Convention refugee

A convention refugee is a person that is outside of their country of origin and have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. They have been given permission by the Immigration and Refugee Board to stay in Canada.

Refugee claimant 

A refugee claimant is a person that has applied for refugee status while in Canada and is waiting for the Immigration and Refugee Board to determine whether refugee status should be given.

If you are a convention refugee or a refugee claimant, you can receive services free of charge to help you live, learn and work in Peel, or with your immigration process. To find where you can receive assistance, see the full list of Settlement Agencies that can help.

You can learn more about Refugee Programs on the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

Programs and services for refugees

Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) is a program designed to support the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) of Canada, their Constituent Groups, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors on a national level (excl. Quebec). Here you can find information on how to complete IRCC refugee sponsorship forms.

Virtual Newcomer Information Centre is designed for convention refugees and permanent residents to assist them with their transition to new life in Canada.

The Virtual Newcomer Information Centre offers:

• Online one-to-one counselling sessions provided by Employment and Information Specialists
• Orientation to the job market and Canadian workplace culture
• Assistance with resume preparation
• Information& Referral services on education, training, housing, government programs, legal and social services, health care services, citizenship and more
• Online workshops and information sessions related to topics such as; Canadian workplace culture, resume & cover letter, interview skills, job search strategies, Canadian tax system and more.

Refugee Services:

Health related resources:

Interim Federal Health Program - information sheet from IRCC (formerly CIC) for newly arriving Syrian refugees and sponsors

Refugee Health Line - 1-866-286-4770 - you can call this number to find a health service provider who can help with initial medical assessments and referrals to other health services. This is not an emergency or crisis line.

For more information visit Government of Canada refugee services.