Sponsor a refugee (private sponsorship from Canada) - Groups of Five and Community Sponsors paused

Signing authorities and individual co-sponsors must be 18 or older; be a Canadian citizen, a person registered under the Indian Act, or a permanent resident; live in the expected community of settlement (or appoint a representative who does); and not be barred under section 156(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (for example, certain convictions in the past five years, default on court-ordered support, a removal order or citizenship revocation proceeding, or being in prison).

Incorporated organisations that have signed a sponsorship agreement with IRCC. Each has an annual allocation of spaces under a global cap and must have enough spaces for the whole refugee family, including non-accompanying members. Spaces are used when IRCC acknowledges receipt and are not returned if the application is refused. Individuals and groups can sponsor through an existing agreement holder as a constituent group or co-sponsor if the holder authorises them. Applying to become a new agreement holder is closed: IRCC says there won't be a 2026 intake.

Under Ministerial Instructions in effect since 29 November 2024, IRCC does not accept new sponsorship applications from Groups of Five or Community Sponsors. Applications sent after that date are returned unprocessed. Applications received before the pause are still processed in order, and eligible family members can be added to them. One-Year Window applications are not affected. No end date for the pause is published.