Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program allows Canadians and organizations to play a direct role in helping refugees build a new life in Canada. However, sponsoring a refugee is different from making a refugee claim from within Canada. It is also a significant commitment. Sponsors generally take responsibility for providing financial, settlement, social and emotional support after the sponsored refugee arrives.
In 2026, there is another important consideration: some private refugee sponsorship streams are temporarily paused for new applications. If you are considering sponsoring a refugee, this guide explains how private refugee sponsorship works, who can sponsor, the options currently available and what sponsors should understand before beginning the process.
What Is Private Refugee Sponsorship?
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program is designed to resettle eligible refugees who are outside Canada. Through the program, private sponsors commit to helping a refugee or refugee family establish themselves in Canada. Sponsorship support usually lasts for one year after arrival or until the sponsored refugee becomes self-supporting, whichever comes first.
This support can include helping with:
- housing and basic living expenses
- food, clothing and household necessities
- finding employment
- enrolling children in school
- accessing language training and other settlement services
- learning how to navigate transportation and the local community
- building social and community connections
Private refugee sponsorship should not be confused with making a refugee claim after arriving in Canada. If you are seeking protection from within Canada or at a Canadian port of entry, read our guide on how to start a refugee claim in Canada.
Who Can Privately Sponsor a Refugee in Canada?
Canada’s private sponsorship system has traditionally provided three main ways to sponsor refugees.
1. Sponsorship Agreement Holders
A Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is an incorporated organization that has entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada to sponsor refugees. SAHs may sponsor refugees directly or work with other individuals and groups, known as constituent groups or co-sponsors, to provide financial and settlement support. An individual who wants to help sponsor a refugee may therefore be able to work with an existing SAH rather than becoming a sponsorship organization themselves.
Existing SAHs can continue to sponsor refugees in 2026, subject to applicable program limits. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is not accepting applications from organizations seeking to become new SAHs in 2026.
2. Groups of Five
A Group of Five normally consists of five or more eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents who come together to sponsor a refugee. Group members must generally be at least 18 years old, live in the community where the refugee is expected to settle and demonstrate that they can provide the required financial and settlement support.
Groups of Five have traditionally provided an important route for Canadians wishing to sponsor a refugee they know, including a friend or family member who meets Canada’s refugee requirements. However, there is an important restriction in place in 2026, which we discuss below.
3. Community Sponsors
Certain organizations, associations and corporations can also act as Community Sponsors and undertake responsibility for helping refugees settle in their community. As with Groups of Five, new applications under the regular Community Sponsor stream are currently paused.
Important 2026 Update: Some New Sponsorship Applications Are Paused
Anyone considering private refugee sponsorship in 2026 needs to understand the temporary restrictions currently affecting the program. IRCC stopped accepting new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the regular Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program in November 2024. That pause has now been extended until December 31, 2026. Applications submitted before the pause continue to be processed.
IRCC has said the measure is intended to address a large volume of existing applications and lengthy processing times. This does not mean that private refugee sponsorship has stopped altogether. Existing Sponsorship Agreement Holders remain able to sponsor refugees, subject to program requirements and intake limits. Groups of Five and Community Sponsors may also currently participate in the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program.
Because the programs available to a prospective sponsor can change, it is important to check the current IRCC requirements before beginning the sponsorship process.
Can You Sponsor a Refugee You Know?
This is an important distinction under the current rules. Private sponsorship has historically allowed eligible sponsors to identify a refugee they would like to sponsor. This could be a family member, friend or another person identified by the sponsoring group.
However, in 2026, new sponsor-referred applications through the Group of Five and Community Sponsor streams are paused.
Sponsorship Agreement Holders can still sponsor refugees they know, provided the refugee and sponsorship meet the applicable requirements. Individuals or groups interested in sponsorship can also explore whether they may be able to work with an existing SAH as a co-sponsor or constituent group. Importantly, knowing someone who needs protection does not by itself make that person eligible for Canada’s refugee resettlement programs. The person being sponsored must meet Canada’s applicable refugee eligibility requirements.
What Is the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program?
The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program provides another form of private refugee sponsorship. Unlike sponsor-referred sponsorship, sponsors do not bring forward a particular friend or family member through the BVOR program. Instead, refugees who have already been identified for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are matched with private sponsors in Canada.
