Why Private Sponsorship Matters
While PRSN isn’t involved in establishing private sponsor groups or recruiting group members or finding groups for those who want to sponsor newcomers, or helping to submit settlement plans to sponsorship agreement holders (SAHs), we focus on post-arrival issues and offer great information resources to help you learn about the process and how to get started on the road to sponsoring. By connecting, learning and sharing, we work toward achieving best practice in newcomer resettlement leading to faster and more efficient integration into Canadian life.
Canada’s Leadership
Every day there are millions of refugees worldwide seeking safety from conflict and persecution and thousands choose to come to Canada each year.
Canada established the first private refugee sponsorship program in 1979 where private citizens and the community were directly involved in the resettlement of refugees. It has become a model for other countries around the world.
Studies have shown that through personal and financial support, commitment of time and strong relationships, privately sponsored refugees experience a smoother long-term integration compared to government assisted refugees.
Who can become a private sponsor
- Faith-based Sponsors: Church congregations or parishes with the ability to support resettlement by raising money and have a volunteer base to settle newcomers through sponsorship agreement holders
- Community Sponsors: Local organizations with the ability to support resettlement by raising money and have a volunteer base to settle newcomers through sponsorship agreement holders
- Groups of Five (G5): Five or more eligible Canadians with financial and settlement capacity collectively sponsor a refugee directly through government
How it Works
- Sponsors raise the necessary funds to support the sponsored individual or family for their first year in Canada, covering all expenditures
- They initiate the process by submitting a refugee sponsorship application package to either a sponsorship agreement holder, if they are from a faith-based or community sponsor group, or directly to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, as a G5 sponsor
Helpful Resources