Community sponsors: About the process

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 1 year.

Community sponsors can only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either

• the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or
• the government of the country (foreign state) where the refugee lives

The principal applicant must already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body (the UNHCR or foreign state) has recognized the principal applicant as a refugee.

You must include the proof of refugee status with your sponsorship application.

Know your responsibilities as a sponsor

Make sure you know the responsibilities you must meet as a sponsor. We assess and monitor sponsorship groups regularly to make sure you’re fully supporting the refugees you’re sponsoring. This includes occasionally checking in with the refugees you’re sponsoring.