Changes to the pre-removal risk assessment for Nicaragua

Ottawa, October 29, 2021 —Individuals from Nicaragua may now be eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) if they received a final negative decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada or the Federal Court, or a final PRRA decision from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) from October 30, 2020, to October 29, 2021.

Before removing them from Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency will advise eligible individuals from Nicaragua that they can apply for a PRRA.

If someone’s refugee claim or previous application for a PRRA is rejected, abandoned or withdrawn, or if their application for leave or judicial review is dismissed by the Federal Court, they are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for at least 12 months.

However, the worsening conditions in Nicaragua could put individuals at risk, in which case they may warrant an additional assessment. For this reason, some individuals from Nicaragua are now exempt from the 12-month bar on applying for a PRRA, depending on when they received a decision on their refugee claim.

Individuals from Nicaragua who receive a final negative decision after October 29, 2021, are not eligible to apply for a PRRA for 12 months. Any recent changes in country conditions would have been considered when the refugee claim was decided or during the PRRA process.

It is important to note that the eligibility to apply for a PRRA does not guarantee its outcome. IRCC officers will continue to decide on each case individually, based on the information provided.

Individuals are responsible for keeping their PRRA application up to date and informing IRCC of any changes to their application.

In determining which countries to exempt, IRCC considers any recent event in a country that could place all or some of its individuals in a risk situation similar to those defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (section 96—definition of a “Convention Refugee” and section 97—definition of a “person in need of protection”).