Canada Eases Exit Rules for Refugees Seeking Resettlement

Canada has updated its refugee resettlement instructions to make the process more flexible for people who cannot get permission to leave the country where they are staying.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says applicants do not need to provide an exit permit or proof of legal status in their host country before officers can process a permanent residence visa. The department says these documents are not required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act when issuing a visa for refugee resettlement.

The change helps people who qualify for resettlement but face barriers outside their control. In some host countries, refugees need an exit permit before leaving. Some cannot get one because they lack legal status, cannot afford high registration fees, or face other restrictions.

Exit Permit No Longer a Reason for Refusal

Under the new instructions, officers can continue processing an application even when an applicant cannot provide an exit permit. If the person is not inadmissible to Canada and meets the resettlement program rules, the officer should approve the application.

The guidance makes clear that being unable to get an exit permit is not a valid reason to refuse an application. The permit may still be needed to leave the host country, but it is not needed for Canada to decide the case.

Three Options When Travel Is Blocked

The instructions explain what can happen when an applicant cannot leave the host country after the file is reviewed.

First, the applicant may withdraw the application. IRCC cannot do this on its own. Only the applicant or their authorized representative can request withdrawal.

Second, an officer may place the file on hold if the situation could change soon. A hold is usually limited to up to six months. It cannot continue without an end date because IRCC must process applications in a timely way. Medical exams may expire during this period and may need another review.

Third, the officer may make a final decision. If the applicant meets all program requirements, IRCC can approve the case and issue a permanent residence visa. The applicant then has until the visa expires to leave the host country and travel to Canada. If the person cannot travel before the visa expires, the file closes internally and a new application is needed.

Family Members May Be Listed Differently

The update also gives more room for urgent family situations. In exceptional cases, such as a serious threat to life or physical safety, a principal applicant may ask to change dependants who cannot leave from “accompanying” to “non-accompanying.”

This allows the main applicant, and any other eligible family members, to come to Canada without further delay. However, it may also mean leaving some family members behind.

Those relatives may later seek to come to Canada through other programs, including the One-Year Window or Family Class sponsorship. The One-Year Window is for resettled refugees who declared certain family members, such as a spouse, partner, or dependent children, in the original application but could not include them at the same time. The request must be made within one year of arriving in Canada as a permanent resident.

Approval is not automatic. Family members must still meet the rules of the program they apply under.