Understand the IRCC Portal
If you are already inside Canada when you start your refugee claim, you will submit your refugee claim using a website called the IRCC Portal. You will answer questions and send in your BOC Form and documents through the portal. IRCC uses the information you submit to decide if you are eligible to make a refugee claim. The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) will receive a copy of all this information if you are found eligible.
Prepare your documents
Before you use the portal, these are the important documents to have ready:
- Your complete Basis of Claim (BOC) Form
- your passport or travel document
- Use of a Representative form (if you have a representative)
- Declaration – Authorization for representative to submit refugee claim through the IRCC Portal (if your representative is doing the claim for you)
Create your IRCC Portal account
Once you have your documents ready, you can go to the IRCC Portal to create an account.
How to start
Take the following steps:
- Create an invitation code to sign up for an account.
- Sign up for an account on the IRCC Portal.
- Once you have signed into your account, click “Start an application” and then select “Make a refugee claim”.
You make just one IRCC Portal account for you and your family members. You, your spouse, and children will each have your own profile in the portal.
Use the IRCC Portal to make your claim
Once your account has been set up, you must begin to answer all the questions on the portal.
In the portal, you will be asked about:
- your legal representative
- personal information
- contact information
- family
- travel history
- address history, including places you moved to or hid in
- education, work, and other activities
- security issues
- medical history
- details about your claim
Documents
You need to submit documents through the IRCC Portal. Some documents are required, and others are optional.
You need to send in PDF format:
- Your complete BOC Form
- Your passport or travel document
- Use of a Representative form (if applicable)
- Declaration – Authorization for representative to submit refugee claim through the IRCC Portal (if your representative is sending in the claim for you)
You can also upload other documents for your claim at this time. If you do not have a legal representative, it is a good idea to wait and do this later with your representative. Try to get legal help with your evidence. You have up to ten days before your hearing to send in evidence.
Tips for using the IRCC Portal
- Get a lawyer or other legal representative to help you if you can.
- Your answers must be in English or French. Stay in control of your answers if you have an interpreter. Ask them to read all the questions and answers back to you in your language.
- Do not guess or make up dates. If you do not know the exact day for a Day/Month/Year date, you can put the first day of the month. Write a letter to explain that you did this.
- You can also send a letter to explain if you had trouble using the portal and could not fill in some part of it properly.
Submit your claim
Once you answer all the questions and upload your documents, you can submit your claim. Be careful! After you click “Submit Application,” you cannot change or add information. Do not press “Submit Application” until you have checked that all the information and forms are correct and complete. If possible, have a lawyer or your legal representative look over everything.
Once your claim has been submitted, IRCC will send you an email to say they received it.
After you submit in your claim
After you send in your claim online, IRCC will review it to make sure it is complete.
If it is complete, IRCC will:
- Send you an Acknowledgement of Claim letter, which will help you get services and programs.
- Send you a Medical Report form and instructions for getting an Immigration Medical Exam (IME).
- Send you a letter about your next appointment.
If your claim is incomplete, IRCC will tell you what is missing.
IRCC may send you letters or notices about your application through your portal account. If this happens, you will get an email from IRCC telling you to check your account. Make sure you check your email regularly, including your spam folder, so you don’t miss anything from IRCC. Sign in to your account to see updates on your claim.