Refugee Sponsorship Canada — GAR vs PSR vs BVOR
A 2026 guide to overseas refugee resettlement, private sponsorship, current intake rules, sponsor costs and refugee protection claims inside Canada.
New applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors are paused through December 31, 2026. Applications already submitted continue to be processed. Existing Sponsorship Agreement Holders remain an active sponsorship route, although IRCC is not accepting new applications to become a SAH during 2026.
GAR, PSR and BVOR are refugee resettlement programs for people outside Canada. A refugee protection claim made by someone already in Canada is a separate asylum process handled through IRCC and the IRB.
Refugee resettlement vs asylum in Canada
| Route | Where applicant is | How the process starts | Main support model |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAR | Outside Canada | Referral for resettlement followed by IRCC processing | Government-funded RAP support after arrival |
| PSR | Outside Canada | Private sponsoring group submits a sponsorship application under an available PSR stream | Private sponsor provides financial and settlement support, generally for 12 months |
| BVOR | Outside Canada | UNHCR/designated referral partner identifies the refugee and a sponsor is matched | Government provides up to 6 months of income support; sponsor provides another 6 months plus startup and longer settlement/social support |
| Refugee protection claim | Inside Canada or at a Canadian port of entry | Claim is submitted to Canadian authorities and, when eligible, referred to the IRB Refugee Protection Division | Claimant may have access to federal/provincial supports subject to eligibility; this is not a private sponsorship case |
Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR)
GAR resettlement is for people who are outside Canada and are referred for resettlement through the applicable government/referral process. The person must still meet Canada’s resettlement eligibility and admissibility requirements.
- Referral and processing: Refugees are referred for resettlement and assessed by Canadian officials overseas, including eligibility and admissibility requirements.
- Permanent residence: Approved resettled refugees arrive as permanent residents rather than making a new refugee claim after arrival.
- RAP support: Government-assisted refugees can receive Resettlement Assistance Program support for up to 12 months, including income support and settlement assistance subject to program rules.
- Settlement services: Resettled refugees can also access eligible newcomer settlement services after arrival.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR)
Under PSR, a qualifying Canadian sponsor or sponsoring organization undertakes to support a refugee coming to Canada for permanent resettlement. The main sponsorship structures are Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs), Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, although 2026 intake restrictions affect the latter two.
| Sponsor type | 2026 status | Core role |
|---|---|---|
| SAH | Existing SAHs can sponsor; new SAH intake is closed for 2026 | Organization with a formal sponsorship agreement with IRCC |
| Group of Five | New intake paused through Dec. 31, 2026; BVOR participation remains available | At least five eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents who live in the expected settlement community and undertake to support the refugee |
| Community Sponsor | New intake paused through Dec. 31, 2026; BVOR participation remains available | Eligible organization, association or corporation sponsoring refugees to settle in its community |
2026 PSR sponsorship cost estimates
The following figures are the current IRCC sponsorship-cost estimates for Privately Sponsored Refugees. They are based on the official Sponsorship Cost Table and include 12 months of income support plus startup costs. They are not a promise of the exact amount a particular family will spend.
| Family size | 12-month income support | Startup costs | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,700 | $3,700 | $21,400 |
| 2 | $24,400 | $5,500 | $29,900 |
| 3 | $25,000 | $7,000 | $32,000 |
| 4 | $25,700 | $8,400 | $34,100 |
| 5 | $26,400 | $9,900 | $36,300 |
| 6 | $26,800 | $11,300 | $38,100 |
| 7+ | See official incremental table | See official incremental table | $3,000 |
The official table states that the actual amount required after arrival can vary according to the refugee’s settlement community and applicable RAP rates and policies. Sponsors should use the official IRCC table and their sponsorship forms rather than relying on a generic household-budget estimate.
Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR)
BVOR is a three-way partnership between the Government of Canada, a referral organization such as UNHCR, and private sponsors. The refugee has been referred for resettlement and matched with a sponsor.
- Government: provides up to 6 months of income support through the Resettlement Assistance Program.
- Private sponsor: provides another 6 months of income support plus startup costs.
- Settlement support: sponsors provide social, emotional and settlement support for up to 12 months.
- Arrival: BVOR refugees are resettled to Canada as permanent residents after approval.
Refugee protection claims inside Canada
- Where to claim: A refugee protection claim may be made at a Canadian port of entry or from inside Canada through the current IRCC process.
- Current eligibility changes: For claims made on or after June 3, 2025, additional ineligibility rules can apply, including certain claims made more than one year after first entering Canada and certain claims following irregular entry from the United States. Exceptions apply.
- Forms and evidence: The current in-Canada document checklist includes IMM 0008, IMM 0008 Schedule 12, a Basis of Claim form and required identity/relationship documents, subject to the current application process.
- Work permit: A claimant can request a work permit through the refugee-claim process. IRCC states that the permit process requires the claim to be eligible and requires completion of the immigration medical exam and biometrics before the work permit can be issued.
- IRB decision: Eligible claims are generally referred to the Refugee Protection Division, which decides whether the claimant meets the applicable refugee-protection definition.
- After a refusal: A RAD appeal may be available depending on the type of RPD decision. Where available, strict 15-day and 30-day procedural deadlines apply. Judicial review may also be available in appropriate cases.
2026 resettlement targets
| Resettlement stream | 2026 target |
|---|---|
| Government Assisted Refugees | 13,250 |
| Blended Visa Office-Referred | 50 |
| Privately Sponsored Refugees | 16,000 |
| Total resettlement | 29,300 |
These are immigration-level targets, not guarantees that a specific sponsorship or refugee application will be approved or processed by a particular date.
Frequently Asked Questions
- IRCC — Refugees and asylum
- IRCC — How to sponsor a refugee
- IRCC — 2026 refugee resettlement targets
- IRCC — Groups of Five
- IRCC — Community Sponsors
- IRCC — Sponsorship Agreement Holders
- IRCC — BVOR program
- IRCC — Information for refugee claimants
- IRCC — Claiming asylum from within Canada
- IRCC — IMM 0008 Schedule 12
- IRB — Notice of Appeal from an RPD Decision
2026 program snapshot
Which route are you looking at?
Important legal note
Refugee eligibility, inadmissibility, sponsorship intake, appeal rights and procedural deadlines can depend on individual facts. This page is general information, not legal representation or an assessment of an individual claim.