Persons you may sponsor

The person you wish to sponsor must be recognized as a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or under the country of asylum class.

The Government of Canada is responsible for determining whether a person is recognized in one of these two classes.

The person must meet all of the following criteria:

• Is outside of each of their countries of nationality;
• not having a country of nationality, is outside the country of their former habitual residence;
• Has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of:
  • Race;
  • Religion;
  • Nationality;
  • Membership in a particular social group; or
  • Political opinion.
• Is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to:
• claim the protection of their country of nationality or residence;
• return to their country of nationality or residence.
• Be in a situation where no lasting solution is feasible within a reasonable period.

The person must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be outside of Canada.
• Be outside their country of nationality or the country of their former habitual residence
• In their country of nationality or former habitual residence, have suffered and continue to suffer the severe personal consequences:
  • of a civil war;
  • of an armed conflict; or
  • of massive violation of human rights.
• Be unable or unwilling because of fears related to these severe personal consequences:
  • claim the protection of their country of nationality or residence;
  • return to their country of nationality or residence.
• Be in a situation where no lasting solution is feasible within a reasonable period.

The person you wish to sponsor may be accompanied by immediate family members, that is:

• The partner (husband or wife or common-law spouse);
• His or her dependent children under the age of 22.

You must include the family members who accompany that person and those who do not in your undertaking application.

It is possible to indicate the existence of presumed de facto dependants on the undertaking application. For the definition of a de facto dependant and procedures, see De facto dependant.