The Basis of Claim (BOC) form (form RPD/SPR 0201) is the document through which a refugee protection claimant presents the details of their claim to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). It contains the claimant's identity information, travel history, and — critically — a written narrative explaining why they are seeking refugee protection and why they fear returning to their country of nationality or habitual residence.

The BOC must be truthful and complete. It forms the factual foundation of the claim and is used by the RPD member at the hearing to assess credibility and the merits of the protection claim.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), s 100(4) — requirement to provide information to support a claim as directed
• Refugee Protection Division Rules, SOR/2012-256, rule 7 — the BOC filing requirement, deadlines, and consequences of late filing
• IRB: Basis of Claim form (RPD/SPR 0201) — irb-cisr.gc.ca/boc-form
• IRB: Claimant's Guide — irb-cisr.gc.ca/claimants-guide
• IRCC: Applying for refugee protection from within Canada — canada.ca/refugee-protection-inland

Purpose of the BOC form

The BOC form serves as the claimant's formal written submission to the RPD. It requires the claimant to provide:

• Personal and identity information: name, date of birth, citizenship(s), and identity documents held
• Family information: details of family members, including those not included in the claim
• Travel history: how the claimant travelled to Canada, including countries transited, dates, and any documents used
• Narrative: a written account (in the claimant's own words) explaining the specific incidents, fear of persecution, or risk of torture that form the basis of the claim — who harmed or threatened the claimant, why, and why state protection is not available in the country of origin

Each person claiming refugee protection must file their own BOC form — including each adult family member. A child's BOC form may be completed by a parent or guardian on the child's behalf.

Filing deadlines

The deadline for filing the BOC depends on where and how the claim was made:

• Port of entry claims (made to the Canada Border Services Agency — CBSA — at a border crossing, airport, or marine port): The completed BOC must be provided to the RPD no later than 15 calendar days after the date the CBSA or IRCC referred the claim to the RPD. This is not 15 days from arrival — it is 15 days from the referral date, which may be a later date. The referral date is stated in the claim documentation.
• Inland claims (made at an IRCC office after already being in Canada): The completed BOC must be submitted on the day of the eligibility interview at the IRCC office. The claim is typically referred to the RPD at that same appointment.

Consequences of missing the deadline

If the RPD does not receive a completed BOC by the applicable deadline, the RPD will schedule an abandonment hearing. For port of entry claims, this hearing must be held no later than five working days after the filing deadline. At the abandonment hearing, the claimant must explain to the RPD why the BOC was not filed on time and why the claim should not be declared abandoned. If the RPD declares the claim abandoned, the claimant loses their protection claim and may become subject to removal.

Amending the BOC

A BOC can be amended before or during the hearing if the claimant needs to correct, add to, or clarify information. If represented by counsel, amendments should be communicated to the RPD and the Minister's counsel in advance of the hearing in accordance with the RPD Rules. The RPD member may ask about any changes made between the original filing and the hearing date.

Preparing the narrative

The narrative section of the BOC is the most important part of the form. It should be written in the first person and describe specific incidents — including dates, places, and persons involved — rather than general statements about country conditions. While the form itself does not impose a length limit, the narrative must be sufficiently detailed to allow the RPD member to assess the claim. Claimants are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from a refugee lawyer, accredited representative, or legal aid service when completing the BOC. For the current form and the Claimant's Guide, refer to irb-cisr.gc.ca.

Online filing

In some cases, claimants may be directed to complete their BOC form online through the IRCC portal or the IRB's electronic system. For details on the online filing process, refer to the IRCC online claim page and Guide 0174 for inland claims submitted through the IRCC portal.

The BOC is a sworn statement — claimants sign a declaration that the information provided is complete, true, and correct. Providing false or misleading information in the BOC is a serious matter that can affect credibility findings at the hearing and may have other legal consequences.

The BOC narrative is not the only evidence before the RPD — claimants can and should also submit country condition documentation, identity documents, and any other supporting evidence. However, the narrative is the primary vehicle through which the claimant explains their personal circumstances and fear, and a vague or incomplete narrative is a common reason for adverse credibility findings. The current BOC form (RPD/SPR 0201) and the Claimant's Guide are available at irb-cisr.gc.ca.