Canada’s immigration program upholds Canada’s international and humanitarian commitments by offering protection to refugees and to vulnerable persons, and by responding to significant humanitarian crises. Canada helps those in need through our asylum and resettlement programs. ​ ​

Streams of refugee protection: ​​

Apply as a Refugee Overseas

• Must be referred by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR),

• A designated referral organization, or

• A private sponsorship group;

• Cannot apply directly to us as a refugee.​

Asylum claims made in Canada​

• For people making refugee protection claims from within Canada;

• Individuals can make an asylum claim at a port of entry, at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) inland office or an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) inland office;

• Not everyone is eligible to seek asylum. ​

Certain persons facing removal from Canada may apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) if they are subject to a removal order. ​ ​​