Sponsoring refugees: Community sponsors—How to apply

Before you apply, you should read the application package to ensure that you qualify to be a community sponsor. You should also read the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program for information you will need when applying. You will find a link to the application kit and the guide in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Community sponsors are limited to a maximum of two sponsorship applications per year.

Quebec has its own process for sponsoring refugees. Sponsors who live in the province of Quebec should contact the Quebec ministry that handles immigration (ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles). You can find a link to its website in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

There are five steps to apply to become a community sponsor:

  1. Obtain and print the application package.
  2. Complete your application.
  3. Decide if you want to request a refugee profile.
  4. Determine where to submit your application.
  5. Check and submit your application.

1. Obtain and print the application package.

The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.

2. Complete your application.

  • Before you start, read the guide carefully. It contains detailed instructions for completing all the required forms.
  • Gather all the necessary documents. They are listed in the document checklist.
  • Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.
  • Fill in the forms carefully and completely. Many of the forms can be completed on your computer. Print the forms after you fill them out, because you can’t save them on your computer. If you are filling out the forms by hand, print clearly—in black ink. You can also use a typewriter.
  • Sign and date your forms.
  • You must complete all the forms:
    • Undertaking/Application to Sponsor—Community Sponsors
    • Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment—Community Sponsors. The information on this form will help CIC determine if your organization is able to provide the financial support needed to help the refugee(s) establish themselves successfully in Canada.
    • Sponsor Assessment. This form must be filled out by the president or executive director of the community sponsor organization and the representative of any co-sponsors.
    • Document Checklist
    • Use of a Representative. You must complete this form if you want to use a representative or an agent to help you apply. Using a representative is a personal choice. Find out more about using immigration representatives.

3. Decide if you want to request a refugee profile.

In some cases, a community sponsor may want to sponsor a specific refugee or refugee family abroad. For example, it could be a friend or a member of a family in the community, or a refugee referred by an overseas contact. This is known as a “sponsor-referred refugee.” Sponsor-referred refugees must qualify under Canada’s Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program. Visa officers abroad will review the application and interview applicants to find out if they qualify.

In other cases, you may request a “visa office-referred” refugee. These refugees are eligible and have already been selected, but require a private sponsor before they can come to Canada. You can request a refugee profile if you want to sponsor a visa office-referred refugee.

To choose the refugee(s) to sponsor, you can:

  • use a secure website to download profiles of refugees or
  • request a refugee profile through CIC’s Matching Centre.

Additional details on each option are available in the guide that is included in the application kit. You can also find more information on requesting a refugee profile in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

4. Determine where to submit your application.

Submit your application to the CIC Centre closest to the community where the refugee(s) will settle. You will find a list of CIC centres in the back of the guide that is included in the application kit.

5. Check and submit your application.

Use the document checklist to ensure you have included everything you need. Make sure you sign and date your forms. Your application will be delayed if the information you submit is incomplete. Enclose all the required documents in an envelope and mail them to a CIC Centre. Print “Private Sponsorship Counsellor” above the CIC address on the envelope, and make sure you also provide your complete return mailing address.

Related Links