Immigration options for victims of family violence
On this page
- Temporary resident permit for victims of family violence
- If you want to stay in Canada permanently
- More information and resources for victims of family violence
Temporary resident permit for victims of family violence
We can help protect you by giving you a special permit to stay in Canada temporarily. It’s called a temporary resident permit (TRP) for victims of family violence. It will give you temporary resident status in Canada, so you can escape your situation and prepare for your next steps. You can also get this permit for your children, if they are in Canada and don’t hold temporary resident status.
Benefits of having a family violence TRP
You may need a family violence TRP:
- to escape the abuse of your spouse or common-law partner
- to give you time to decide whether you want to leave Canada or consider other immigration options
- to help make sure you are not separated from your children in Canada while you decide your next steps
- to legally work in Canada
Who is eligible for a family violence TRP?
- You may be issued a family violence TRP if you meet these 4 requirements.
- You are:
- an out-of-status foreign national
- physically living in Canada
- experiencing abuse or neglect by your spouse or common-law partner (your abuser) while in Canada
- seeking permanent residence that depends on remaining in a genuine relationship with your abuser.
What you should know about family violence TRPs
- In Canada, you do not have to testify against your abuser to get temporary resident status.
- We can issue your first family violence TRP for at least 12 months. Depending on your situation, you might be able to apply for another family violence TRP at the end of the first period.
- You do not have to pay fees for your first family violence TRP, or for a new family violence TRP if you apply for another one. You also do not have to pay biometrics fees.
- If you get a family violence TRP, you can :
- get coverage for trauma counselling and health care benefits through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
- apply for a fee-exempt work permit or study permit
Changes to family violence temporary resident permit length and fees
As of February 4, 2025, you can now get a family violence TRP for at least 12 months.
We’ll also be waiving fees not only for the initial family violence TRP, but also for new family violence TRPs, work permits, study permits and biometrics.
How to apply for a family violence TRP
1. Gather your documents you’ll need to submit
- Supporting evidence about your situation or abuse.
- A document with your updated address, telephone number and email where it is safe to contact you about your application
- A copy of your original passport and any identity documents in your possession;
- Any other relevant documents to support your application.
Get your documents translated and certified if they’re not in English or French
Each supporting document that isn’t in English or French must have 2 parts:
- an English or French translation that’s:
- stamped by a certified translator
- Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number.
- The translator should also photocopy your original document and stamp it if that’s what they based the translation on.
- All stamps and seals that aren’t in English or French must also be translated.
- You can include a scanned copy of a letter explaining that you don’t need an affidavit because you used a certified translator.
- accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, swearing that their translation is true and accurate,
- The affidavit must be signed in the presence of an authorized person
- Use this option only if a translation cannot be completed by a certified translator.
- Both the translated document and the original document the translator worked from must be referred to in the affidavit.
- stamped by a certified translator
- a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document, that the translator worked from.
- You only need to provide a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document if the translation was based on the certified photocopy.
Who cannot translate documents?
- Your family members
- Your immigration representative or consultant
Get copies of documents certified
To have a copy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare it to the original document and print the following on the copy:
- “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.”
- the name of the original document
- the date of the certification
- the name of the authorized person
- their official position or title
- their signature
Who can certify copies and be the witness to an affidavit
In Canada, examples of authorized persons who can certify the copies of your original documents and be the witness to an affidavit include:
- a notary public
- a commissioner of oaths
- a commissioner of taking affidavits
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your provincial or territorial authorities to be sure who can certify your documents.
Outside Canada, each country has different authorities to certify documents. A notary public may be able to certify your documents, but you should check with your local authorities to be sure.
Who cannot certify copies or be the witness to an affidavit
An authorized person can’t certify a copy of a document or be the witness to an affidavit if they’re also:
- the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (if this applies)
- a family member of the principal applicant or the applicant’s sponsor (parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin)
2. Complete the forms
Read the instruction guide (opens in a new tab) for instructions on how to complete your application.
- Fill out an application form to remain in Canada as a temporary resident permit holder (IMM 5708) (opens in a new tab)
- Fill out an additional application form if you’re also applying for a study permit or a work permit.
