Temporary public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Sudanese refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors

Background

An armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan began on April 15, 2023, resulting in thousands of civilians being killed or injured, and millions being forcibly displaced. As of December 2024, over 3.1 million people have fled Sudan due to the conflict. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified the Sudanese refugee population as fifth most in need of resettlement globally.

Canada remains concerned for the well-being of people affected by the conflict in Sudan. In line with Canada’s longstanding humanitarian tradition of offering protection to the world’s most vulnerable, the Government of Canada introduced a number of facilitative immigration measures, including temporary and permanent humanitarian pathways, to support foreign nationals affected by the conflict in Sudan. This public policy will complement these measures by expanding access to resettlement through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program.

Public policy considerations

Under Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors are required to submit a Refugee Status Determination document, issued by either the UNHCR or a foreign state, with their refugee sponsorship application.

Because of the scale of the Sudanese displacement, many Canadians and permanent residents have expressed a desire to help resettle and support Sudanese refugees to Canada. However, these sponsors may be limited in their ability to participate in the resettlement of this cohort as many recently displaced Sudanese refugees face obstacles in obtaining the Refugee Status Determination document in neighbouring nations.

This temporary public policy recognizes the vulnerability of Sudanese refugees who have fled Sudan due to the ongoing conflict and the interest of Canadians and permanent residents to support this population. The public policy will allow the Department to accept up to 160 applications into processing for Sudanese refugees sponsored by Groups of Five or Community Sponsors who do not meet the requirement to have a Refugee Status Determination document as per section 153(1)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations).

I hereby establish that, in light of the foregoing, there are sufficient public policy considerations to justify granting exemptions, pursuant to section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (the Act) and to the requirements of the provisions of the Regulations listed below, for foreign nationals who apply for the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program and meet the conditions (eligibility requirements) set out below.

Conditions (eligibility requirements) applicable to the principal applicant:

Delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the regulations identified below, where a foreign national (principal applicant) meets the following conditions:

• is a national of Sudan; and
• is being sponsored by a sponsor who has not entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Minister (Group of Five or Community Sponsor); and
• has applied for a permanent resident visa as a member of the Convention Refugee Abroad class or the Country of Asylum class in accordance with the application instructions on the Department’s website; and
• does not intend to live in the province of Quebec.

Provision of the Regulations for which an exemption may be granted:

• paragraph 140.2(1)(a) of the Regulations – that the permanent residence application be accompanied by a sponsorship application referred to in paragraph 153(1)(b) by which the foreign national is being sponsored, specifically the requirement in paragraph 153(1)(b) that the sponsor must make a sponsorship application that includes the document issued by the UNHCR or a foreign state certifying the status of the foreign national as a refugee.

Other eligibility and admissibility criteria

Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all other applicable regulatory and legislative eligibility and admissibility requirements not otherwise exempted by this temporary public policy.

Coming into effect and expiration

This temporary public policy takes effect on April 30, 2025 and may be revoked at any time. Eligible applications accepted into processing before this public policy is revoked or expires, will be processed under the temporary public policy.

This public policy expires December 31, 2025 or once 160 applications have been accepted for processing by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, whichever comes first.