IRCC guidance says Group of Five and Community Sponsor applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program must include valid proof that each principal applicant has been recognized as a refugee by the UNHCR or a foreign state.
RSD documents are a sponsorship requirement for G5 and Community Sponsors
A refugee status determination (RSD) is the legal or administrative process through which a state or organization such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) formally recognizes a person seeking protection as a refugee.
For Group of Five (G5) and Community Sponsor (CS) applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program, a valid RSD document is required for each principal applicant, including a principal applicant who is a de facto dependant. The requirement does not extend to dependants included in an application.
The RSD document requirement is a sponsorship requirement, not an eligibility criterion for the Country of Asylum class or the Convention Refugee class. Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) are exempt from providing an RSD document. The guidance does not apply in Quebec, which has its own sponsorship requirements.
What counts as valid RSD documentation
State-issued documents should state that the applicant has been recognized as a refugee by the state. They must be issued by the state's decision-making authority for asylum claimants and follow a positive assessment through a formal RSD process.
UNHCR-issued documents should state that the applicant has been recognized as a refugee by the UNHCR and include the applicant's name, UNHCR registration number, the name and address of the issuing UNHCR office, and the name, title and signature of a designated UNHCR officer.
Documents generally not accepted as RSD proof
IRCC guidance identifies several documents that are generally not valid RSD documents:
- UNHCR- or state-issued Asylum Seeker Certificates
- UNHCR Registration Cards
- Documents issued by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
- UNHCR letters issued on behalf of registered individuals to obtain assistance from government authorities or NGOs
- State-issued travel documents for Palestinian nationals intended to facilitate travel
Options where refugee determinations are paused
Where a state has imposed a moratorium on refugee status determinations, earlier positive RSD determinations remain valid. Other applicants living in those countries would have to apply through an SAH as an alternative pathway within the PSR program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an RSD document have to be provided for every family member in an application?
No. The requirement applies to principal applicants, including principal applicants who are de facto dependants. It does not extend to dependants included in the application.
What happens if a country has a moratorium on refugee status determinations?
Previous positive RSD determinations remain valid. Other applicants residing in the country would have to apply through an SAH as an alternative pathway in the PSR program.
Source: Official IRCC announcement