- If a representative is acting on your behalf:
- fill out the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)(opens in a new tab) form
- sign it digitally or by hand and get your representative to do so as well
3. Mail your application
Send your application to the IRCC Vulnerable Persons Unit at the address below, and make sure you write the letters “FV” on the outside of the envelope to help us quickly identify your application:
FV
IRCC – VPU
5343 Dundas Street West, Suite 105
Toronto, ON M9B 6K5
Track your application
If you submit a paper application, we recommend that you use a postal or courier service with a tracking number to ensure you get proof that your application was delivered to the IRCC office.
Find out how to check if your application has been received.
Have your application considered for a regular TRP
You can have your application considered for a regular TRP if your application for a family violence TRP is refused.
When submitting your application, you can:
- provide all the information and circumstances that you want us to consider for a regular TRP application.
- pay the processing fees online(opens in a new tab) including the TRP processing fee and any processing fees for a work or study permit.
- If your application for a family violence TRP is approved, these processing fees will be refunded.
If your application for family violence TRP is refused and is considered for a regular TRP, it will be transferred to the Case Processing Centre in Edmonton for processing.
- Regular TRP applications have no standard processing time.
If you want to stay in Canada permanently
We’re speeding up the processing time for individuals in urgent situations of family violence who apply for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. This will reduce delays between the time we receive an application and when we make an eligibility decision. This means that we’ll process applications for these individuals faster, with the goal of removing them from abusive situations as quickly as possible.
You’re only eligible for an expedited eligibility decision if:
- you’re experiencing family violence in Canada by a spouse or common-law partner, and
- you’re dependent on your abusive spouse or common-law partner to keep your immigration status
Below are situations of family violence that may meet the eligibility criteria for an expedited eligibility decision. If one of these situations applies to you, you may be able to apply for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds:
- You’re in Canada and seeking permanent residence that is dependent on staying in a genuine relationship with an abusive spouse or common-law partner. You’re dependent on staying in that abusive relationship to keep your immigration status in Canada.
- You’re a foreign national who can’t be assessed for permanent residence because your abusive sponsor has withdrawn their family class application.
- You have been falsely told by an abusive spouse or common-law partner that they have submitted a family class application and it is in process, but in fact, they have not submitted an application.
- You’re a temporary resident who wants to apply for permanent residence through a genuine relationship, but
- that relationship has become abusive, and
- you may not yet have an application in process
Make sure you clearly describe your situation of family violence in your application.
How to apply for permanent residence (PR) on humanitarian and compassionate grounds as a victim of family violence
If you haven’t submitted an application for PR
- Follow the instructions (opens in a new tab) to apply for PR on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and select the category “FV – In Canada – Humanitarian and compassionate considerations” when creating an application in the Permanent Residence Portal.
- Send a request for the application to be reviewed due to family violence by emailing us at DNHM-Vexternal-RNMH-Vexterne.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.
Make sure to
- write the letters “FV” in the subject line
- request “FV” processing and include your client account email address in the body of the email
If you’ve already submitted an application for PR
If you’re experiencing family violence in Canada and already have a PR application in process, you can tell us about it by submitting a web form.
In the web form:
- Let us know that you:
- have a PR application in process
- are currently living in Canada
- are requesting consideration due to family violence
- Upload:
- a letter with details of your situation
- any additional supporting documents and information you may have
You can also contact our Client Support Centre.
More information and resources for victims of family violence
You can speak to an agent at our Client Support Centre about your immigration status or get more information about applying for a family violence TRP or permanent residence on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds as a victim of family violence
How to contact the Client Support Centre
| Contact | Details |
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Client Support Centre agent (in Canada only)
Agents can’t
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1-888-242-2100
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Teletypewriter (TTY) service Call us via the Bell Relay service if you are hearing impaired or if you have a speech impediment. |
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (your local time) Not available on statutory holidays |
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If needed, they will put you in contact with support groups that help victims of family violence.
You can also:
- call 2-1-1 to find community, social and health services
- find more services and information at the links provided below
Other Government of Canada links
- Safety planning guide for victims of family violence
- Help for spouses or partners who are victims of abuse
- Violence and abuse – Information and services
- Government of Canada Family Violence Initiative
- Victim Services Directory
- Find free newcomer services near you
- Legal Aid Program
- Abuse is wrong in any language
- Intimate partner violence and abuse
- Effects of family violence on children (PDF, 0.6 MB)
Provincial and territorial resources
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
If you are in Ontario and experiencing domestic violence, you can have a free consultation with a private lawyer by calling 1-800-668-8258.
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon