Refugee through groups of five, community sponsors and SAH applications
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program is a pioneering Canadian refugee resettlement program.
Through the PSR program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can engage in the resettlement of refugees from abroad. As members of organizations, associations and groups, citizens and residents can sponsor refugees overseas as any of following:
The PSR program does not rely on public resources, but rather taps the energy and funds of faith communities, ethnic groups, families and other benevolent associations. These groups and organizations typically raise funds or use their personal income to provide for and support the sponsored individual or family for their first year in Canada.
They initiate the process by submitting a refugee sponsorship application package to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Their commitment lasts until the end of the sponsorship period, typically 12 months from the date of the sponsored person’s arrival in Canada.
Who is eligible for sponsorship under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program?
To be eligible for sponsorship, a refugee applicant must:
- be outside Canada, and
- meet the definition of one of the refugee classes of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Two classes of refugees are eligible under the program:
- Convention Refugee Abroad Class and
- Country of Asylum Class.
Some community organizations can sponsor refugees to come to Canada.
The organization must agree to give emotional and income support to the refugees for the full sponsorship period. This is usually one year.
Community Sponsors may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state.
The principal applicant MUST already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body has found that a person meets its refugee definition. This authorized body can either be the UNHCR or the government of the country (i.e., foreign state) where the refugee is now living.
You must include the document proving recognized refugee status with the refugee sponsorship application you submit.
Group of Five
A Group of Five (G5) is five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee living abroad to come to Canada.
G5s may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state. The principal applicant MUST already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body has found that an individual meets its refugee definition. This authorized body can either be the UNHCR or the government of the country (i.e., foreign state) where the refugee is now living.
You must include the document proving recognized refugee status with the refugee sponsorship application you submit.
Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs)
They’re often religious, ethnic, community or humanitarian organizations.
SAHs support refugees they sponsor either
- on their own
- by working with other groups or individuals, called “constituent groups” (CGs) or “co-sponsors”
When working with CGs or co-sponsors, SAHs
- decide how the relationship should work and what criteria CGs and co-sponsors need to meet
- must monitor the performance of CGs and co-sponsors and their sponsorship activities
SAHs are ultimately responsible for each refugee sponsored under their agreement.
SAHs have a number of financial and legal responsibilities. They must
- be based in, or have representatives in, the community where they resettle refugees
- oversee all sponsorships under their agreement, even if CGs or co-sponsors are participating
- ensure the refugees they sponsor have what they need to live safely and independently in Canada
- participate in ongoing training to stay up to date on program requirements