Groups of five: About the process

Sponsor a refugee

Information for privately sponsored refugees

A group of five (G5) is 5 or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee living abroad to come to Canada.

G5s can only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either

  • the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or
  • the government of the country (foreign state) where the refugee lives

The principal applicant must already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body (the UNHCR or foreign state) has found the person meets its refugee definition.

You must include the document proving recognized refugee status with the refugee sponsorship application you submit.

For more information, see the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

Know your responsibilities as a sponsor

Make sure you know the responsibilities you must meet as a sponsor. We assess and monitor sponsorship groups regularly to make sure you’re fully supporting the refugees you’re sponsoring. This includes occasionally checking in with the refugees you’re sponsoring.

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