The financial responsibility is then shared between the federal government and private sponsors. The Government of Canada provides up to six months of income support through the Resettlement Assistance Program. Private sponsors provide another six months of financial support, as well as start-up costs and up to a year of social and emotional support.
In 2026, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors can still apply to sponsor refugees through the BVOR Program despite the pause affecting their regular sponsor-referred applications.
What Are a Refugee Sponsor’s Responsibilities?
Private sponsorship involves considerably more than submitting immigration paperwork. Sponsors make a commitment to help the sponsored refugee or family establish themselves after arriving in Canada. Depending on the sponsorship arrangement, responsibilities can include both financial and non-financial assistance. For example, sponsors may need to help arrange suitable housing, provide basic necessities, connect newcomers with healthcare and other services, assist with school registration and language training, help with employment searches and introduce the newcomers to their community.
Sponsors should therefore consider not only whether they can meet the financial requirements but also whether they have the time, resources and local support network needed to help someone establish a new life in Canada.
How Much Does It Cost to Sponsor a Refugee?
There is no single cost that applies to every private refugee sponsorship. The financial resources required depend on factors such as the number of people being sponsored and the type of sponsorship. Sponsors may need to account for housing, food, clothing, transportation, furniture and other basic living and start-up expenses. IRCC publishes financial guidelines that prospective sponsors should review when determining whether they have sufficient resources to undertake a sponsorship.
Refugees should also be aware that sponsors cannot charge them for the cost of helping them resettle in Canada. There are no processing fees for a refugee’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees application, and sponsors are not permitted to ask the refugee to reimburse their settlement costs.
How Long Are Sponsors Responsible for a Refugee?
In most cases, private sponsors provide support for 12 months after the refugee arrives in Canada or until the refugee becomes self-supporting, whichever comes first. The exact obligations can vary depending on the sponsorship program and circumstances.
Sponsors should understand these responsibilities before signing a sponsorship undertaking. Private sponsorship represents a formal commitment, not simply an offer to assist with an immigration application.
What Happens After a Sponsorship Application Is Submitted?
Both the sponsor and the person being sponsored must satisfy the requirements that apply to the particular sponsorship program. IRCC assesses the sponsorship application and determines whether the sponsoring group meets the applicable requirements. The refugee application must also be assessed to determine whether the applicant qualifies for resettlement to Canada.
Being sponsored does not guarantee that a refugee application will be approved. Applicants may also need to complete immigration medical examinations and security and admissibility screening before coming to Canada.
Once an application is approved and travel is arranged, sponsors need to be ready to begin fulfilling their settlement responsibilities when the refugee arrives.
Refugee Sponsorship vs. Making a Refugee Claim in Canada
Private refugee sponsorship and making a refugee claim are two different processes. Private refugee sponsorship generally involves helping an eligible refugee who is outside Canada resettle permanently in Canada. A refugee claim, on the other hand, is made by someone seeking Canada’s protection from within Canada or at a Canadian port of entry.
People seeking to enter Canada from the United States should also be aware that the Safe Third Country Agreement can affect whether a refugee claim can be made in Canada.
Understanding which process applies is an important first step, as the eligibility requirements and procedures are very different.
Can an Immigration Lawyer Help With Private Refugee Sponsorship?
Canada’s refugee sponsorship system can be difficult to navigate, particularly while temporary restrictions affect some sponsorship streams. An immigration lawyer can help prospective sponsors understand which pathways are currently available, assess the circumstances of the person they hope to sponsor, identify potential eligibility issues and assist with preparing and submitting the required documentation.
Legal advice can be particularly valuable when someone hopes to sponsor a specific friend or family member and needs to determine whether there is currently an appropriate pathway available.
Considering Sponsoring a Refugee?
Private refugee sponsorship can provide a life-changing opportunity for someone in need of protection, but it also creates significant responsibilities for the people and organizations undertaking the sponsorship. With Groups of Five and Community Sponsor applications currently paused for sponsor-referred refugees through December 31, 2026, it is especially important to understand which options are available before beginning the process.
If you are considering sponsoring a refugee or need help understanding Canada’s refugee and immigration system, Clivio Law can help you assess your options and navigate the applicable requirements.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration and refugee programs and requirements can change. Speak with a qualified immigration lawyer about your specific circumstances.