When we think of refugees, we often hear the call to “welcome the stranger.”
Since 1979, World Renew and partnering churches have responded to the needs of refugees
from around the world and have helped resettle over 10,500 refugees in Canada.
Canada is a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
and its 1967 Protocol. Each year, Canada grants permanent residence to approximately
30,000 refugees through an established protection system comprising two main components:
- The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program (outside Canada)
- The In-Canada Refugee Protection Process
A “convention refugee” is a person who, due to a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis
of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion,
is outside their country of nationality and unable or unwilling to seek its protection.
A “person in need of protection” is someone in Canada whose removal would expose them to the risk
of torture, the risk of their life, or the risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
The majority of approved refugees receive asylum inside Canada and make a refugee claim
at a port of entry or an inland IRCC office.
Once a claim is deemed eligible, it is referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB),
where a hearing is held by an independent Refugee Protection Division member who determines
whether the claimant qualifies as a convention refugee or a protected person.
Although non-adversarial, the hearing typically includes the claimant’s legal counsel and
a government hearings officer. If approved, the claimant may apply for permanent residence
from within Canada. The full process generally takes about 18 months.
Prior to the hearing, claimants may be eligible for work or study authorization under Canadian law.
Certain categories of individuals, however, are not eligible to have their claims referred to the IRB.