Government Assisted Refugee (GAR program)
(REF-OVS-2)
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
A person outside Canada who is confirmed to be a Convention Refugee may be entitled to receive support after resettlement in Canada. The government-assisted refugee is selected from referrals received by an authorized organization. The sequence of processing stages is outlined below.
1. Identification of refugee
2. Eligibility assessments
- Eligibility assessment
- Assessment of potential for resettlement in Quebec
- Assessment of potential for blended-visa office referral (BVOR)
- Assessment of potential for joint assistance sponsorship (JAS)
3. Admissibility assessments
4. Final decisions for resettlement
- Final decision - resettlement to Canada
- Final decision - program selection (GAR, Quebec GAR, BVOR or JAS program)
- Final decision - destination in Canada (GAR program only)
5. Arrangements for resettlement and support in Canada
Cases for priority or special processing
Considerations for assessing and processing special or priority case groups. Includes cases referred for urgent protection, vulnerable cases, public policies, applicants who are persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity expression (SOGIE-LGBTQI) and other groups requiring special attention.
Resettlement: Program delivery partners – roles and responsibilities
Key partners within and outside of IRCC and their respective responsibilities regarding resettlement.
Temporary public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of specific refugees previously sponsored by a sponsorship agreement holder
Following the cancellation of a Sponsorship Agreement Holder’s (SAH) sponsorship agreement, refugee applicants sponsored by that SAH who have received a positive sponsorship decision, will have 90 days to find a new sponsor