If you are going to be removed from Canada, you may be able to apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). A PRRA is an application where you ask for protection from being sent back to a country where you are at risk of persecution, torture, or cruel treatment or punishment. This is similar to what the IRB looks at when they decide your refugee claim. One difference is that the IRB is not involved in the PRRA process. CBSA will invite you to apply for a PRRA, and IRCC will make the decision on your PRRA application.
You may be told you can apply for a PRRA after your refugee claim is rejected by the IRB, or if you abandoned or withdrew your claim.
Who can apply
CBSA will tell you if you can apply for a PRRA. You cannot just decide to apply for one. CBSA will provide you with a Notification Regarding a PRRA. This explains your right to complete a PRRA and the deadlines when you need to complete it by. Read this notice carefully.
Remaining in Canada
You may wonder if you can stay in Canada while your PRRA application is being decided.
If this is your first PRRA application, you will be allowed to stay in Canada while your PRRA application is being decided. To make sure you can stay in Canada, be careful to meet the deadlines in the Notification Regarding a PRRA.
You will not be allowed to stay in Canada if:
- You miss the PRRA application deadline.
- This is not your first PRRA application.
- You are applying for a PRRA from a Port of Entry (POE).
How to apply
CBSA will give you an application form and instruction guide. Fill in the Application for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment form. Any family members in Canada who are 18 years of age or older must do their own form.
Check the deadline for this application form on your Notification Regarding a PRRA. Usually you must send this form to IRCC within 15 days of receiving the notification form.
The next step is to prepare and submit written documents (submissions) that describe your situation. This is your chance to explain why you think you would be at risk if sent back to your country. You must send these documents to IRCC within 30 days of receiving the PRRA notification form.
In these submissions, it is important that you clearly answer the following questions:
- Why would I be at risk if I was returned to the country?
- What kind of risks would I face and why?
- How are these risks tied to me personally?
- Can I move to another part of the country?
- Does everyone else in the country have the same risk?
You can include evidence to support your submissions. These are documents that show you are at risk in your country. Some examples are:
- Newspaper articles describing the situation in your country
- Legal documents
- Police documents
- Medical documents
- Written testimonies
- Personal letters
If your refugee claim or an earlier PRRA application was rejected, you are not allowed to include evidence that you have already submitted to support your refugee claim. You are only allowed to give new evidence. This is evidence you got after the rejection, or that you could not get earlier for a good reason.
Submit your application and documents
Submit your completed PRRA application form, written documents (submissions) and evidence by mail to the IRCC office on your Notification Regarding a PRRA. You can also submit your PRRA application through Canada Post’s Connect service. Pay close attention to the deadlines on this notice.
After you apply
IRCC will look at your PRRA application and make a decision.
IRCC usually makes the decision just by looking at the application forms and documents you have provided. Sometimes IRCC will ask you to come to a hearing if they have questions to ask you. If you need to attend a hearing IRCC will send you a notice with the time, date, location, and issues they want to discuss.
Your application is accepted
If your PRRA application is accepted, you usually become a protected person. This means you can apply for permanent residence.
Your application is not accepted
If your PRRA application is rejected, you must leave Canada.
You can apply to the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review. You will still have to leave Canada unless you obtain an administrative stay of removal or ask the court for a temporary stay of removal.