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CanadaFamilyLast checked October 30, 2026

One-Year Window: bringing a resettled refugee's family members to Canada

Official name: One-Year Window of Opportunity provision (OYW)

A refugee resettled to Canada can ask IRCC, within one year of arriving as a permanent resident, to process family members who stayed behind: a spouse or partner, dependent children and some dependent grandchildren or stepchildren. Those family members must have been declared on the original application before the refugee left for Canada. There is no fee. After one year, family must use family class sponsorship or a new resettlement application instead.

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Life in Canada

Finance

3

Currency

Canadian Dollar

CAD

Canadian Dollar

Cost of living

90

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

14–33%

Income tax (national)

Federal top rate applies above CAD 258,482 (2026); provinces/territories add their own income tax (roughly 4% to 21% at the top), giving combined top rates of about 44% to 54%.

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.7

#24 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Permanent residents who arrived in Canada as resettled refugees (government-assisted, privately sponsored or blended) and their declared family members still abroad.

Eligibility

  • Within one year of arrivalRefugee in Canada

    IRCC must receive the complete request within one year of the refugee landing in Canada as a permanent resident.

    One year

    One-year deadline

    • A resubmitted application gets a new receipt date.
    • A returned application can miss the deadline.
    Official wording

    The one-year window starts on the day the refugee lands in Canada as a permanent resident; IRCC must receive the complete request within that year. A resubmitted application gets a new receipt date, so a returned application can miss the deadline.

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  • Family declared before departureFamily members

    Family members must have been declared on the refugee's permanent residence application before they left for Canada.

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  • Family member definitionFamily members

    Only a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and certain dependent grandchildren or stepchildren can use this route.

    • They must meet the definition when the original application was submitted.
    • They must keep meeting it until a final decision.
    • Children's ages are locked on the date the original application was received.
    • Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters need their own resettlement application.
    Official wording

    Only a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and certain dependent grandchildren or stepchildren. They must have met the family member definition when the original application was submitted and keep meeting it until a final decision. Dependent children's ages are locked in on the date the original application was received. Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters cannot use this route; they need their own resettlement application.

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SourceGuide 5578, One-Year Window of Opportunitycanada.caChecked Oct 30, 2026

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirement
  • Document checklist
  • Fees

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  • 5 more requirements
  • 6 documents
  • 1 fee
  • 5 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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