How to apply
If you’re eligible, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will give you an application form and instruction guide. You’ll be able to apply for a Pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) before we remove you from Canada.
We won’t remove you from Canada until:
- you tell us that you don’t want to apply for a PRRA
- you miss the application deadline
- we refuse your PRRA application
- you withdraw or abandon your PRRA application
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Start your application
Answer all the questions in the application form. If you need help completing your application, use the application guide.
If you have had a refugee claim or a previous PRRA application rejected, you may only provide new evidence which has arisen after the most recent rejection.
New evidence is evidence that became known after the rejection, that you couldn’t access, or that you could not reasonably have been expected to have presented in time for that previous decision.
It is important that you clearly identify and explain new evidence in any documents you submit (for example, by highlighting certain parts of a magazine article).
You must complete the form and submit your application in:
- 15 days, if you get the form and the guide in person
- 22 days, if you get the form and the guide in the mail
We must receive your complete application before your application deadline, or you will be removed from Canada.
If you’re getting help with your application from someone else
You can ask someone to help you with your immigration application.
There are special requirements depending on what kind of help you’re getting:
If you’re using a paid immigration representative
Paid immigration representatives need to be authorized (opens in a new tab).
If you want to use a paid representative, you must
- download the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form
- complete and sign it (digitally or by hand)
- get your representative to sign it
- include it with your application
A paid representative can fill out forms and communicate with us for you through their own Canada Post Connect account. They can also
- help you prepare the documents you need to submit
- answer questions about the forms
After you read the declaration, you must be the one to type your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed” according to Canada’s immigration law.
You don’t need to hire a representative. Using one will not draw special attention to your application and doesn’t mean we’ll approve it.
If you’re using an unpaid representative
Unpaid representatives don’t need to be authorized or certified. They can be
- family members
- friends
- anyone else who doesn’t charge you a fee
If you want to use an unpaid representative, you must
- submit the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form
- complete and sign it (digitally or by hand)
- get your representative to sign it
- include it with your application
An unpaid representative may give the same services as paid representatives, but they do it for free.
After you read the declaration, you must be the one to type your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed” according to Canada’s immigration law.
If you’re getting help from someone who isn’t a representative
You don’t need to tell us that you’re getting help from someone as long as they don’t
- advise you on which program to apply for
- complete or update your application as you
- act as you when dealing with us
They can help you
- use our website to find information
- access a computer, scanner or printer
- navigate our portals and accounts
- view and open electronic forms
- download/upload documents
- get your documents translated
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Get your form and documents ready
Make sure you include the form and all documents you need.
All of your family members in Canada who are 18 years of age or older and who are also applying for a PRRA must complete their own application.
Form you must fill out
- Application for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (IMM 5508), which will be given to you by a CBSA officer.
Documents you must include
- photocopies of all identity and relationship documents
- a translation for every identity and relationship document that is in a language other than English or French.
Documents submitted in a language other than English or French without a translation will not be considered.
Get your documents translated and certified if they’re not in English or French
Each supporting document that isn’t in English or French must have 2 parts:
- an English or French translation that’s:
- stamped by a certified translator
- Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number.
- The translator should also photocopy your original document and stamp it if that’s what they based the translation on.
- All stamps and seals that aren’t in English or French must also be translated.
- You can include a scanned copy of a letter explaining that you don’t need an affidavit because you used a certified translator.
- accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, swearing that their translation is true and accurate,
- The affidavit must be signed in the presence of an authorized person
- Use this option only if a translation cannot be completed by a certified translator.
- Both the translated document and the original document the translator worked from must be referred to in the affidavit.
- stamped by a certified translator
- a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document, that the translator worked from.
- You only need to provide a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document if the translation was based on the certified photocopy.
Who cannot translate documents?
- Your family members
- Your immigration representative or consultant
Get copies of documents certified
To have a copy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare it to the original document and print the following on the copy:
- “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.”
- the name of the original document
- the date of the certification
- the name of the authorized person
- their official position or title
- their signature
Who can certify copies and be the witness to an affidavit
In Canada, examples of authorized persons who can certify the copies of your original documents and be the witness to an affidavit include:
- a notary public
- a commissioner of oaths
- a commissioner of taking affidavits
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your provincial or territorial authorities to be sure who can certify your documents.
Outside Canada, each country has different authorities to certify documents. A notary public may be able to certify your documents, but you should check with your local authorities to be sure.
Who cannot certify copies or be the witness to an affidavit
An authorized person can’t certify a copy of a document or be the witness to an affidavit if they’re also:
- the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (if this applies)
- a family member of the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin)
Documents you should also include
- Written submissions (letter) to explain the risks or danger you would face if you were removed to your country of nationality or former habitual residence. It is important that you clearly answer the following questions in your letter:
- Why would I be at risk or in danger if I was returned to my country of nationality or habitual residence?
- What kind of risks or danger would I face and why?
- How do these risks or danger concern me directly and personally?
- Could I escape these risks or danger by moving to another city or region of my country?
- How does my situation compare with the situation of the rest of the population in my country of nationality or habitual residence?
- Additional documents or evidence to demonstrate those risks or danger, including:
- magazine or newspaper articles describing the situation in your country
- legal documents
- police documents
- medical documents
- personal documents
- written testimonies
- personal letters
Keep your application and submissions organized which will help the officer to review and find the key information required to make a decision. One way to do this is to use clear headings for each section of the application, numbering them, as appropriate.
If you want us to release information from your application to someone else
If you want us to give information from your application to someone else (not a representative)
- Download the Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) form.
- Complete and sign it (digitally or by hand).
- Get the person who needs your information to sign it too.
- Include it with your application.
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Submit your application
There are two ways to submit your application. You can submit online or by mail.
You’re responsible for keeping your information up to date. If something changes after you submit that may affect your application, you must tell us about it either online through your Connect account or by mail.
Apply online
How to submit and manage your application online
We use Canada Post’s Connect service to manage your online application. This service is free and allows for electronic file transfers that are secure, private, and confidential.
You can use Connect to:
- send us your application and supporting documents
- get information about your PRRA hearing if you need one
- send additional information when we ask for it
- update your application and personal information if your circumstances change
Sign up for Canada Post Connect to submit your application
After you register, we only communicate with you about your PRRA application using your Connect account.
When submitting your application online, we consider it received at the time that it’s recorded in Connect.
You can get more information about using Connect in the application guide.
Before you submit your application, make sure you:
- answer all questions
- sign and upload your form
- upload all your supporting documents
Mail your application
How to mail your application to us
You can mail your application to us at:
IRCC ‒ Humanitarian Migration ‒ Vancouver
#300 - 800 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6Z 0B6Before you mail your complete application, make sure that you:
- get the post office to confirm you have the correct postage
- have clearly written your full name and address in the top left corner of the envelope.
- answer all questions
- sign and include your form
- include all your supporting documents
If you want to start managing your application online, even if you submitted it by mail you can ask to start using Canada Post Connect to manage your application. Do not re-send your application via Canada Post Connect if you have already sent it by mail.
Tell us if you don’t want to apply
If you do not wish to submit a PRRA application and you want to leave Canada voluntarily:
- Complete Section G (‘Statement of No Intention’) of the Application for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (IMM 5508) form.
- Send it to the address indicated in the Notification Regarding a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment.
- Report to the Canada Border Services Agency office that gave you the application kit.