Refugee Claim in Canada
When you make a refugee claim in Canada, you are asking to stay because returning home would put you at risk of harm. Canada then decides whether you need protection. If the answer is no, you must leave the country.
Who Can Get Refugee Protection in Canada?
There are two groups of people who may receive protection in Canada. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, the body that decides refugee claims, sets out both groups on its refugee protection application page.
The first group is Convention refugees: people who fear going back to their country because they would be harmed there for certain reasons. One reason is belonging to a social group defined by something about you that you cannot change, such as your gender or sexual orientation.
The second group covers people who would face serious danger back home, for example because they fear torture.
If you want the full legal definitions, the board's December 2020 guide on how courts have read these two terms goes into much more detail.
Can You Ask Canada to Bring You Here From Another Country?
No, you cannot ask to be resettled in Canada as a refugee on your own. Someone must refer you first.
The government also offers support for resettled refugees who need help with travel and settling in.
Keep Your Contact Details Current
The board has to be able to reach you with your hearing date and other important information. That is why you have to keep your contact details current with the board at all times.
If your contact details change, tell the board, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
How the Board Looks at a Claim
For more legal detail, the board publishes guides on refugee protection, credibility and evidence.
| Guide | Date |
|---|---|
| How the courts read the terms "Convention refugee" and "person in need of protection" | December 2020 |
| How the board judges whether claimants are believable | December 2020 |
| Guide for representatives appointed to help claimants | July 2021 |
| Handbook for the Refugee Appeal Division | December 2024 |
| How the board weighs evidence | December 2025 |
If Your Claim Is Turned Down
If Canada decides you do not need protection, you will have to leave the country. The government has a page on what to do after a refusal: the steps to take, the forms you need, and where to find legal help.
If Canada is removing you, check whether you can get a pre-removal risk assessment.
Helping Refugees Come to Canada Through Sponsorship
You can help refugees settle in Canada by sponsoring them. When you sponsor someone, you support them with money and care for a full year.
The government lists sponsorship options that include organizations and groups of at least five Canadian citizens or permanent residents:
- Becoming part of an organization seeking a deal with the government that lets it sponsor a set number of refugees each year
- Becoming part of a group of five or more citizens or permanent residents of Canada who wish to sponsor refugees to settle in your community