Claim refugee status from inside Canada: How to apply

Make your claim when you arrive in Canada

You can make a claim for refugee protection at any port of entry when you arrive in Canada. This means an airport, seaport or land border.

A border services officer will ask you to complete the required application forms when you arrive. Normally, you’ll complete the forms at the port of entry.

While at the port of entry, the officer will also

• ask you questions about your situation
• collect your documentation and proof of identity
• take your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

If the officer decides your refugee claim is eligible

The officer will give you

• a refugee protection claimant document (RPCD), which will help you get access to the Interim Federal Health Program and other services in Canada
• a confirmation of referral letter, which confirms your claim has been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
• a basis of claim form
• instructions about completing your medical exam

You have 15 calendar days to complete the basis of claim form and submit it to the IRB’s Refugee Protection Division office listed on your confirmation of referral letter.

If the officer tells you to come back for an interview

The officer will give you

• an information pamphlet
• an acknowledgement of claim letter (which will help you get access to the Interim Federal Health Program and other services in Canada)
• instructions about completing your medical exam

You may have to return to the port of entry or go to an inland office for your interview.

The officer may also tell you to submit your refugee claim online. If you’re told to complete your claim online, the officer will give you instructions. To complete your claim, you’ll need

• the application number on your acknowledgement of claim letter
• the interview location given to you by the officer

Submit your claim online from inside Canada

If you’re already inside Canada:

1. You must submit a claim for yourself and any family members claiming with you at the same time.
   • Choose “Yes” when you’re asked if you want to apply for more than 1 person.
   • You’ll complete separate claims in the portal for each family member.
   • When you’re done the claims, submit them all together.
2. Use common characters in your answers and file names in the portal to avoid any issues. Common characters allowed in the portal include:
   • numbers (0-9)
   • the 26 letters of the Roman alphabet (a-z and A-Z)
   • some accents and special characters
   • hyphens, periods and apostrophes
   • spaces

Before you start

Before starting your claim, make sure you have a scanner or camera ready to create electronic copies of your documents.

For each person making a claim (yourself and your family), you’ll

• answer questions in the online application
• fill out and upload a copy of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada’s basis of claim form
• provide a copy of the passport (in some cases, you may not be asked for this)

You’ll also be able to upload copies of other documents to support your claim.

Depending on your situation, you can

• submit your own refugee claim online
• get your representative to help you

Submit your claim in the IRCC portal

Follow these steps to submit your claim.

1. Get an invitation code

If it’s your first time using the IRCC portal, you need an invitation code to create an account. We’ll ask for your email and send you a code that you can use to sign up.

2. Sign up for a portal account

After we send you your invitation code, use it to create your portal account.

3. Complete the online form

Once you sign in, choose “Make a refugee claim”.

Answer all the questions in the form. When you’re done, you’ll get a list of documents to upload. If your family members are making claims with you, make a separate claim for each of them (and submit them all together).

From the day you start your claim, you’ll have 90 days to complete and submit it.

Already have an IRCC Portal account? Sign in

If you can’t submit your claim online

You may be able to submit your claim another way. Find out what to do if you can’t submit your claim online.

If you’re working with a representative

A representative can either:

• help you complete your claim so you can submit it yourself, or
• submit a claim for you

Your representative is helping you, but you’ll submit your own claim

In this case, you must type your name and submit the refugee claim yourself.

To do this, you will

• create your own account
• complete the questionnaire
• upload all documents, including a signed Use of a Representative form (PDF, 648.31 KB)
• electronically sign and submit your own claim

In this scenario, your representative can only

• provide advice
• help you prepare documents
• help you use the portal (in person, by phone or online using screen-sharing technology)

Your representative is submitting your claim for you

In this case, your representative must type in their name (not yours) and submit the claim on your behalf, using their own account.

Before your representative creates a portal account

Before your representative can create an account, you must both sign a Use of a Representative form (PDF, 648.31 KB).

This document authorizes your representative to make a claim on your behalf. Find out why you need this document signed.

Submitting the claim

To submit a claim online on your behalf, your representative must

• create their own account
• complete all forms
• upload all documents, including the signed Use of a Representative form
• electronically sign (using their name) and submit your claim

You started a claim with the CBSA

If you started a claim when you arrived in Canada, the CBSA officer may have

• scheduled your interview to a later date, or
• told you to complete your claim online

If your interview was scheduled to a later date

Do not miss your interview. This is when we decide if your claim is eligible.

Find out more about what happens after you make a claim at the port of entry.

If you were told to complete your claim online

Follow the instructions the CBSA officer gave you. You’ll continue and submit your refugee claim through the IRCC Portal.

Before you continue your claim

Before you continue your claim, make sure you have a scanner or camera ready to create electronic copies of your documents.

For each person making a claim (yourself and your family), you’ll

• answer questions in the online application
• be able to upload copies of other documents to support your claim

Depending on your situation, you can

• submit your own refugee claim online
• get your representative to help you

Your portal account

If you don’t already have one, you need an account to submit a claim online. You can also use your account to check the status of your claim.

Already have an IRCC Portal account? Sign in

Follow these steps to submit your claim.

1. Get an invitation code

If it’s your first time using the IRCC portal, you need an invitation code to create an account. We’ll ask for your email and send you a code that you can use to sign up.

2. Sign up for a portal account

After we send you your invitation code, use it to create your portal account.

3. Complete the online form

Once you sign in, choose “Make a refugee claim”.

If you’re working with a representative

A representative can either:

• help you complete your claim so you can submit it yourself, or
• submit a claim for you

Your representative is helping you, but you’ll submit your own claim

In this case, you must type your name and submit the refugee claim yourself.

To do this, you will

• create your own account
• complete the questionnaire
• upload all documents, including a signed Use of a Representative form (PDF, 648.31 KB)
• electronically sign and submit your own claim

In this scenario, your representative can only

• provide advice
• help you prepare documents
• help you use the portal (in person, by phone or online using screen-sharing technology)

Your representative is submitting your claim for you

In this case, your representative must type in their name (not yours) and submit the claim on your behalf, using their own account.

Before your representative creates a portal account

Before your representative can create an account, you must both sign a Use of a Representative form (PDF, 648.31 KB).

This document authorizes your representative to make a claim on your behalf. Find out why you need this document signed.

Submitting the claim

To submit a claim online on your behalf, your representative must

• create their own account
• complete all forms
• upload all documents, including the signed Use of a Representative form
• electronically sign (using their name) and submit your claim

You started a claim online

You need to sign in to your account in the IRCC portal to complete and submit your claim. You have 90 days from when you started your claim to submit it.

Sign in to your account

If you started a claim online using the Canadian Refugee Protection Portal (CRPP)

As of January 13, 2023, we deleted any claim you started in the CRPP but didn’t submit. If we deleted your claim, you have to start over using the IRCC Portal.