The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents directly help refugees resettle in Canada. Instead of waiting for government assistance, private groups can commit to supporting a refugee individual or family through their first year in Canada.
This creates something powerful: a personal connection between newcomers and their new community from day one. Sponsored refugees arrive knowing that real people are invested in their success. Sponsors gain the reward of watching families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Through PSR, refugees receive not just financial help, but true human support. Someone shows them how to navigate Canadian systems, helps their children enroll in school, and celebrates their first Canadian winter or their first job. These connections often last long after the formal sponsorship period ends.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're a refugee seeking safety or a sponsor wanting to help, the paperwork and requirements can feel overwhelming. We guide both refugees and sponsors through every step so nothing gets missed.
Sponsors take responsibility for a refugee's settlement for 12 months after arrival. This includes financial support covering rent, food, clothing, and other basic needs, plus hands-on help adjusting to life in Canada.
There are three types of sponsor groups, although two of them can currently only sponsor through BVOR:
Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) are organizations that have signed formal agreements with IRCC. They work through Constituent Groups - local teams that handle individual sponsorships under the SAH's umbrella.
Groups of Five (G5) are collections of at least five Canadian citizens or permanent residents who come together to sponsor someone. All members must be adults living in the same community who can demonstrate the financial capacity to support a refugee. IRCC has paused their new private sponsorship applications until December 31, 2026; in the meantime, they can only sponsor through BVOR.
Community Sponsors are organizations, associations, or corporations that take on the full responsibility of sponsorship without working through a SAH. Their new private sponsorship applications are also paused until December 31, 2026, and for now they can only sponsor through BVOR.
Each type has different requirements and processes, but all share the same core commitment: ensuring refugees have the support they need to succeed.
While the pause lasts, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors can only sponsor refugees through BVOR. SAHs and their Constituent Groups are not paused. If you live in Quebec, sponsorship follows a separate Quebec process.
The Sponsorship Process
The steps to sponsoring a refugee involve careful preparation. Sponsors must:
Identify a refugee to sponsor - either someone they know personally or through matching services
Obtain Refugee Status Determination when required - confirming the person meets the definition of a Convention refugee
Prepare a complete sponsorship application - including settlement plans and proof of financial capacity
Submit to the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) for processing
Prepare for arrival once the application is approved
Processing times vary considerably based on the refugee's country of origin, security screening requirements, and current backlogs. Sponsors should be prepared to wait while the government completes its review.
Financial Responsibilities
Sponsors must demonstrate they can provide sufficient financial support for the entire sponsorship period. IRCC provides guidance on estimating required amounts based on family size and local costs of living.
The financial commitment is real and substantial. Sponsors cover costs including housing, utilities, food, transportation, and incidental expenses. Some costs can be reduced through donated goods or services, but sponsors must show they can cover the full amount if needed.
Beyond direct financial support, sponsors help refugees access settlement services, language training, healthcare, and employment assistance programs that are available in their community.
Special Programs and Considerations
Several related programs offer variations on standard private sponsorship:
The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) program shares financial responsibility between sponsors and the government, reducing the sponsor's commitment to six months of financial support.
Joint Assistance Sponsorship provides extra support for refugees with special needs, such as those with medical conditions, disabilities, or the effects of trauma.
The Urgent Protection Program offers expedited processing for refugees facing immediate danger.
A One-Year Window of Opportunity allows sponsors to bring non-accompanying family members of refugees already in Canada, under certain conditions.
The Reality of Sponsorship
Private sponsorship is rewarding but demanding. It requires sustained commitment over many months, starting long before the refugee arrives. Sponsors need to coordinate housing, prepare welcome supplies, arrange transportation from the airport, and be available for ongoing support.
The application process itself involves detailed paperwork. Settlement plans must be realistic and specific. Financial documentation must be complete. Any errors or omissions can delay processing or result in refusal.
Sponsors also need to be prepared for the human challenges of resettlement. Refugees arrive having experienced trauma, loss, and uncertainty. Adjustment takes time. Cultural differences require patience and understanding on both sides.
Making It Work
Successful sponsorships start with good preparation. Understanding the program requirements, gathering the right documentation, and creating realistic settlement plans all increase the chances of approval and smooth resettlement.
We help sponsorship groups through each step. Whether you are an organization becoming a SAH, a Constituent Group working with a SAH, or a Group of Five or Community Sponsor looking to sponsor through BVOR, we can explain the requirements and help you prepare a complete application.
