Refugees

Refugees

The Canadian refugee system consists of two main components

Overview of the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program

Canada resettles refugees who have left their homes and may have lived in refugee camps for extended periods of time

Refugees are identified for resettlement by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and private sponsors

Direct applications to Canada for resettlement are not accepted

Processing time for refugee cases is needed

Private sponsors in Canada play a significant role in resettling refugees, including Sponsorship Agreement Holders, Groups of Five, and Community Sponsors

The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program matches refugees identified by the UNHCR with private sponsors in Canada

Screening of resettlement cases is done to ensure security, health, and criminal clearance

Screening is carried out by the government with the help of security partners to ensure swift processing

In-Canada Asylum Program

The In-Canada Asylum Program offers refuge to individuals within Canada who fear persecution or mistreatment in their home country.

Eligibility for seeking asylum is based on the presence of a well-founded fear of persecution or risk of torture or inhuman punishment.

Some individuals may not be eligible for asylum, such as those with a history of serious criminal offenses or previous denied refugee claims in Canada.