Humanitarian Immigration

You consider yourself in danger or fear for your health or that of your family if you must stay in or return to your home country. In this case, you can apply for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Be careful, there are exceptional eligibility requirements.

Obtaining permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds is only possible when no other immigration program in Canada applies to your situation. To assess all possible ways to immigrate to Canada, we invite you to make an appointment with our experts. They will quickly help you accelerate the process and maximize your chances of obtaining Canadian permanent residence.

Each humanitarian application is complex and requires a thorough individual assessment. To obtain a decision in your favour, several factors will be meticulously analyzed, including the following:

• The severity of the consequences for you and your family if your application is refused
• Harm to the safety, health and well-being of your children
• Proof that you have already tried to get help from your home country to change or improve your situation. Otherwise, you will need to provide an explanation of why you did not seek help from your country.

The costs and inconveniences associated with returning to your home country are not considered adequate reasons for applying for humanitarian immigration.

You may NOT apply for humanitarian immigration if the following applies to you:

• You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• You are eligible for another immigration program.
• You have already filed an asylum claim that is being processed.
• You have become a designated foreign national in the last five years; i.e., you have entered Canada illegally or without completing the necessary documents for security and identity verification.

You can apply if the following applies:

• You are declared inadmissible, removed or deported from Canadian territory.
• No other immigration program applies to your situation.

In any case, you must demonstrate that your application is vital for the safety and well-being of you and your family.

How to Submit a Humanitarian Application

If you Are in Your Home Country

You must apply for permanent residence by choosing one of the following programs (the one that best applies to you):

• Sponsorship Program
• Program for refugees and persons in need of protection (asylum claim)
• Economic immigration program

To be accepted, you must meet most of the conditions and explain why you do not meet the other criteria while stating your humanitarian grounds. If your application is approved, you will be able to obtain a permanent resident visa. If your application is denied, you may attempt to change the decision by applying for judicial review at the Federal Court of Canada. You will need more support from immigration law professionals. Contact us to learn more.

If You Are in Canada

You will not be able to submit a new application if you have already submitted one. In such circumstances, you will need to do the following:

• Complete the humanitarian and compassionate considerations application package for you and your family
• Pay the fees
• Send the application

If your application is approved, you will receive a written response indicating the next steps to take for permanent resident status as a person in need of protection. If your application is refused, you must leave Canada within 30 days of the refusal notice. You can also appeal the refusal by applying for judicial review at the Federal Court of Canada.

The Province of Quebec

Humanitarian immigration occupies a particularly important place in Quebec. The province is a welcoming haven for many people with refugee status. While waiting for a response from Canadian authorities, you may be able to receive temporary support, such as housing, francization, legal aid, last resort assistance and education for your children.

Would you like to learn more about humanitarian immigration? Contact us. We will be delighted to tell you more about it.