Refugee

Seek Shelter in Canada as a Refugee

A refugee is someone who’s escaped their home country due to major human rights violations and persecution there, is unable to return, and requires protection.

To help address this requirement, Canada offers two refugee protection programs:

  • In-Canada Asylum Program: for those seeking refugee protection from within Canada.
  • Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program: for the individuals seeking refuge from outside Canada.
Who Qualifies as A Refugee in Canada?

Foreign nationals who are afraid of persecution, are in grave danger, and cannot find safety in their home country frequently seek shelter in Canada. Refugees are able to remain in Canada, petition for permanent residence status, and eventually become Canadian citizens.

The Immigration and Refugee Board’s (IRB) Refugee Protection Division is an impartial tribunal that will decide whether the applicant will be granted refugee status. There are two sorts if refugees, one being the “Persons in Need of Protection” and the other being the “Convention Refugees”. Those in refugee-like situations who do not fall into one of these categories may nonetheless be eligible for protection under the Country of Asylum Class.

Persons in Need of Protection

A Person in Need of Protection is an individual who, if returned to their home country or the country where they normally live, would be personally forced to endure to: 

  • Torture
  • Life risk
  • A risk of cruel and abnormal treatment or punishment.
Convention Refugee

These are people who are residing outside their home country because they are afraid of persecution and are unable to return because of this fear. Persecution fears must be well-founded and based on their:

  • Ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Nationality
  • Political beliefs
  • Social group membership
Country of Asylum Class

People who are outside of Canada and in refugee-like situations but do not qualify as Convention Refugees are placed in the Country of Asylum Class. An Immigration Officer can classify someone as a member of the Country of Asylum Class if they judge that a person has been, and continues to be,

  • Substantially and directly impacted by civil war.
  • Armed conflict.
  • Extreme violation of human rights.