Third Country Community Based or Private Sponsorship

Third country sponsorship programs allow private individuals, entities or organizations (nomination sponsors) to directly engage in admission efforts by identifying, selecting and supporting the entry and stay of nominated individuals in need of international protection. Sponsorship can often include the provision of financial, emotional, social and/or settlement support in a third country (an integration tool which UNHCR refers to as “community sponsorship”). 

Sponsors are the ones identifying, selecting and supporting the entry and stay of persons in need of international protection. State authorities manage the visa process and work with sponsors to ensure the well-being of refugees and their post-arrival needs are met. States are also responsible for the protection of refugees, including ensuring that they have access to rights and services upon arrival and that their sponsors are vetted and trained in line with pre-established criteria. 

1. Sponsorship Pathways (Private sponsorship or naming programs): Sponsorship pathways, also known as “private” or “named sponsorship,” are a way for people in need of international protection to depart to a third country. These pathways aim to increase the total number of people admitted to safe countries. In these cases, sponsors are expected to identify who should be sponsored and assist with the admission process. They are also expected to provide support to help the newcomers settle once they arrive. 

2. Community Sponsorship: Community sponsorship is a way to support refugees and people arriving through complementary pathways by connecting them with individuals, groups, or organizations (like local clubs, businesses, universities, or faith groups). These sponsors agree to offer financial or material help, emotional support, and volunteer services to assist with the refugees’ reception and integration when they arrive. 

Information is also available through the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI). 

From India, many refugees and asylum seekers have opted for this pathway to secure a durable solution in third countries. The majority of them have departed to Canada, Australia, and the USA. Please find the details and eligibility criteria for these sponsorship programs below:     

1. Australia 

Australia’s Global Special Humanitarian (Subclass 202) visa program allows Australian citizens or permanent residents, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, or a community organization in Australia, to apply to sponsor individuals who have been subjected to substantial discrimination in their country, including refugees.  

To apply, the applicant would have to fill out Form 842 (Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa) along with a valid Form 681 (Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal). The forms need to be completed by the proposer/sponsor.  

The details of each process, forms and requirements are provided on the  website of Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.   

Once all documentation is prepared and the two forms are completed and signed, the sponsor/proposer must lodge the application via email through the following link, or via post to the Special Humanitarian Processing Centre, Department of Home Affairs, GPO Box 9984, Sydney, New South Wales- 2001.   

The priorities for processing are available on: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/refugee-and-humanitarian-program/the-special-humanitarian-program     

The Australian government does not fund travel costs for this visa subclass and proposers are expected to assist you and any dependents in meeting costs associated with travel to Australia and integration after arrival.   

Following is the link for organizations in Australia currently providing free immigration advice and representation that may be able to help asylum seekers and refugees with visas for Australia:  https://help.unhcr.org/australia/where-to-find-help/free-legal-help/         

2. Canada 

Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program allows groups of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible refugees living abroad to come to Canada and settle permanently.  Private sponsors can be groups of Canadians or Canadian organizations, including faith-based associations, ethnocultural groups or other organizations. Private sponsors provide financial support to sponsored individuals towards integration costs and also support them socially and emotionally.  Refugees can be sponsored through one of three programs:  

Group of Five (G5): Five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents with the ability to fulfill sponsorship requirements (including financial requirements) collectively arrange to sponsor a recognized refugee living abroad. For more information, please visit their website.  

Community Sponsors: Organizations, associations or corporations that are able to fulfill sponsorship requirements and that are located in the community where refugee will reside can also apply to sponsor a recognized refugee living abroad. For more information, please visit their website.  

Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs): Incorporated organizations, that have signed an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and assume overall responsibility for the management of sponsorships, can apply to sponsor refugees, asylum seekers, or persons living in a refugee-like situation. Proof of refugee status is not required as part of this application process. For more information, please visit their website.  

ALERT: Due to the large number of pending applications, and to shorten the lengthy processing times, there is a temporary pause on intake of refugee sponsorship applications from Groups of Five (G5) and community sponsors under PSR Program as of November 29, 2024, which will remain in effect until December 31, 2026. However, Canada will continue to process application received on or before November 28, 2024. Applications continue to be open for Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) to sponsor refugees and asylum seekers to enter Canada.  

3. United States of America 

On 19 January 2023, the U.S. Department of State launched the Welcome Corps – a new private sponsorship program that enables Americans to play a leading role in welcoming refugees arriving in the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).  

The program allows private sponsors to identify refugees in the country of asylum to sponsor them to the USA. A group of 5 sponsors, who are American citizens/permanent residents and who fulfil the requirements, may apply to sponsor refugees. The sponsors can apply for sponsoring an individual or a family consisting of up to 10 members at a time to sponsor them to the USA under the USRAP (U.S. Refugee Admission Programme). Refugees as well as asylum seekers are eligible for sponsorship under this program.  

Private sponsors provide financial support to sponsored individuals towards integration costs and also support them socially and emotionally. The details of the process, financial requirements and application requirements are provided on their website  and in this community message.  

ALERT: In accordance with the Executive Order on “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” dated 20 January 2025, intake of new applications for the Welcome Corps is temporarily suspended, as well as processing of all active or previously submitted applications.   

          4. New Zealand 

Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship Programme: Enables New Zealand-based community organisations to sponsor refugees. More information about the program is available on: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/refugees-and-asylum-seeker-information/community-refugee-sponsorship-programme/ 

Sponsoring family if you are a refugee in New Zealand: Sponsors under the Refugee Family Support Category must register as either a tier 1 or tier 2 sponsor to support their family members for a New Zealand resident visa. More information about the program is available on: Sponsoring family if you are a refugee in New Zealand :: Immigration New Zealand  

Alert: The program is only accepting tier 1 sponsor registrations 

Note: UNHCR is not involved in the processing and adjudication of these applications; that is the sole responsibility of the respective third countries. UNHCR cannot recommend candidates, issue support letters for your case nor can we request for your case to be expedited. For any immediate protection-related concerns you may contact our local implementing partners. Their details are available on https://help.unhcr.org/india/contact-details-of-unhcr-and-partner-organizations-in-india/ or you may write to [email protected].   

In case you qualify and require assistance from UNHCR, please send your request via email at [email protected]