Private and community sponsorship
Some countries have sponsorship programmes that allow individuals, families, or organizations to help bring refugees to live in their country permanently.
These programmes give refugees a chance to start a new life in safety, but they are:
- Organized by the sponsor (usually someone already living in that country)
- Not managed or arranged by UNHCR in Sri Lanka
UNHCR in Sri Lanka cannot nominate you for these programmes.
How do private and community sponsorship programmes work?
- Sponsors choose who they want to support, usually family members or people they know.
- They help with things like travel, housing, and support after arrival.
- Each country has its own rules and process.
You can learn more about the largest sponsorship programmes through the relevant government websites with links below:
Canada
Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) programme 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. Refugees can be sponsored through one of three programmes: Group of Five (G5), Community Sponsors, and Sponsorship Agreement Holders.
Australia
Special Humanitarian Program (SHP)
Australia’s SHP allows Australian citizens or permanent residents, as well as eligible New Zealand citizens, to apply to sponsor individuals who have been subjected to substantial discrimination in their country, including refugees.
Learn more about the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) on the Australian Government’s website.