Who can apply

If your asylum claim is ineligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or if your asylum claim is rejected by the IRB, you will need to leave Canada. When the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) starts the removal process, an officer will check if you are eligible for a Pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA).

You can only apply for a PRRA if a CBSA officer tells you that you are eligible.

Who’s not eligible for a PRRA

You can’t apply for a PRRA if you:

•  made a refugee claim that was ineligible because of the Safe Third Country Agreement
•  were found to be a Convention refugee in another country to which you can return
•  are a protected person and already have refugee protection in Canada
•  are subject to extradition

Waiting period

In most cases, you must wait 12 months after the last negative decision you have received to apply for a PRRA. This applies if:

• you received a negative decision from the IRB
• you received a negative decision from IRCC on a previous PRRA application
• you abandon or withdraw your refugee claim or your PRRA application, or
• the Federal court refuses your attempt to have your refugee claim or PRRA decision reviewed

If the 12-month waiting period applies, you won’t be eligible to submit a PRRA application until the waiting period is over.

You may be exempt from the 12 month waiting period depending on the situation in your country. Find out which countries are exempt from this waiting period.