Who can apply

On this page

• Who can submit an application
• Who can be an anchor
• What an anchor does
• How we’ll support you

Who can submit an application

To be eligible to apply, you must

• have been living in Sudan on April 15, 2023
• not have another country to return to other than Sudan or Canada
• be the child (of any age), grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of an eligible anchor
• give us a statutory declaration from the anchor above that states
  • they plan to support you and any family members that come with you to Canada for 1 year
  • they have not (and will not) accept any money from you or your family members
• plan to live in a province or territory other than Quebec
• not be inadmissible for reasons other than financial ones

You can apply if your spouse or common-law partner

• is missing, presumed dead, deceased or can’t leave Sudan
• is the child, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of an eligible anchor willing to support you
• you meet the rest of the eligibility criteria above

Who can be an anchor

An “anchor” is an extended family member who agrees to support you for your first year in Canada.

Your anchor must

• be 18 or older
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• live in Canada (but outside the province of Quebec)
• prove they have enough income or funds to meet the financial requirement

They must not be

• in the process of applying to revoke their Canadian citizenship
• in jail or prison
• subject to a removal order in Canada
• in default of making a payment on an immigration loan, a performance bond or any other amount they have legally agreed to pay (and have not arranged to defer payments) to the Government of Canada
• in default of a sponsorship undertaking, support payments or repaying any debt owed to the Government of Canada
• an undischarged bankrupt
• getting social assistance for a reason other than disability
• convicted of a criminal offence listed in the public policy

What an anchor does

Your anchor must agree to support you for 1 year to help you settle and integrate. This includes providing financial support for basic needs, including housing, food, clothing and other basic necessities of life.

They need to show they have enough income or funds to support you financially based on the financial requirements.

They must sign an official document, called a statutory declaration, stating they promise to

• meet you at the airport and get you to where you’re staying
• help you find temporary housing
• help you find permanent housing
• make sure you have food, clothes and other basic needs
• introduce you to life in Canada (for example, public transportation, banking, shopping, rights and responsibilities, etc.)
• help you
  • translate information
  • open a bank account
  • enrol in provincial and federal programs and benefits (for example, social insurance number, parental benefits, public health insurance)
  • find a family doctor, a dentist or an eye care specialist and arrange any other medical needs
  • enrol children in school or a child care program
  • enrol adults in language training
  • access support services to find a job
  • access service provider organizations to access free settlement services once in Canada

Anchors must also state that they won’t accept money or other payment from you in exchange for being your anchor.

How we’ll support you

If we approve your application, we’ll:

• waive the Right of Permanent Residence Fee and and biometric fees
• give you free settlement services, before and after you arrive, to help you join Canadian society and the labour force