Sponsoring refugees: Groups of five—Who can apply

To be eligible, each member of the group of five must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • be at least 18 years of age
  • live in the community where the refugee will live and
  • make a financial commitment to provide settlement assistance and support for the length of the sponsorship (usually one year).

The group of five must provide a settlement plan and prove that it has the money to sponsor a refugee for one year. The amount of money needed varies, depending on the number of refugees sponsored. You can find more information about costs in the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

The group of five must be located in the community where the refugees are expected to settle.

Sponsors in Quebec

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.

Related Links