Private Sponsorship of Refugees
Overview
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program enables private Canadian groups to sponsor refugees from abroad and provide financial and settlement support for the first year after arrival. Sponsors take on the full financial responsibility that the government would otherwise provide under the GAR program. There are three types of sponsoring groups: Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) (organisations with standing agreements with IRCC), Groups of Five (five or more Canadian citizens/PRs), and Community Sponsors (organisations without SAH agreements). Privately sponsored refugees land in Canada as permanent residents.
Canada's PSR program is internationally recognised as a model for civil society involvement in refugee resettlement. Canada has welcomed privately sponsored refugees since 1979 (Operation Lifeline for Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees). The SAH network includes churches, ethnic organisations, community groups, and dedicated refugee sponsorship organisations.
Eligibility
Refugee eligibility
The refugee must:
- Be a Convention refugee or a person in similar circumstances (PSR eligibility is slightly broader than GAR — the person does not need to be formally registered with UNHCR)
- Be outside their country of nationality or habitual residence
- Need protection and be unable to integrate locally or return safely
- Pass IRCC's admissibility checks (health, security, criminality)
Sponsorship channels
1. Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs)
SAHs have signed multi-year agreements with IRCC authorising them to sponsor refugees. SAHs may act as sponsors themselves or may work with constituent groups (individuals or organisations within their network). SAHs are allocated sponsorship spaces annually by IRCC. Most SAHs are religious or ethno-cultural organisations.
2. Groups of Five
Five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents (all adults, all residing in or near the community where the refugee will be settled) can sponsor a refugee directly. They must demonstrate they have the financial resources and capacity to support the refugee for 1 year and complete the settlement plan.
3. Community Sponsors
An organisation, corporation, or community organisation that does not have a SAH agreement can apply to sponsor a refugee as a Community Sponsor. IRCC assesses the organisation's capacity on an application-by-application basis.
Financial undertaking
The sponsoring group undertakes to provide financial support for the full first year (12 months) of the refugee's arrival, covering all basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, and personal needs at a level comparable to provincial social assistance rates for the community where the refugee will settle.
Selection criteria
Application process
Application process
- The sponsoring group identifies a refugee to sponsor and collects documents (UNHCR referral if available, identity documents)
- The sponsoring group submits an undertaking and sponsorship application to IRCC (through the SAH or directly, depending on the channel)
- IRCC processes the application — the overseas visa office conducts interviews, health, and security screening
- If approved, the refugee is issued an immigrant visa; travel is arranged to Canada
- The sponsoring group meets the refugee at the airport and provides support for the first 12 months
PSR processing times vary significantly by region and source country. Some applications can take 2–4 years from submission to arrival.