The Canadian government aims to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan citizens as soon as possible under a special resettlement program. Afghans who assisted the Canadian government in Afghanistan are prioritized for transfer and asylum in Canada.
This article provides information on the resettlement or asylum application process for Afghans who worked with the Canadian government, enabling eligible individuals to apply independently.
General Conditions
A total of 18,000 individuals will be resettled in Canada under this special program. Eligible Afghan citizens can apply for this program from Afghanistan and complete the necessary procedures. To qualify, applicants must:
- Be Afghan nationals
- Have no legal barriers preventing them from entering Canada
- Not be inadmissible to Canada
- Have a significant and enduring relationship with the Canadian government and have performed valuable work for Canada
- Have been in Afghanistan on or after July 22, 2021 (the program's start date)
If the applicant or their family members left Afghanistan before July 22, 2021, they are not eligible for this program. However, those currently outside Afghanistan do not need to return to Afghanistan for eligibility, submitting a request, providing biometric information, undergoing a medical examination, or completing their processing.
Who is Eligible?
Local staff who currently or previously worked at the Canadian embassy or military units in Afghanistan, individuals who worked with Canadian-related institutions or projects, and those who officially worked for Canadian government purposes in Afghanistan are eligible for special Canadian immigration.
Eligible Family Members
A spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 years old are eligible for resettlement with Afghans who assisted the Canadian government. Additionally, Canada allows Afghan associates to bring dependent grandchildren under 22 years old and genuine relatives dependent on the family for emotional or financial reasons.
Online Application
Eligible individuals who assisted the Canadian government in Afghanistan can apply online for resettlement. To submit an application, the applicant should visit the Special Measures for Afghans website and complete the online forms.
When the main page opens, the applicant is asked:
- "Which situation are you contacting us about?" (Choose "Situation in Afghanistan")
- "What do you want to do?" (Choose "Ask about the special immigration measures for Afghans who helped the Government of Canada")
Next, the following questions are asked:
-
Which of the following applies to you?
- I'm an Afghan national who worked with the Canadian Armed Forces.
- I’m an Afghan national whose employment involved a significant or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada.
- I'm an Afghan interpreter who worked with the Canadian Armed Forces and was resettled to Canada under either the special immigration program (in 2009 or 2012) AND I want to support a member of my extended family in Afghanistan, or in a precarious situation elsewhere.
-
Who are you?
- I'm the principal applicant
- I'm an authorized representative
- I'm writing on behalf of the principal applicant
For the first question, applicants who worked with Canadian military forces select the first option. Those who worked with Canadian institutions or projects select the second option, and interpreters who migrated to Canada between 2009 and 2012 select the third option.
For the second question, the applicant chooses the first option if they are the principal applicant. If an authorized representative is submitting the application, they select the second option. If someone else is submitting on behalf of the applicant, they select the third option. For the second and third options, the applicant must complete additional forms Use of a Representative and Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual and upload them with other documents online.
The applicant must enter job title, work location, related institution, identification number, and, if possible, the name and contact information of the Canadian entity in the form. Documents proving the applicant worked with the Canadian government should be uploaded, including the applicant's passport and the passports of any eligible family members traveling with the applicant (if available). Only scans or copies of passports and work documents are uploaded at this stage. The applicant should not send any other documents or photos unless requested.
Finally, after uploading the files, the applicant clicks "Review Your Request." If all forms are completed correctly, a new page will display all provided information for review. The applicant checks the information for accuracy.
If the information is correct, the applicant ticks the "I’ve read and understand the above consent and disclaimer" box, indicating they willingly provide their personal information. The Canadian government may use this information as needed while striving to maintain confidentiality.
After completing the forms, the applicant clicks "Submit Your Request" to submit the application.
Important Application Notes
- Provide honest information.
- Enter family details, including names and birth dates.
- In up to 1500 words, introduce yourself and explain the risks faced due to assisting the Canadian government.
- Send documents in DOC, DOCX, PDF, JPG, TIFF, or PNG formats.
- Upload a maximum of five documents, including passports and work documents.
- The maximum file size for uploaded documents is 4.5 MB.
Should I Reapply?
Those who have already applied do not need to reapply. However, if circumstances have changed or new information or documents need to be added, they can update their application at the Special Measures Application.
Application Review
The application is reviewed by the Canadian government. If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria, Canada will contact the applicant for further processing. All previously submitted asylum applications from Afghanistan are currently under review.
What Happens After the Application Review?
Canada has not detailed the exact steps after application review, but it is expected they will contact eligible applicants at each stage and provide further guidance. The process may include an interview at a Canadian diplomatic mission or embassy in another country, ultimately leading to resettlement in Canada.
Planning to Move to a Third Country?
If you plan to leave Afghanistan, ensure you understand the travel requirements of the destination country, including passports and visas. Complying with immigration laws of the destination country is crucial to avoid detention or deportation, which could complicate your journey to Canada or any other desired country.
Help and Consultation
For more information on applying, visit the Government of Canada’s Refugees page. Further information on claiming asylum in Canada can be found on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website.
Ask for help from "Beporsed"
For those Afghans seeking specific information, "Beporsed" is here to help. You can reach our information center through WhatsApp (+93729807235), Facebook Messenger, or our website's Messenger to ask our online information desk officer for assistance.
For more information
For more information on immigration, resettlement, education and scholarship programs, and other opportunities available to Afghans worldwide, as well as details on the humanitarian services provided by international organizations in Afghanistan and procedures for obtaining civil documents from governmental institutions, please visit Beporsed's website and social media pages.
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