IRCC Message for Sponsors Regarding Updates to the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Rates
Please be informed that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated income support rates under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) to ensure RAP income support rates are aligned with provincial social assistance rates and that they continue to respond to the shelter and basic needs of resettled refugees.
These changes have already come into effect for Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) and Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Refugees receiving RAP income support. The changes will come into effect for privately-sponsored cases on January 26, 2026 and are summarized as follows:
- Increases, where applicable, to the food and incidental allowance and the shelter allowance to bring them to parity with provincial social assistance rates;
- Increases to national allowances based on the corresponding Consumer Price Index category increases;
- Changes to the housing supplement and the streamlining of housing-related allowances; and
- The streamlining of furniture allowance rates to reflect a standard additional amount for each additional child and adult, to ensure the rates are consistent and linear.
Sponsoring groups are expected to provide support at the rates in place at the time of the refugee’s arrival and in accordance with updates to RAP rates over the course of their sponsorship period. Therefore, all PSRs and BVORs receiving sponsor financial support as of the January 26 2026 implementation date will be expected to receive income support in line with the new RAP rates for the remainder of their sponsorship period, with the exception of the housing supplement. Sponsors may continue provide the existing housing supplement maximum for sponsored refugees who arrived before the January 26, 2026 implementation date. The new housing supplement maximum is to be applied for all refugees arriving on or after January 26, 2026.
The updated RAP rates will be made available on the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) website and reflected in the RSTP’s Minimum Financial Support Calculator as of the January 26, 2026 implementation date. IRCC’s Post-arrival requirements for private sponsorships guide will also be updated by this date to reflect these changes.
The Sponsorship Cost Table and In-Kind Deduction Table will also be updated to align with updates to RAP income support rates. These tables are used by IRCC to assess the financial capacity of sponsors at the application stage, and changes will therefore only impact sponsors that are required to provide proof of funds (which includes all Group of Five/Community Sponsors and Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) in risk management Plan C).
The Sponsorship Undertakings and application guides for SAHs, Groups of Five, and Community Sponsors will be updated with the new Sponsorship Cost Table and in-kind deduction limits for January 26, 2026. IRCC will provide a one-month grace period for the previous form version to be submitted.
As of January 2026, the Resettlement Services Assurance Team (RSAT) will be adopting the new RAP rates in any case reviews.
Thank you,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
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Veuillez noter que Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) a augmenté ses niveaux de soutien du revenu afin de veiller à ce que le programme d’aide à la réinstallation (PAR) continue d’harmoniser les taux de soutien du revenu avec les taux d’aide sociale provinciaux et qu’ils continuent de répondre aux besoins essentiels et liés au logement des réfugiés réinstallés.
Ces changements sont déjà entrés en vigueur pour les réfugiés pris en charge par le gouvernement (RPG) et les réfugiés désignés par un bureau des visas au titre du Programme mixte (RDBV‑M) qui reçoivent un soutien du revenu dans le cadre du PAR. Les autres changements qui entreront en vigueur pour les cas de parrainage privé le 26 janvier 2026 sont les suivants :
- Augmentation des taux de l’allocation pour la nourriture et les frais accessoires et de l’allocation pour le logement de manière à en assurer la parité avec les taux d’aide sociale provinciaux, le cas échéant.
- Augmentation des allocations nationales basées sur les augmentations correspondantes de la catégorie de l’Indice des prix à la consommation.
- Modifications apportées au supplément au logement et normalisation des allocations liées au logement.
- Normalisation des taux d’allocation pour l’ameublement afin de refléter un montant supplémentaire standard pour chaque enfant et adulte supplémentaire, afin de garantir que les taux soient cohérents et linéaires.
