If you are in Canada, you start your refugee claim using a website called the IRCC Portal.
Understand the process of making a claim inside Canada
You must complete the IRCC Portal and submit the necessary documents online to start your refugee claim.
After you submit your application on the IRCC Portal, you will receive:
- An Acknowledgement of Claim document
- Instructions about how and when to complete your Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
You will be contacted by IRCC to complete an in-person biometrics appointment and your eligibility interview.
If your claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB-RPD, you will receive:
- A Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID)
- A letter that confirms your refugee claim has been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
If your claim is not eligible to be referred to the IRB-RPD, you will receive:
- A Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID)
- A letter that confirms your refugee claim was not eligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
See claims not eligible for referral to the IRB-RPD for more information.