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CanadaAsylum & protectionLast checked October 30, 2026

Refugee resettlement from abroad

government-assisted, privately sponsored or blended · Official name: Resettlement from outside Canada: Convention refugee abroad class and country of asylum class (GAR, PSR, BVOR)

Refugees outside Canada can be resettled to Canada, but they cannot apply on their own: they must be referred by the UNHCR, another designated referral organisation, or a private sponsor. Resettled refugees are supported by the Government of Canada (Government-Assisted Refugees), by a private sponsor (Privately Sponsored Refugees), or by both (Blended Visa Office-Referred). They travel on a permanent resident visa and become permanent residents when they arrive. Since May 2026, IRCC officers may not refuse an application because the person has no exit permit from the host country, but the person must still be able to leave before the visa expires.

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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.

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

Who it’s for

People outside their home country who fear persecution, or who have been seriously and personally affected by civil war, armed conflict or ongoing human rights abuses, and who have been referred to Canada by the UNHCR, a referral organisation or a private sponsor.

Eligibility

  • Referral needed: no direct applications

    • IRCC states that refugees cannot apply directly.
    • A referral must come from the UNHCR, a designated referral organisation, or a private sponsorship group.
    • For the Government-Assisted Refugees program, the person must be registered for refugee status with the UNHCR or the state authorities.

  • Convention refugee abroad class

    The person is outside their home country and cannot return because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group (for example, gender or sexual orientation). They can be sponsored by the Government of Canada, a private group, or both.

  • Country of asylum class

    • The person is outside their home country or country of habitual residence and has been seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict, or has been denied basic human rights on an ongoing basis.
    • They can be privately sponsored, or can show they have enough money to support themselves and their family after arrival.
    • A referral is still required.
SourceHow to be resettled in Canada as a refugeecanada.caChecked Oct 30, 2026

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  • 8 more requirements
  • 7 documents
  • 2 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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Official sources

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