On s’attend à ce que les groupes de parrainage offrent un soutien en fonction des taux en vigueur au moment de l’arrivée du réfugié et aux mises à jour des taux du PAR pendant la durée de la période de parrainage. Par conséquent, tous les RPG et RDBV-M bénéficiant d’un soutien financier de la part d’un répondant à la date de mise en œuvre du 26 janvier devraient recevoir un soutien du revenu conforme aux nouveaux taux pour le reste de leur période de parrainage, à l’exception du supplément au logement. Les répondants peuvent continuer à verser le montant maximal du supplément au logement en vigueur aux réfugiés parrainés arrivés avant la date de mise en œuvre du 26 janvier 2026. Le nouveau montant maximal du supplément au logement s’appliquera à tous les réfugiés arrivant à compter du 26 janvier 2026.
Les taux du PAR à jour seront disponibles sur le site Web du Programme de formation sur le parrainage privé des réfugiés (PFPR) et seront compris dans le calculateur du soutien financier minimal du PFPR à compter de la date de mise en œuvre du 26 janvier 2026. Les Exigences après l’arrivée pour le parrainage privé d’IRCC seront également mises à jour à cette date pour tenir compte de ces modifications.
Le Tableau des coûts du parrainage et le Tableau des déductions en raison du soutien en nature seront également mis à jour pour correspondre aux mises à jour des taux de soutien du revenu du PAR. Ces tableaux sont utilisés par IRCC pour évaluer la capacité financière des répondants à l’étape de la demande, et les changements n’auront donc une incidence que sur les répondants qui doivent fournir une preuve de la disponibilité de fonds suffisants (incluant tous les groupes de cinq et répondants communautaires et les signataires d’ententes de parrainage [SEP] indiqués dans le Plan C de gestion des risques).
Les engagements de parrainage et les guides de demande pour les SEP, les groupes de cinq et les répondants communautaires seront mis à jour pour le 26 janvier 2026 afin de tenir compte du nouveau Tableau des coûts du parrainage et des limites de déductions en raison du soutien en nature. IRCC accordera un délai de grâce d’un mois pour permettre la soumission de l’ancienne version du formulaire.
En janvier 2026, l’Équipe de l’assurance des services de réinstallation (EASR) adoptera les nouveaux taux du PAR dans tous les examens de cas.
Merci.
Immigration, Réfugiées et Citoyenneté Canada
Temporary Pause on New Group of Five & Community Sponsor Applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program Extended to December 31, 2026
Dear sponsorship community, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended the temporary pause on new Group of Five and Community Sponsor applications to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program until December 31, 2026.
For more details, please read the notice and instructions posted to the IRCC website today in either English or French at the links below.
English Notice
French Notice
Additional Details:
English – Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act:
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2025/2025-11-22/html/notice-avis-eng.html#na1
French – Ministere de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration, Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés:
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2025/2025-11-22/html/notice-avis-fra.html#na1
*Please note, the BVOR program is not impacted by the pause nor its extension. Groups of Five and Community Sponsors are still eligible to apply to be matched with refugees in need of resettlement under the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) program. Please note, the BVOR program matches sponsors with refugees that are not known to them – sponsors cannot name refugees to participate in the program.
Application Intake Now Closed – Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Sponsorship of Sudanese Refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors
Update from Thursday May 1st 2025 @ 1 PM EDT
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have announced that the application intake for the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Sponsorship of Sudanese Refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors is now closed.
IRCC are currently reviewing applications received through the portal for completeness on a first-in, first-out basis. They will send out Acknowledgements of Receipt letters by email to the first 160 applications that are determined to be complete and accepted into processing. The public policy will expire after 160 applications have been accepted into processing.
Incomplete applications and those not accepted into processing will be returned.
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Update from April 7th 2025
Starting April 30, 2025, IRCC will accept 160 applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors to sponsor Sudanese refugees without a refugee status document. Please note, Sudanese refugees who do have a Refugee Status Document (RSD) may also apply under this Temporary Public Policy (TPP).
IRCC will only accept new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors for Sudanese refugees. You cannot submit new Group of Five or Community Sponsor applications for other refugee populations as there is a temporary pause in effect until December 31, 2025.
