About Canada Programs for Afghans:
Canada Humanitarian Program for Vulnerable Afghan Nationals is under the Canadian government in 2023 which is committed to welcoming Afghan refugees to Canada. According to the migration plan, we will resettle at least 40,000 Afghan refugees annually until 2025.
We will do this through a number of programs and special measures that will resettle in four ways:
- Special immigration measures program for Afghan nationals who assisted the government of Canada (18000)
- Special humanitarian program focused on resettling vulnerable Afghan nationals (14000)
- Pathway to permanent residence for extended family members of former interpreters (5000)
- Special program to sponsor Afghan refugees without refugee status from the UNHCR or a foreign state (3000)
About Humanitarian Program:
As part of the migration plan, we announced a special humanitarian program until 2025 to resettle vulnerable Afghan nationals outside of Afghanistan.
The aim of this resettlement program is a mix of
- Government-assisted refugees and
- Private sponsored refugees
Eligibility of Afghan humanitarian program:
To be eligible for this program you must meet all of the following requirements:
- You are Afghan Nationals
- You are outside of Afghanistan
- You don’t have a stable solution in a third country and
- You are part of one of the following groups:
- Women leaders
- Human rights defenders
- