Pathway explorer
Explore ways to move abroad
Choose a country or tell us what you want to do. You can browse before you’ve decided where to go.
- 1195
- Pathways
- 222
- Countries with pathway guides
- 218
- Destinations with visit rules
- 3654
- Official sources
Pathway explorer
Choose a country or tell us what you want to do. You can browse before you’ve decided where to go.
Pathway type
Create a free account and fill in your profile once to preview up to three personalised pathways.
Our team and AI research tools re-check every pathway against official government sources and update it when rules change. Each shows its sources and last check, and stays “not yet reviewed” until a licensed legal advisor signs it off.
Members see every country we’ve researched, with full requirements, fees, steps and their match score on each. Create an account to start, then subscribe to unlock them all.
Andorra
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
United Arab Emirates
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Afghanistan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Antigua & Barbuda
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Citizenship
Anguilla
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Albania
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs
Armenia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Angola
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits
Argentina
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
American Samoa
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Austria
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Australia
19 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Aruba
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Azerbaijan
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Bosnia & Herzegovina
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Barbados
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Bangladesh
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs
Belgium
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Burkina Faso
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Bulgaria
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Bahrain
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family
Burundi
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Permanent residence, Status in-country
Benin
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Bermuda
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
Brunei
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Bolivia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Caribbean Netherlands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Brazil
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Bahamas
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Bhutan
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Family
Botswana
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Belarus
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Belize
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
DR Congo
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Central African Republic
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Republic of the Congo
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
Switzerland
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Côte d’Ivoire
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Cook Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Permanent residence
Chile
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Cameroon
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family
China
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family
Colombia
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Costa Rica
11 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Cuba
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family
Cape Verde
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Curaçao
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Cyprus
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Czechia
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Germany
12 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Djibouti
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
Denmark
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Dominica
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Citizenship
Dominican Republic
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs
Algeria
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Ecuador
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Estonia
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Egypt
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Citizenship
Eritrea
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Spain
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Ethiopia
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Finland
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Fiji
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Falkland Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Micronesia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Faroe Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
France
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Gabon
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Grenada
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Citizenship
Georgia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Guernsey
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Ghana
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Gibraltar
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Investors & entrepreneurs
Greenland
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Family
Gambia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Guinea
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Equatorial Guinea
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Greece
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Guatemala
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Guinea-Bissau
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Guyana
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Hong Kong SAR China
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Honduras
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Croatia
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Haiti
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Hungary
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Indonesia
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Investors & entrepreneurs
Ireland
12 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Israel
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Citizenship
Isle of Man
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
India
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence
Iraq
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Iran
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Iceland
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Italy
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Jersey
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Jamaica
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Jordan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Japan
12 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Kenya
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Kyrgyzstan
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs
Cambodia
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Kiribati
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Comoros
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Investors & entrepreneurs
St. Kitts & Nevis
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Citizenship
North Korea
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
South Korea
10 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Kuwait
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs
Cayman Islands
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
Kazakhstan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Laos
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Lebanon
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
St. Lucia
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Citizenship
Liechtenstein
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Sri Lanka
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Liberia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Lesotho
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs
Lithuania
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Luxembourg
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Latvia
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Libya
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Morocco
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family
Monaco
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Moldova
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country
Montenegro
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Investors & entrepreneurs
Madagascar
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Marshall Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
North Macedonia
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Mali
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
Myanmar (Burma)
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Investors & entrepreneurs
Mongolia
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Macao SAR China
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Skilled migration
Mauritania
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Montserrat
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Malta
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Mauritius
10 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Maldives
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Malawi
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits
Mexico
12 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Malaysia
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs
Mozambique
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Namibia
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Citizenship
New Caledonia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Niger
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Nigeria
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Nicaragua
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
Netherlands
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Norway
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Nepal
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Nauru
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Niue
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
New Zealand
15 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Oman
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Status in-country
Panama
11 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Peru
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
French Polynesia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Papua New Guinea
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Philippines
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Pakistan
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Poland
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Palestinian Territories
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Portugal
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Palau
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Paraguay
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Qatar
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country
Romania
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Serbia
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits
Russia
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits
Rwanda
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Saudi Arabia
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country
Solomon Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Seychelles
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Sudan
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Sweden
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Singapore
9 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
St. Helena
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Slovenia
7 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Slovakia
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Sierra Leone
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
San Marino
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Senegal
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits
Somalia
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Suriname
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
South Sudan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
São Tomé & Príncipe
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
El Salvador
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
Sint Maarten
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Syria
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
Eswatini
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Turks & Caicos Islands
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Chad
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Togo
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country
Thailand
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs
Tajikistan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Investors & entrepreneurs
Timor-Leste
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Turkmenistan
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Tunisia
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Tonga
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
Türkiye
8 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Citizenship
Trinidad & Tobago
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Citizenship
Tuvalu
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Family
Taiwan
5 pathways · Visit & tourism, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Tanzania
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Ukraine
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Investors & entrepreneurs
Uganda
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Uruguay
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Uzbekistan
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Vatican City
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Status in-country, Citizenship
St. Vincent & Grenadines
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
Venezuela
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country
British Virgin Islands
3 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Permanent residence
Vietnam
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Vanuatu
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits, Status in-country, Citizenship
Samoa
2 pathways · Visit & tourism, Work permits
Kosovo
6 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Citizenship
Yemen
1 pathway · Visit & tourism
South Africa
10 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship
Zambia
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Zimbabwe
4 pathways · Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Family
Check visa rules for your passport and destination in seconds.