Further information is available at:
Details on training sessions related to this temporary public policy can be found below.
RSTP’s past training sessions on this topic:
Webinar: ‘Ask RSTP Anything About the PR Portal – for G5/CS who are Applying Under the Temporary Public Policy for Sudanese Refugees (EN)’
English language session:
Webinar: ‘Ask RSTP Anything about Sponsoring Sudanese refugees under the Temporary Public Policy for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors’
English language session:
Arabic language session:
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Webinar: ‘Sponsoring Sudanese refugees under the Temporary Public Policy for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors’
IRCC has announced a temporary public policy that enables Groups of Five and Community Sponsors to sponsor Sudanese refugees, including refugees who do not have a refugee status document issued by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), or a foreign state, which formally recognizes the applicant as a refugee. Please note, Sudanese refugees with a Refugee Status Document (RSD) may also apply under this Temporary Public Policy (TPP)
RSTP is inviting all interested sponsorship groups to attend this training session and learn more about this temporary public policy, sponsorship application process, eligibility criteria and sponsors’ responsibilities.
The training session will cover the following:
- The details of the temporary public policy
- Who can sponsor under this temporary public policy
- Who can be sponsored under this temporary public policy
- What are sponsors’ financial and settlement responsibilities
- How to apply
Schedule: (Please note, the information presented in each of the training sessions below is the same.)
English language session: (Recording available by request, please email sshahsiah@rstp.ca to request access)
- Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EDT.
- Thursday, April 17, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM EDT.
- Wednesday, April 16, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT.
- Monday, April 14, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT.
- Saturday, April 12, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT.
Arabic language session: (Recording available by request, please email sshahsiah@rstp.ca to request access)
- Friday, April 11, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT.
BVOR Diaries: January 2025
January 5, 2025
Dear Diary,
I never know how to start these things. I’ve tried keeping a diary before, but despite my best intentions I don’t think I’ve ever kept it up past a month or so. But the beginning of a new year is a great time to try again!
It’s also a great time to try something new. Big and brave. I’ve been wanting a new project since I retired last year, but I wasn’t sure what – until I met an interesting fellow at Betty’s Boxing Day open house. David lives in Calgary but was back home for the holidays. He was telling me about how he’s part of a sponsorship group and how they sponsored a family of refugees from Eritrea a couple of years ago. He had nothing but good things to say about the experience and it was quite sweet how proud he was of how well the family was doing now.
He was schmoozing for money – his group is fundraising to sponsor a second family – so cynically I think it makes sense he was focusing on all the good, hah!
I donated, of course. But it’s got me thinking: maybe I could start my own group? Bring a refugee family to Halifax? It’s a bit scary to think about, but…
Let’s go big and brave in 2025!
January 11
I’ve been reading about refugees and sponsorship. David told me about RSTP which is an organization that helps refugee sponsors. And I’ve been on the government’s website reading information there. Oh, and UNHCR’s website too! I’m excited, but my head’s spinning a bit. There’s a lot to learn!
January 19
I told Betty about my idea when we were at the market yesterday. Funnily enough, we were buying churros from the Venezuelan stall and the owner overheard us. He was all excited and thought I should sponsor a refugee from Venezuela! Maybe!
Anyhow, sounds like Betty would like to help. I figured I could count on her. From what I understand we need at least five people for our sponsorship group. So me and Betty that’s two so far – maybe the guy from the Venezuelan stall will join us!
January 25
I subscribed to a newsletter about sponsorship and found out about a webinar about something called the BVOR program next week. I think I’ll go along to that – maybe Betty could too. I think BVOR is how David sponsored. I should check with him.
