial support.
Disqualifiers
You will be denied entry if you are found to be a security risk, have a history of serious criminality, or have a stable alternative for protection. While most immigrants are screened for "excessive demand" on the healthcare system, refugees are generally exempt from this specific health requirement.
Conditions & Warnings
A temporary pause is in effect for Group of Five and Community Sponsor streams until December 31, 2026.
This is a referral-based pathway; you cannot apply directly to the Canadian government without a referral from UNHCR or a private sponsor.
Failure to declare any family member on the initial application will permanently bar them from being sponsored later under the One-Year Window or family class.
Qualifications
No language proficiency is required for the initial resettlement application.
Fees
There are no government processing fees for refugee resettlement. Travel and medical costs may be covered by an interest-bearing Immigration Loan that must be repaid.