Refugee Protection

Who can sponsor refugees?

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You can’t sponsor a refugee on your own. You must be part of one of the following groups in Canada:

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• Sponsorship agreement holders (SAH) sign agreements with the Government of Canada to help support refugees when they come to Canada

  • Constituent Groups are groups who work with SAHs to sponsor refugees under the SAH’s agreement

• Groups of Five are groups of 5 or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who sponsor refugees to settle in their communities

• Community Sponsors are organizations, associations or corporations that sponsor refugees

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Sponsor a refugee

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The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program lets private groups sponsor eligible refugees abroad. As the private sponsor, you’ll support a refugee for the sponsorship period, usually up to 1 year. The support you provide will include

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• Start-up costs, such as furniture and clothing

• On-going monthly costs for basic necessities, including housing, food, and public transportation

• Supporting refugees socially and emotionally

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Sponsor a refugee with special needs

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The Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Program helps your group sponsor refugees with special needs

Only SAHs and their Constituent Groups are eligible to sponsor through the JAS program:

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• Sponsors must support refugees for up to 24 months

• The Government of Canada provides financial assistance

 

Sponsor a refugee you know

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You can sponsor a specific refugee or refugee family. The person your group wants to sponsor must be eligible under the PSR program.

If you choose to sponsor a refugee you know

• The processing time may be longer than if you sponsor a refugee we’ve already reviewed

• You won’t get financial assistance from the Government of Canada

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To speak with a Canadian immigration lawyer about Refugee Protection book your consultation today.