The refugee system: Resettlement from outside Canada

Resettlement is the term used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to describe the legal process of bringing a refugee to Canada to live as a permanent resident.

CIC relies on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other referral organizations and private sponsorship groups to identify and refer refugees for resettlement in Canada.

Private sponsoring groups are groups or corporations that have signed an agreement with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In this agreement, they promise to provide funds and carry out certain duties to sponsor refugees who come to Canada.

CIC uses two legal processes, which are divided into refugee classes, for resettling refugees in Canada. The refugee classes are:

• Convention Refugees Abroad Class
• Country of Asylum Class

Related Links

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• Private sponsorship of refugees
• Guardianship protocol: Resettling dependent minors not in the care of a parent
• Resettling Bhutanese Refugees –
  Update on Canada’s Commitment
• Success Stories: Protecting refugees
• Interim Federal Health Program