Community Sponsors
IMPORTANT! Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has temporarily stopped accepting new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program as of November 29, 2024.
While this measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2025, IRCC will continue to process PSR applications already received prior to November 29, 2024, and to resettle sponsored refugees to Canada. More information can be found here.
A Community Sponsor is an organization, association or corporation that sponsors refugees coming to Canada.
These organizations do not have to be incorporated under federal or provincial law, but they must exist as a legal entity. They must have:
- the financial and settlement capacity to fulfill the sponsorship undertaking
- and must be located in the community where the refugee is expected to settle.
In addition, Community Sponsors must also:
- provide evidence of settlement capability
- provide emotional and social support to a refugee and his/her family
- and commit to supporting the sponsored refugees for the period of the sponsorship undertaking, which is usually for one year.
Community Sponsors do not have a limit on the number of sponsorship applications that they can submit per year, as long as they can demonstrate financial and settlement capacity. Please see the Community Sponsor Application forms and tips on completing the required forms. Note that original signatures on all application forms are necessary.
Community Sponsors can only sponsor persons who have already been formally/officially recognized as a refugee in the country of asylum (i.e.: where they reside now), and be able to provide documentary proof of this status, such as a document issued by the state of that country or a refugee status recognition or ‘mandate letter’ by the UNHCR.
The Community Sponsor may also choose to partner formally with an individual (e.g. a refugee’s family member in Canada) or another organization in carrying out settlement duties.
Community Sponsors FAQs
Below are frequently asked questions regarding Community sponsors, please click on the downward arrows to expand each section:
1. Is there a limitation on the number of applications that one Community Sponsor organization can submit in a given year?
As long as the Community Sponsor can adequately demonstrate they have the financial and settlement capacity to successfully sponsor the refugee applications submitted, there is no limitation.
2. Who signs the Undertaking and Financial Assessment forms on behalf of the Community Sponsor?
The Executive Director, President or CEO of the Community Sponsor (depending on the organization’s structure) must provide written authorization on letterhead designating the Community Sponsor representative to sign the Undertaking on behalf of the Community Sponsor. This CS Representative would then sign the Sponsorship Undertaking form; however, the Executive Director, President or CEO must be the one to sign for the Community Sponsor on the Financial Assessment form. Should no Representative be designated, the Executive Director, President or CEO must sign both the Undertaking and Financial Assessment. If the Community Sponsor is partnering with a co-sponsor individual or organization, they must sign both the Undertaking and Financial Assessment forms.
3. Who must provide Sponsor Assessment forms for a Community Sponsor application?
The Community Sponsor Representative, as well as any co-sponsors (individuals or organization representatives) who signed the Sponsorship Undertaking, must also provide filled Sponsor Assessment Forms and a copy of proof of Permanent Residency or Canadian Citizenship.
4. If a co-sponsor of a Community Sponsor organization is a individual representing a larger sponsoring group who are not an organization, would it be sufficient for the Group Representative to sign the Sponsor Assessment and include documentation noting the wider group members to show the depth of settlement support for the sponsorship?
The co-sponsor in a CS signs the Sponsorship Undertaking and submits a signed and completed Sponsor Assessment Form. Even if this individual is representing a wider group, this co-sponsor is a legal party to the Sponsorship Undertaking and may be held liable for the entire sponsorship undertaking in the event of a default. If the Community Sponsor wishes to include information about others who have not signed the Sponsorship Undertaking but who support the effort, they may do so as supporting documentation.