Interested in sponsoring a refugee? Book a consultation to learn how to get started.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're a refugee seeking safety or a sponsor wanting to help, the paperwork and requirements can feel overwhelming. We guide both refugees and sponsors through every step so nothing gets missed.
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program lets Canadian citizens and permanent residents directly help refugees resettle in Canada. Instead of waiting for government assistance, private groups can commit to supporting a refugee individual or family through their first year in Canada.
This creates something powerful: a personal connection between newcomers and their new community from day one. Sponsored refugees arrive knowing that real people are invested in their success. Sponsors gain the reward of watching families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Through PSR, refugees receive not just financial help, but true human support. Someone shows them how to navigate Canadian systems, helps their children enroll in school, and celebrates their first Canadian winter or their first job. These connections often last long after the formal sponsorship period ends.
How Private Sponsorship Works
Sponsors take responsibility for a refugee's settlement for 12 months after arrival. This includes financial support covering rent, food, clothing, and other basic needs, plus hands-on help adjusting to life in Canada.
There are three types of sponsor groups, although two of them can currently only sponsor through BVOR:
Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) are organizations that have signed formal agreements with IRCC. They work through Constituent Groups - local teams that handle individual sponsorships under the SAH's umbrella.
Groups of Five (G5) are collections of at least five Canadian citizens or permanent residents who come together to sponsor someone. All members must be adults living in the same community who can demonstrate the financial capacity to support a refugee. IRCC has paused their new private sponsorship applications until December 31, 2026; in the meantime, they can only sponsor through BVOR.
Community Sponsors are organizations, associations, or corporations that take on the full responsibility of sponsorship without working through a SAH. Their new private sponsorship applications are also paused until December 31, 2026, and for now they can only sponsor through BVOR.
Each type has different requirements and processes, but all share the same core commitment: ensuring refugees have the support they need to succeed.
While the pause lasts, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors can only sponsor refugees through BVOR. SAHs and their Constituent Groups are not paused. If you live in Quebec, sponsorship follows a separate Quebec process.
The Sponsorship Process
The steps to sponsoring a refugee involve careful preparation. Sponsors must:
Identify a refugee to sponsor - either someone they know personally or through matching services
Obtain Refugee Status Determination when required - confirming the person meets the definition of a Convention refugee
Prepare a complete sponsorship application - including settlement plans and proof of financial capacity
Submit to the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) for processing
Prepare for arrival once the application is approved
Processing times vary considerably based on the refugee's country of origin, security screening requirements, and current backlogs. Sponsors should be prepared to wait while the government completes its review.
Financial Responsibilities
Sponsors must demonstrate they can provide sufficient financial support for the entire sponsorship period. IRCC provides guidance on estimating required amounts based on family size and local costs of living.
The financial commitment is real and substantial. Sponsors cover costs including housing, utilities, food, transportation, and incidental expenses. Some costs can be reduced through donated goods or services, but sponsors must show they can cover the full amount if needed.
Beyond direct financial support, sponsors help refugees access settlement services, language training, healthcare, and employment assistance programs that are available in their community.
Special Programs and Considerations
Several related programs offer variations on standard private sponsorship:
The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) program shares financial responsibility between sponsors and the government, reducing the sponsor's commitment to six months of financial support.
Joint Assistance Sponsorship provides extra support for refugees with special needs, such as those with medical conditions, disabilities, or the effects of trauma.
The Urgent Protection Program offers expedited processing for refugees facing immediate danger.
A One-Year Window of Opportunity allows sponsors to bring non-accompanying family members of refugees already in Canada, under certain conditions.
The Reality of Sponsorship
Private sponsorship is rewarding but demanding. It requires sustained commitment over many months, starting long before the refugee arrives. Sponsors need to coordinate housing, prepare welcome supplies, arrange transportation from the airport, and be available for ongoing support.
The application process itself involves detailed paperwork. Settlement plans must be realistic and specific. Financial documentation must be complete. Any errors or omissions can delay processing or result in refusal.
Sponsors also need to be prepared for the human challenges of resettlement. Refugees arrive having experienced trauma, loss, and uncertainty. Adjustment takes time. Cultural differences require patience and understanding on both sides.
Making It Work
Successful sponsorships start with good preparation. Understanding the program requirements, gathering the right documentation, and creating realistic settlement plans all increase the chances of approval and smooth resettlement.
We help sponsorship groups through each step. Whether you are an organization becoming a SAH, a Constituent Group working with a SAH, or a Group of Five or Community Sponsor looking to sponsor through BVOR, we can explain the requirements and help you prepare a complete application.
Interested in sponsoring a refugee? Book a consultation to learn how to get started.
