Sponsorship agreement holders: How to sponsor a refugee
All SAHs must now complete an organizational assessment
Sponsorship agreement holders (SAHs) must complete and submit an organizational assessment template between September 1 and November 30, 2022. You must submit this template to be able to renew your agreement in 2023. Learn more about this assessment and get the template.
Apply to sponsor a refugee
There are 3 steps to sponsor a refugee after you become a SAH.
- Decide who you want to sponsor
- Apply online using the permanent residence portal
- Submit your application
Step 1. Decide who you want to sponsor
The first step when sponsoring a refugee is to decide who you want to sponsor. When you sponsor a refugee as a SAH, you’re participating in our Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. Read our guide to the PSR program for more details about the program and the refugees you can sponsor through it.
How many refugees you can sponsor
We let SAHs sponsor a certain number of refugees each year. We call this number an allocation. We give every SAH an allocation based on several factors, including
- experience sponsoring and settling refugees
- past performance
If you’re a new SAH
In most cases, we’ll send you your first allocation of spaces the February after you complete the additional training requirements. All new SAHs will be allowed to sponsor 25 people total for the first 2 years of their agreement.
With the PSR program, you can sponsor refugees
- you’ve identified on your own
- who’ve been referred to us by an organization
Sponsor refugees you’ve identified on your own
You may want to sponsor a refugee you already know. They could be
- friends
- members of a family in your community
- refugees identified by an overseas contact
When you choose a refugee like this, we call them “sponsor-referred refugees.”
Sponsor-referred refugees must meet the definition of a refugee under Canada’s refugee and humanitarian resettlement program.
Processing times for sponsor-referred refugees can be longer than for refugees that have been referred to us already.
Sponsor refugees who’ve been referred to us
You may prefer to sponsor refugees who’ve already been identified by a referral organization. You can do this through the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) program, which brings refugees with the greatest need to Canada. It also:
- reduces the financial burden on private sponsors
- prioritizes the most vulnerable refugees through referral organizations
- connects sponsors with refugees we’ve already screened and interviewed, making them ready to travel sooner
Learn how to sponsor a refugee through the BVOR program.
Apply online using the permanent residence portal
Your organization needs to apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal (opens in a new tab) .
The person who starts the online application will be considered the “primary sponsor” in the portal.
Read the instruction guide for details on
- how to complete all the forms for your application
- what documents you need to include
If you’re a paid representative for a sponsor
You can start an application in the representative PR portal (opens in a new tab) for your client. You’ll need to invite them to join your application.
If you’re a paid representative for a refugee
- You need to be invited by the primary sponsor.
- You’ll need to upload the Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB) form.
If you’re an unpaid representative for a refugee
- You’ll need to create a regular account in the Permanent Residence Portal.
- The primary sponsor needs to invite you to join the application.
- You’ll need to upload the Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB) form.
1. Complete your forms and gather your documents
Documents for the sponsor
PDF forms you’ll download and fill out
Forms and documents depend on the SAH’s assigned risk management plan.
Plan A, B and C:
- Sponsorship Undertaking and Settlement Plan – Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) [IMM 5373] (PDF, 1.93 MB)
- Sponsor Assessment [IMM 5492] (PDF, 2.19 MB) if this applies
- for the CG signing authority, the organizational co-sponsor’s signing authority and each co-sponsor
Plan A only:
- Settlement Plan – Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) – Risk Management Plan A [IMM 5440] (PDF, 1.52 MB)
- Complete this form for each sponsorship undertaking. Only submit it if we ask.
Plan C only:
- Financial Profile [IMM 5373B] (PDF, 0.10 MB) for each co-sponsor giving personal income or to the trust account
- Proof of funds: in trust, personal income or both
Additional application forms you might need
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 1.94 MB)
- Fill out if you’re using an immigration representative.
- Appointment of Representative(s) in Expected Community of Settlement [IMM 5956] (PDF, 1.60 MB)
- Fill out if you don’t meet the residency requirements and want to appoint a representative in the community you expect the refugee(s) to settle in.
Supporting documents you need to upload
If you’re the CG Signing Authority, organizational co-sponsor’s Signing Authority, or an individual co-sponsor:
- proof of Canadian citizenship, Indian status or permanent residence status
Documents for the person (refugee) being sponsored
Forms you’ll fill out directly in the portal
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]
PDF forms you’ll download and fill out
Supporting documents you need to upload
- 1 photo of you and each of your family members
- ID documents for you and each of your family members
- any other supporting documents
- Examples include civil documents, diplomas, membership cards and military documents.
If you want to use an immigration representative
If you’re an authorized paid representative, find out how you can create an account and submit applications on behalf of your clients.
If you want to appoint someone to do business with IRCC on your behalf, you must
- submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB) form
- sign it yourself and get your immigration representative to sign it
- upload it with your application
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee, but they can’t
- open a portal account on your behalf
- electronically sign the application for you
- sign in to the portal using your username and password
A representative can fill out forms and submit the application on your behalf through their own account. They can also
- help you prepare the supporting documents you need to upload
- answer questions about the forms
After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed” according to Canada’s immigration law.
If you want to apply on paper
You’ll need to download and print the forms and documents you need. Check the guide for where and how to mail your application.
If you’re having technical issues
If you’re having technical issues applying, contact us using the web form.
- Under type of application/enquiry, choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu
- Upload screenshots from your account that show us
- the page where you’re having problems
- the error message(s) you get
If you need to upload a number of documents, find out how to combine them into 1 document.
Submit your application
Before you submit your application, make sure you:
- answer all questions on the forms
- have the refugee sign the application
- upload all the supporting documents
If you submit an incomplete application, we won’t review it. We’ll send you an email explaining what needs to be added or fixed.
Once you’ve completed and resubmitted your application, we’ll review it.
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