People who have left their country and cannot return because they fear persecution can claim asylum with the Home Office. A claim is made at the UK border or, once inside the UK, at an asylum registration appointment. If a claim succeeds, the Home Office grants refugee status or humanitarian protection. For claims made on or after 2 March 2026, permission to stay is for at least 30 months, renewable. On 2 November 2026 the government confirmed longer settlement waits for refugees granted protection in the UK, but the new rules have no start date yet.
Ukrainians, and immediate family members of Ukrainians, who lived in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 Jan 2022 can come to the UK for up to 18 months if a UK sponsor offers them a home for at least 6 months. It is free, with no health surcharge or biometric fee. The scheme was open on GOV.UK in 2026 (page updated 2 Jul 2026). People already in the UK under the Ukraine schemes can extend through the Ukraine Permission Extension: a first grant of 18 months, then a further 24 months, applied for within 90 days of expiry. The Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme are closed to most new applicants.
The UK resettles a small, capped number of refugees from abroad. People cannot apply themselves: UNHCR and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) identify and refer them. The Home Secretary reopened the UK Resettlement Scheme for new referrals on 28 Sep 2026, with about 1 in 4 referrals expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees. New community sponsorship routes are being set up: charities could apply to become lead sponsors from 29 Oct 2026, with first arrivals through Named Community Sponsorship and Refugee Study expected in autumn 2027, and a refugee work route opening for applications in spring 2027. A cap will be set each year; arrivals are expected to start in the hundreds.
22 more pathways for members
Including Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship. Subscribe to see every route with full requirements and your score.
See Premium plansA permanent residence program for skilled workers and recent graduates of Atlantic Canadian schools who have a job offer from an employer designated by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The province must endorse the candidate before they apply to IRCC. IRCC's page lists the program as open. Candidates can apply from abroad or from inside Canada as temporary residents.
A bridging open work permit lets some workers already in Canada keep working while IRCC processes their permanent residence application. It is for principal applicants under Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades), the Provincial Nominee Program, the Quebec skilled worker class and a few older pilots, who hold or have maintained worker status and whose application has passed IRCC's completeness check (or eligibility assessment for non-Express Entry PNP). Submitting an Express Entry profile is not enough; a full PR application must be submitted.
A study permit lets a foreign national study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. Most applicants need a letter of acceptance from a DLI, and most also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for Quebec. Applicants must show they can pay tuition, living costs and return travel. Most people apply online before travelling.
People in Canada, or at a port of entry, who would be unsafe if returned can make a refugee protection claim. IRCC or CBSA first decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred; eligible claims are decided by the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) at a hearing. People found to be protected persons can apply for permanent residence.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians can help resettle a refugee from abroad, but not on their own: they sponsor through a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (an organisation with an agreement with IRCC), a Group of Five, or a Community Sponsor. Only the Sponsorship Agreement Holder stream is open: IRCC has not accepted new Group of Five or Community Sponsor applications since 29 November 2024, and there is no 2026 intake for organisations wanting to become new agreement holders. Sponsors commit to about 1 year of financial and settlement support, using IRCC's cost table.
A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment is a last check, before someone is removed from Canada, of whether they would face persecution, torture, a risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment if sent back. You cannot ask for one yourself: a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer tells you if you can apply. In most cases you must wait 12 months after your last negative decision. If the assessment is positive, most people become protected persons and can apply for permanent residence.
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.
34 more pathways for members
Including Visit & tourism, Work permits, Skilled migration, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship. Subscribe to see every route with full requirements and your score.
See Premium plansPeople in the United States who fear persecution in their home country can ask for asylum using Form I-589. An affirmative claim is filed with USCIS and decided after a non-adversarial interview with an asylum officer. A defensive claim is made before an immigration judge (EOIR) during removal proceedings. A grant lets the person stay, work, bring a spouse and children, and apply for a green card after one year.
USCIS can let a person outside the US enter temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, even if they do not qualify for a visa. Anyone can file Form I-131 for themselves or someone else, with Form I-134 from a financial supporter. Each request is decided case by case, parole is usually for no more than 1 year, and it is not an immigration status and does not lead to a green card on its own. USCIS warns of an extremely high number of requests and delays. Country-specific parole programmes such as CHNV are not part of this record.
USRAP resettles refugees who are outside the United States and cannot apply for it themselves: they must be referred or fall into a designated group. Since 27 Jan 2025, Executive Order 14163 has suspended refugee entry through USRAP, except where the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security jointly decide an admission is in the national interest. The FY2027 ceiling (Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, signed 25 Sep 2026) is up to 17,500 refugees, to be allocated primarily among Afrikaners from South Africa. For most refugees elsewhere in the world, the program is not open.
29 more pathways for members
Including Visit & tourism, Study, Work permits, Permanent residence, Family, Status in-country, Investors & entrepreneurs, Citizenship. Subscribe to see every route with full requirements and your score.
See Premium plans