Resettlement Program for Afghan Asylum Seekers in Canada Without UN Registration Requirement

The program is currently at full capacity and is only reviewing applications that were submitted earlier. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the IRCC website.

The Canadian government has introduced a special resettlement program for Afghan individuals at risk, supported by Group of 5 (G5) sponsors and community supporters. Under this program, applicants are not required to register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or other UN agencies, nor do they need to have refugee status determination (RSD). This program falls under community-supported and Group of 5 sponsorship categories, allowing Afghan applicants to immigrate to Canada, settle there, and eventually obtain Canadian citizenship.

This article analyzes the conditions and procedures for seeking asylum in Canada under the Group of 5 sponsorship program.

Who is Eligible for this Resettlement Program?

Afghan refugees outside Afghanistan who meet the definition of a refugee under the Convention and the conditions of the host country are financially supported under this special resettlement program. According to the Convention, a refugee is someone who has faced serious persecution in their home country for reasons including:

• Race

• Religion

• Nationality

• Sexual orientation

• Membership in a particular social group

• Political opinion

This means that women leaders, human rights defenders, religious or ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, journalists, and those who have assisted Canadian media and are now at risk can be eligible for this program.

To qualify, the applicant must be an Afghan national, must not have legal barriers to entering Canada, must not be inadmissible to Canada, must have the necessary documents for one of the accepted categories, must have left Afghanistan, and must be residing in another country. A spouse or partner and dependent children under 22 years of age are also eligible for resettlement under this program.

Conditions for Sponsorship

Afghan refugees outside Afghanistan who meet the refugee definition and conditions of the host country can be financially supported through this special resettlement program. There is no need to possess a refugee status determination document or UN card to apply for support.

Conditions for Sponsors

Group of 5 sponsors and community supporters can support Afghan refugees through this special resettlement program. You should review the conditions for Group of 5 sponsorship and community supporter sponsorship to determine your eligibility.

Before Applying:

Sponsors must complete the following steps before applying to support an Afghan refugee through this special program:

• Ensure they meet the conditions for Group of 5 sponsorship or community supporter sponsorship.

• Complete a special online training session with the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP). Depending on the type of sponsorship group, at least one member of a Group of 5 must complete the training.

• Community supporters must ensure that the officials and signatories of the group complete the training.

This training helps sponsors understand how to support refugees, what their responsibilities are, and how to manage the sponsorship process. Failure to complete this training will disqualify the sponsor from supporting Afghan refugees through this program.

After completing the training, the sponsor will receive a certificate from RSTP. This certificate must be attached to the application. Applications without this certificate will not be accepted. Learn how to register for this online training session.

The focus of this article is on Group of 5 sponsorship. You can read about community supporter sponsorship at this link.

Refugee Sponsorship through Group of 5

Refugees sponsored by a Group of 5 can immigrate to Canada. These groups must financially support the refugees for up to one year, covering all living expenses, including furniture, clothing, monthly costs such as housing, food, and transportation, as well as social and emotional support.

Applicants can contact a Group of 5 in Canada and agree on covering some or all of their expenses. To qualify as a Group of 5, each member must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, live in the same province where the refugee will settle, and support the refugee financially for one year. The group must demonstrate a strong financial position and prove they can cover the costs associated with resettlement.

To form a Group of 5, five Canadian citizens or permanent residents with good financial standing can collaborate to sponsor friends, family, and other eligible individuals to resettle in Canada.

For more information on forming Group of 5 sponsorships, visit this link.

Application Process by Group of 5:

Groups of 5 that meet Canadian government requirements can sponsor eligible individuals and submit applications for asylum or humanitarian visas.

For detailed guidance on completing forms and submitting applications for eligible individuals by Group of 5 sponsors, visit this link.

Forms for Group of 5 Sponsors:

Groups of 5 sponsors must download and complete the following forms:

• IMM 5670E: Group of 5 Sponsorship and Resettlement Plan

• IMM 5492E: Group of 5 Assessment

• IMM 5373BE: Financial Status of Group of 5

Read the detailed guidance on completing forms for Group of 5 sponsors at this link.

Forms for Sponsored Individuals:

Eligible refugees must download and complete the following forms:

• IMM 0008ENU: General Application

• IMM 5669E: Information on the Applicant

• IMM 0008: For applicants 18 years or older, to be completed separately

• IMM 5476E: Representative form, to be completed if someone else fills out the forms on behalf of the applicants

Detailed guidance on completing forms for sponsored individuals can be found at this link.

Where to Send the Application:

Groups of 5 should send their completed application package via email to: IRCC.INROCO-CORORI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. After sending the application, the sponsor will receive an automatic confirmation email verifying receipt of the application package.

The Canadian government advises that, in addition to sending the application by email, the physical application package should also be sent to:

Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O)
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1

Read the detailed guidelines, conditions, and criteria for sending applications by sponsors at this link.

Important Application Notes:

• Provide honest information.

• Submit documents in PDF format.

• Ensure high quality and readability of documents.

• Submit a total of 6 separate forms.

• Each form should not exceed 5 MB.

• The total application size should not exceed 10 MB.

• Do not submit documents in a Zip Folder; they will be rejected.

• Attach all required documents.

• Ensure receipt of an automatic reply confirming the application submission.

• Include the email subject as: “G5 Application – Principal Applicant FAMILY NAME, First name”.

• Keep a copy of all application forms.

Application Review:

The applications and supporting documents sent by Group of 5 sponsors will be reviewed by the Canadian government. The Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) is responsible for reviewing the applications and will assign a G-Number to each application. Incomplete applications or missing documents will prompt ROC-O to contact the Group of 5 for additional information. The sponsor can use this number to track the application status.

Applicants can check the status and progress of their application at this link.

Acceptance of Application:

The final decision on the acceptance or rejection of individuals for resettlement is made by the ROC-O. An immigration officer at ROC-O will review the application and supporting documents to