The newsletter lists out families looking for refugee sponsors. Families from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela (!!) – some individuals too. Maybe if we can’t raise enough money to sponsor a family we could sponsor an individual instead – I assume that costs less. Though I do love the idea of kids – I’m always happy to have little ones to play with and keep me young! 😊
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, dear Diary, that I don’t really know much about the crisis in Venezuela. I’m trying to learn. Google tells me that over 7 million Venezuelans have left their country since 2015 because of the impact of the authoritarian government under Maduro, the so-called president. I can’t imagine. Most of these refugees live in neighbouring countries, but some get to come to countries like Canada through different refugee programs. Sponsors are a part of all of this – maybe I can be too?! I’m trying!
Check back next month to find out what Catherine does next in her BVOR sponsorship journey!
(IRCC Announcement) Temporary Pause on Intake of Refugee Sponsorship Applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors
(IRCC Announcement – Issued November 29th, 2024)
La version française suit.
Dear Sponsors,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has temporarily stopped accepting new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program as of November 29, 2024.
While this measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2025, IRCC will continue to process PSR applications already received prior to November 29, 2024 and to resettle sponsored refugees to Canada. As per the recently released Multi-year Immigration Levels Plan, in 2025, Canada aims to welcome 23,000 privately sponsored refugees.
We understand that this measure will have a direct impact on sponsors and IRCC will be working closely with the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) and other partners to support you in adjusting to these changes. More information will be available through the RSTP in the coming weeks. In the meantime, for more information on the temporary pause, please visit the IRCC website.
Thank you,
****
Chers répondants,
Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) a temporairement cessé d’accepter les nouvelles demandes des groupes de cinq et des répondants communautaires dans le cadre du Programme de parrainage privé de réfugiés (PPPR) depuis le 29 novembre 2024.
Bien que cette mesure demeurera en vigueur jusqu’au 31 décembre 2025, IRCC continuera de traiter les demandes au PPPR qui ont été reçues avant le 29 novembre 2024 et de réinstaller les réfugiés parrainés au Canada. Conformément au Plan pluriannuel des niveaux d’immigration récemment publié, le Canada vise à accueillir 23 000 réfugiés parrainés par le secteur privé en 2025.
Nous comprenons que cette mesure aura une incidence directe sur les répondants et IRCC travaillera en étroite collaboration avec le Programme de formation sur le parrainage privé des réfugiés (PFPR) et d’autres partenaires pour vous aider à vous adapter à ces changements. De plus amples renseignements seront disponibles par le biais du PFPR au cours des prochaines semaines. Entre-temps, veuillez consulter le site Web d’IRCC pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements sur la pause temporaire.
Cordialement,
(IRCC message) Afghanistan Border Crossing
We hope that you all are having safe and happy holidays!
Please see below a message from the IRCC addressed to Afghan nationals in Afghanistan who may be trying to cross the border into another country. To sponsors, kindly share with applicants in your networks, as you see necessary.
Translated .PDF versions of this message can be downloaded in the following languages (please click the links in blue):
DARI
PASHTO
Thank you!
The RSTP Team
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Subject: Afghanistan Border Crossing
To Whom It May Concern,
Please see below the message that has been sent recently through various social media outlets to IRCC clients residing in Afghanistan. IRCC has been made aware that some clients have travelled without proper documentation, or with fraudulent documentation, which resulted in them being deported back to Afghanistan and exposed to criminal charges from the host country.
We would like to remind IRCC clients of the importance of travelling with proper documentation including a passport and obtaining a visa prior to crossing the border to a third country. As an organization involved in supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals to Canada, IRCC is asking for your cooperation in disseminating this message through your networks.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
If you are in Afghanistan and plan to leave the country
The Government of Canada remains firm in its commitment to welcome Afghan refugees to Canada.
If you plan to leave Afghanistan, please check and follow the travel requirements of the country you plan to enter or transit. Along with your passport, you may need to obtain any visa required to legally enter another country.
It is important to follow the immigration laws of countries you plan to enter before you leave Afghanistan. If you do not follow immigration laws when you leave Afghanistan and seeking entry to another country, you may be detained or deported back to Afghanistan. This can make it more difficult to get assistance in your efforts to travel to Canada or any other country in which you plan to resettle.
