Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Refugees, asylum claimants, sponsors and pre-removal risk assessment applicants

Quarantine and COVID-19 testing

Before refugees leave for Canada, they attend a Canadian Orientation Abroad session with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This session provides refugees with information on how they can monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Refugees are also

• told about the 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Canada if they're not fully vaccinated
• given information about the supports they'll receive from Resettlement Assistance Program service provider organizations or their private sponsor

As an added precaution, refugees undergo a fitness-to-fly check for COVID-19 signs and symptoms with an IOM nurse or doctor. This check is done 24 to 72 hours before their flight.

Resettled refugees landing in Canada need to follow the latest

• COVID-19 testing requirements
• quarantine requirements (if not fully vaccinated)

If you’re a refugee overseas waiting to travel to Canada

Before you travel to Canada, make sure you know the rules and what you need to do before and after you arrive:

• Quarantine or isolation plan
• COVID-19 testing for travellers
• Requirements for flying to Canada

If you already sponsored refugees

We'll contact you when the refugees you're waiting for are ready to travel. Once we do, make sure everyone in your sponsorship group agrees that you're ready to welcome and support the refugees you've sponsored.

If you're sponsoring through a sponsorship agreement holder, discuss your plans with them. Make sure they agree before you tell us to proceed with the refugees' travel plans.

You must make a quarantine plan for the refugees you sponsored, even if they're fully vaccinated. We will need a copy of the plan before we book their travel. You should also share your quarantine plan with the refugees you sponsored so they know what to expect when they get here. Fully vaccinated refugees who don't use ArriveCAN may be asked to quarantine when they arrive in Canada.

When the refugees you sponsored land in Canada, they'll need to follow the latest COVID-19 testing requirements.

Refugee claimants who are inside Canada

If you’re already inside Canada, you can still make a refugee claim online.

Refugee claimant interview time

If you didn’t already have an interview scheduled, we’ll contact you once we’ve scheduled you for one.

We’ll contact you about a new interview time if you had a scheduled interview that we cancelled because of COVID-19.

Use the web form if you need to update your contact information.

Renew or replace your refugee protection claimant document (RPCD)

Expired RPCDs

If your RPCD expired before January 1, 2020

Your RPCD is still considered valid. You don’t need to request a new one right now.

If your RPCD expired on or after January 1, 2020

You can request a RPCD by mail. To get your new RPCD, you must be inside Canada. Your expired RPCD will stay valid until you get your new one.

Follow these steps to get your replacement RPCD:

1. Complete the RPCD request form (PDF, 0.1 MB).

   1. Include any dependant who also needs a new RPCD. They must also be inside Canada.

2. Get 2 passport size photos for each person.

   1. The back of 1 photo must include the person’s name and date of birth.

3. Mail your complete form and all photos in one envelope to this address:

   RPCD / DDA
   IRCC Winnipeg
   269 Main Street, Suite 400
   Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2

After we get your request, we’ll

• send your new RPCDs in the mail or
• tell you to pick them up at one of our offices

Destroy your old RPCD once you have your new one. The old RPCD will no longer be valid.

Lost, stolen or damaged RPCDs

If your RPCD was lost, stolen or damaged, email us at IRCC.RPCDLostStolen-DDAPerduVole.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. The subject line of your email should say if your RPCD was lost, stolen or damaged.

Get a work or study permit

You won’t be able to get a free work or study permit until you’ve had your refugee claim interview and completed an immigration medical exam.

If you already have a valid permit, you can keep using it. You can also apply for an extension before your work or study permit expires.

Pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) application deadlines

We’re still accepting PRRA applications at this time. We’ve also added the option to submit and communicate about your application online.

Find out how to

• submit your PRRA application
• update your contact information if it’s changed since you arrived in Canada

Applying within the 15-day deadline

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will tell you if you’re eligible to apply for a PRRA. If you’re eligible, you then have 15 days to submit a complete application, as per Section 162 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). This is the only way to guarantee that your removal order will be stayed, as per Section 232 of the IRPR.

If you can’t submit a complete PRRA application within the 15 days because of COVID-19 disruptions,

• submit what you can within the deadline
  • For example, submit an unsigned or partially completed form.
• include a letter with your application explaining why you couldn’t complete or sign your application, with supporting documentation.

Applying after the 15-day deadline

If we get your application after the 15-day deadline,

• we’ll process it
• your removal order won’t be stayed
• you can contact the CBSA office working on your case to find out how you’re affected

If you already applied within the 15-day deadline before June 22, 2021, but you were unable to submit your supporting documents within the 30-day deadline

• We’ll contact you to request the supporting documents.
  • You’ll have 30 days from the date we contact you to submit the information.

For applications received on or after June 22, 2021

After a CBSA officer tells you that you’re eligible for a PRRA, you have 15 days (per Section 162 of the IRPR) to submit your completed PRRA application and 30 days (per Section 162 of the IRPR) to submit your supporting documents.

If you are unable to submit supporting documents within 30 days because of COVID-19 disruptions, you must request an extension to submit documents at a later time with a reasonable explanation and proof of the explanation that would allow the application to remain open.

After the 30 days, officers will use their discretion to either grant an additional 30-day extension where a reasonable explanation and proof has been provided, or; make a final decision, where possible, with the information on file.

Updates and related links

• Find more information on COVID-19
• Public Health Agency of Canada: COVID-19 information (available in multiple languages)
• Canada provides update on exemptions to travel restrictions to protect Canadians and support the economy