You may have access, in some cases, to apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). Through this process, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will evaluate your fear of persecution and decide whether you can be recognized as a refugee in Canada.
You can only apply for a PRRA if Canada Services Border Agency (CBSA) notifies you that you are eligible.
- In that case, you will receive a letter from CBSA inviting you to an interview where they will give you the PRRA application forms.
- When you receive the PRRA forms, pay attention to the deadlines indicated. Usually, there is an initial 15-day deadline during which you must apply by completing the forms.
- You will usually have an additional 15 days after the forms are submitted to send any supporting evidence.
- Please refer to the deadline dates given to you by CBSA for submitting your PRRA.
- It is important that you respect the deadlines provided by CBSA for submitting your PRRA application and supporting documents. After responding to those initial deadlines provided by CBSA, you may continue to provide additional relevant evidence until you are notified of a decision. This could include reports about conditions in your home country, any identity documents received at a later date etc. If you are unsure what to submit, consult a lawyer for legal advice.
- IRCC will look at your PRRA application and decide whether to grant you protected person status in Canada. In some cases, they may request that you go through an interview before they make their decision.
You are strongly encouraged to seek legal advice and retain legal representation throughout the asylum process, including when preparing and submitting your forms.
! Please note: If you are from a country with a removal moratorium (that is, a country to which Canada has temporarily suspended removals), you are generally protected from removal. However, you are generally not eligible to apply for a Pre‑Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). During this time you may be able to stay in Canada, work and obtain access to services. For legal advice on your options if you are from a moratorium country, it is important to consult a lawyer.
To check whether removals are currently suspended for your country, please see the updated list here.