Claim refugee status from in Canada: Replace your refugee protection claimant document

Whether you need to replace your RPCD depends on if your refugee claim or pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA)

• is still being reviewed
• was approved

On this page

• Your application is still being reviewed
  • Apply for a new RPCD
• Your claim or PRRA was approved
• Photo specifications

Your application is still being reviewed

You can apply for a new RPCD if either

• the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is still reviewing your refugee claim, or
• you’re waiting for a decision on your PRRA

If you know or suspect that someone stole your RPCD, file a police report at your local police station before you apply for a replacement. We may ask you to provide it.

Apply for a new RPCD

You must be in Canada to

• renew your expired RPCD
• replace a lost, destroyed or stolen one

If you can’t apply online and need accommodations

If you or your representative can’t apply online and need accommodations, including for a disability, you may ask for an alternative format.

We’re working on this alternate application form and will post it here in the coming weeks.

Follow these steps to replace your RPCD.

1. Fill out the web form.
   • Complete a separate form for each person in your family who needs a new RPCD.
   • For these questions follow the instructions below:
     • Who are you?
       • Choose “I’m the principal applicant”.
       • Choose this even if you’re applying on behalf of your spouse or children.
     • What is your application number?
       • Enter the number from the top right of your current RPCD. It starts with a letter followed by 9 numbers.
     • What did you apply for?
       • Choose “Refugee.”
     • What application did you submit?
       • Choose “Refugee claim.”
     • Did we ask you to add the document(s) to your application?
       • Choose “No, I want to add the document(s) to support or complete my application”.
   • You must enter in the text box:
     1. Keyword: REFDOC Important
     2. Reason for renewal:
        • expiry
        • error
        • lost
        • stolen
        • damaged
     3. Your full mailing address and postal code
        • We’ll refuse your request if your mailing address isn’t complete.
2. Upload a photo that meets our photo specifications if the applicant was under 18 when they made the claim.
   • We may ask for updated photos for other applicants. We’ll tell you if we need more photos.
   • If you’re uploading a photo, make sure you have entered either your refugee claim application number or unique client identifier (UCI).
3. Complete the consent section and submit the request.

Once we get your request, we’ll

• send your new RPCD by mail or
• tell you to pick it up at one of our offices

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

Your claim or PRRA was approved

You may not need a new RPCD if:

• the IRB approved your refugee claim
• we approved your PRRA

In those cases, you can apply for permanent residence right away without an RPCD.

Health insurance

You can apply for provincial or territorial health care coverage while we process your permanent residence application.

If your province or territory refuses your application for health coverage, you can apply for a new RPCD and use it to apply for health coverage again.

Photo specifications

Photographs must be

• saved as a JPG (the only format we accept)
• in colour
• clear, sharp and in focus
• taken with a neutral face expression (eyes open, mouth closed, no smiling)
• original and not altered in any way or taken from an existing photograph
• accurate to what you currently look like
• free of shadows, glare or flash reflections
• taken in front of a plain, white, untextured background (with a clear difference between the person’s face and the background)
• taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered, like in this sample:

The maximum file size for each file is 2 MB. If a file is bigger than 2 MB, you need to reduce the size of your file. If you upload more than 1 file, the total maximum file size is 3.5 MB.