Permanent residence for protected persons in Canada
Official name: Application for Permanent Residence from within Canada: Protected Persons and Convention Refugees (IMM 5205)
People in Canada whom the Immigration and Refugee Board found to be a Convention refugee or person in need of protection, or whose Pre-Removal Risk Assessment was approved, can apply for permanent residence from inside Canada. Family members in Canada and abroad are listed on the same application; those abroad are processed by a visa office. Protected persons pay the processing fee but not the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. IRCC is processing up to 115,000 extra applications from protected persons outside Quebec in 2026 and 2027.
3 entry rules for Canada based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
If you're not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you've been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, you can't enter Canada, board a flight to Canada or connect through a Canadian airport, unless you fall under an exemption.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Border measures for travellers entering Canada (PHAC, page date 2026-10-08) New Temporary Border Measures in Response to the Ebola Disease Outbreak (PHAC, 19 Jul 2026) Government of Canada extends temporary border measures in response to Ebola disease outbreak (PHAC, Aug 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Quarantine after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're allowed into Canada after being in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you'll get a health check on arrival and must quarantine for 21 days, report to public health within 48 hours and check your temperature every day.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Border measures for travellers entering Canada (PHAC) Government of Canada introduces temporary border measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak (PHAC, 26 May 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Visa applications paused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan
If the last country you lived in, as stated on your application, is DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, Canada has suspended visitor visas, eTAs and permanent resident visas and paused new decisions. This depends on where you live, not your nationality.
In force until November 27, 2026
Ebola disease: Temporary measures (IRCC, page date 2026-09-28) Government of Canada introduces temporary border measures (PHAC, 26 May 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
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%.
Living
1
Happiness
#24 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Protected persons in Canada (positive IRB refugee decision or approved PRRA) and protected temporary residents, with their spouse or partner and dependent children in Canada or abroad.
Eligibility
Protected person status
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe Immigration and Refugee Board found the person to be a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection, or IRCC approved their Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. Protected temporary residents (admitted on a temporary resident permit after a visa office found them in urgent need of protection) also use this application.
Not settled elsewhere
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe application cannot be made by someone who is a Convention refugee in another country where they can live permanently, a citizen, national or permanent resident of another such country, or already a permanent resident of Canada.
When to apply
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou can apply any time after IRB or IRCC notifies you of your status; Designated Foreign Nationals generally wait longer.
Waiting period for Designated Foreign Nationals
- Generallyfrom final decision on claim or PRRA
- 5 years
- Up tofrom final decision
- 6 years
- No deadline is stated for applying
Official wording
No deadline is stated: the person can apply any time after the IRB or IRCC notifies them of their status. People named as Designated Foreign Nationals must generally wait five years (up to six) from the final decision on their claim or PRRA; earlier applications are returned.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirement
- Document checklist
- Fees
The full requirements are for members
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- 4 more requirements
- 8 documents
- 4 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
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