International Organization for Migration

REV-OVS-11

This page contains information on the support that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides through active agreements with IRCC. It also includes the key contacts for each service or program area.

IRCC has agreements with IOM to

• provide pre-departure medical services under the Interim Federal Health Program
• provide pre-departure resettlement support under the Resettlement Assistance Program
• assist with travel using the transportation loans under the Immigration Loans Program
• provide Canadian Orientation Abroad under the Settlement Program

On this page

• Pre-departure medical services
• Pre-departure resettlement services
• Travel booking assistance and transportation loans
• Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA)
• Contacting the International Organization for Migration

Pre-departure medical services

IRCC has a letter of intent signed with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), under the Interim Federal Health Program, to deliver pre-departure medical services to eligible clients who are selected by Canada under the resettlement program, complementary pathways, public policies or other special immigration programs before they leave for Canada. These supports include

• immigration medical examinations
• treatment for medical conditions that would otherwise make refugees inadmissible to Canada for posing a danger to public health, under paragraph 38(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• certain supports (including medical escorts) and devices that refugees with medical conditions need for safe travel to Canada
• immunization
• management of communicable disease outbreaks in refugee camps, transit centres or temporary settlements

For more information

• consult Get medical services before you leave for Canada

Pre-departure resettlement services

IRCC has a grant agreement with IOM under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) to provide pre-departure supports to RAP-eligible clients considered for permanent residence under the resettlement program, complementary pathways, public policies or other special immigration programs. These supports include

• helping clients submit complete and accurate applications to streamline the selection process (filling out forms—for government-assisted refugees only)
• assisting migration officers with the space, logistics and equipment needed to conduct in-person or remote selection interviews
• arranging for interpreters at selection interviews, as required
• arranging for transportation, accommodation and meals to help clients attend biometrics collection, selection interviews and immigration health assessments
• conducting pre-embarkation health checks before clients leave for Canada

Travel booking assistance and transportation loans

IRCC has a memorandum of understanding with IOM under the Immigration Loans Program (ILP) to provide comprehensive assistance for clients to travel to Canada, including

• where operationally feasible, supporting applications for exit permits (and, in some cases, an application for the waiving of exit fees)

  Note: Clients are responsible for any associated fees.

• assembling travel documents, including documents for transit countries and for entry into Canada
• finalizing the ILP transportation loan
• arranging air travel to final destinations in Canada, ensuring the most direct route is taken (as far as operationally feasible), using a Canadian carrier or reliable non-Canadian carrier that has signed an agreement to provide reduced migrant fares
• arranging an operational escort for travel when needed (when pre-approved by IRCC)
• providing support in the countries of departure and transit (if applicable), including additional assistance during travel when unforeseen circumstances are encountered

Clients are responsible for their travel costs to Canada, and have access to an ILP transportation loan for this purpose. IOM charges a per-person fee for their travel booking assistance, and these costs are added to the client’s transportation loan.

For more information

• consult Transportation Loans 

Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA)

IRCC has a contribution agreement with IOM under the Settlement Program to deliver Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) training to COA-eligible clients. The objective of COA training is to provide clients with accurate information and help them develop realistic expectations about their journey to Canada and their life here.

There are 15 permanent COA training sites (many with regional coverage): Türkiye, Lebanon, Israel, Pakistan, Jordan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Egypt, Sudan, Ghana, Uganda, Ecuador, Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia. There are also 3 COA management sites, located in Canada, Switzerland and the Philippines.

The COA Participant Workbook is available in 17 languages, and the COA “O-Canada” mobile application is available in 8 languages. COA training can be delivered

• virtually (sessions of 2 to 3 hours)
• by phone (sessions of 1 to 2 hours) or
• in person (sessions of one half day to 3 days)

The in-person mode of delivery is considered the most beneficial to clients and is therefore the preferred mode of delivery, where operationally feasible. Support services including transportation and accommodation, child care, interpretation, translation and meals are provided to participants when possible. These services facilitate the participation of all COA-eligible family members.

For more information on COA training, including links to the COA Participant Workbook and O-Canada app

• consult Canadian Orientation Abroad or
• email coaoce@iom.int

Contacting the International Organization for Migration

IRCC migration offices are the main points of contact for local IOM offices in coordinating standard activities related to the daily delivery of the resettlement program overseas. New refugee coordinators and migration officers at IRCC migration offices should contact the local IOM office and attend a local COA training session soon after their arrival. Migration offices should also contact local IOM offices to

• request projections of caseloads and activities
• learn about upcoming selection missions
• get help resolving challenges
• report incidents

The Resettlement Operations Division (ROD) of the International Crisis Response Branch is the IOM Ottawa point of contact for IRCC migration offices. Migration offices should contact ROD for IOM coordination support and for any questions or concerns about

• setting up program support in a new location
• planning for the annual allocation of funds and resources to regional offices
• planning for large-scale refugee movements and possible use of charter flights
• persistent or urgent issues