PSR — Privately Sponsored Refugees

Residency Pathway

At a Glance

Processing Time

42 months

Estimated Cost

Not confirmed

Check the official source

Stay Duration

Permanent residency

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

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Living in Canada

Cost of Living

12% cheaper than United States

Avg SalaryCA$48,000

Quality of Life

170/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Community-sponsored permanent resettlement for UNHCR-recognized refugees backed by faith groups, families, or associations committing to one year of support.

Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program lets private citizens and organizations — including faith groups, community associations, and families — directly sponsor refugees for resettlement and permanent residence. Sponsor types include Sponsorship Agreement Holders, Groups of Five, and Community Sponsors.

Approved refugees receive permanent residency and full work authorization on arrival, with no application fees. Sponsors must provide financial, housing, and settlement support for 12 months. Processing currently runs around 42 months, driven by high demand exceeding annual intake targets.

This visa is ideal for refugees recognized by the UNHCR or a foreign state who have an existing connection to a Canadian sponsoring group willing to commit to one year of active support.

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Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be recognized as a refugee by the UNHCR or a foreign state

Must reside outside their country of origin and Canada

Must have a sponsoring group in Canada (e.g., Group of Five, Community Sponsor, or Sponsorship Agreement Holder)

Must pass medical, criminality, and security admissibility checks

Must demonstrate no other durable solution is available

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Sponsorship undertaking and settlement plan.

Proof of financial resources (for sponsors).

Refugee application forms (IMM 6000).

Identity and family composition documents.

Medical and security clearance documents.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Provides a direct path to permanent residence.
Refugees have a built-in support network (the sponsors) to help with integration.
Sponsors provide financial, social, and emotional support for the first year.
No application fees for the refugee.

Worth Knowing

Sponsors are responsible for the refugee's financial and settlement needs for 12 months.
Processing times can be significant.
Temporary pause on new applications for certain sponsor types (e.g., Groups of Five) may apply depending on current government policy.
Sponsors must meet strict qualification criteria to be approved.