Who can become a sponsor

To become a sponsorship agreement holder (SAH), your organization must:

• have been incorporated (a legal organization) for at least 2 years
• be physically located in Canada
• be able to sponsor more than 5 refugee families per year
• have the resources and support network to be an effective SAH

Your organization’s main contact, president (or equivalent), and any representative you authorize to submit sponsorship applications on your behalf must:

• be 18 years of age or older
• be a Canadian citizen, Registered Indian or permanent resident of Canada
• live in or have at least 2 representatives in the same community the refugee will live in
• be eligible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

If you want to work with a SAH as a constituent group (CG) or co-sponsor

If you want to help sponsor refugees as an individual, you can work with a SAH as a co-sponsor.

If you’re a group, you can work with a SAH as a constituent group (CG) or co-sponsor.

SAHs are still responsible for each refugee sponsored under their agreement.

SAHs will also:

• decide how the relationship should work and what criteria you need to meet
• monitor your performance and sponsorship activities

Find a SAH to work with.

Organizations in Quebec can’t become SAHs

If you’re in Quebec, you need to go through a different process to sponsor refugees.