Changes to the Immigration Loans Program effective September 1, 2021
Please see the message below from IRCC on changes to the Immigration Loans Program that will come into effect as of September 1, 2021:
- The immigration loan cap per family will be raised to $15,000, from $10,000; and
- The service fee that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) applies to support the movement of refugees will increase from $240 to $300 per person.
These increases will ensure that the IOM can continue to deliver timely, quality services to refugees resettling to Canada. The IOM plays an essential role in helping Canada welcome refugees as the organization assists with pre-departure resettlement processing and provides direct assistance to refugees to travel to Canada, including securing exit permits, coordinating transportation to the airport, booking flights and providing assistance during transit.
It is anticipated that the increase to the immigration loan cap will affect a limited number of refugees, as historically only 3% of loans for resettled refugees exceeded the former cap of $10,000. Resettled refugees facing hardships in repaying their loan can ask for a review to adjust their repayment arrangements. The loan is an agreement between IRCC and resettled refugees, and sponsoring groups are not responsible for covering the costs of the refugee’s immigration loan.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the IRCC PSR mailbox at IRCC.INRAPPAR-ILPPPI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.
Information from UNHCR on Programs for Afghan Nationals
A Global View at Programs Available for Afghan Nationals
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has compiled a list of programs offered by various countries for Afghan nationals. The programs are for individuals who have worked or who have been affiliated with those countries.
The list of programs can be found at:
Information from IRCC on Supporting Afghan Nationals
Canada has announced the resettlement of up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada.
This will be done through:
- A special immigration program for Afghan nationals, and their families, who assisted the Government of Canada; and,
- A special humanitarian program focused on resettling Afghan nationals who are outside of Afghanistan and who don’t have a durable solution in a third country, which will include people such as:
- Women leaders
- Human rights advocates
- LGBTI individuals
- Journalists and people who assisted Canadian journalists
- Immediate family members of one of the above
- Extended family members of previously resettled interpreters who assisted the Government of Canada
Further details are available on IRCC’s website in English and French at:
Updates to the Immigration Loans Program (ILP)
We are happy to report that the Immigration Loans Program (ILP) delivery instructions has been recently updated and posted on the Canada.ca website, as a courtesy to stakeholders.
The ILP provides eligible immigrants, who are mainly refugees selected for resettlement to Canada, with access to funding that would otherwise not be available to them. Loans are used to cover a number of expenses, including travel to Canada and other costs associated with resettlement.
The updated instructions include new payment and collection information, per the amended ILP regulations; changes to the transportation loan process; updates to assessing the need for and the ability to repay a loan, including counselling for loan applicants; and a new process for requesting Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) contributions from within Canada for transportation loans as well as assistance loans.
For more information, please visit the ILP section of the Canada.ca website.
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Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que les instructions concernant la livraison du Programme des prêts aux immigrants (PPI) ont récemment été mises à jour et affichées sur le site Web, Canada.ca, par courtoisie pour les intervenants.
Le Programme des prêts aux immigrants (PPI) offre aux immigrants admissibles, pour la plupart des réfugiés sélectionnés aux fins de réinstallation au Canada, l’accès à du financement auquel ils n’auraient pas autrement accès. Les prêts sont utilisés pour couvrir un certain nombre de dépenses, dont le voyage jusqu’au Canada et d’autres coûts liés à la réinstallation.
Les instructions mises à jour comprennent des renseignements nouveaux sur le paiement et le recouvrement, conformément au Règlement sur le PPI modifié; des modifications au processus de prêt de transport; des mises à jour relatives à l’évaluation du besoin et de la capacité de remboursement d’un prêt, y compris des conseils aux demandeurs de prêts; et un nouveau processus pour demander des contributions du Programme d’aide à la réinstallation (PAR) depuis le Canada pour les prêts de transports ainsi que les prêts d’aide à l’établissement.
Pour plus d’information, veuillez visitez le section PPI sur le site Web, Canada.ca.
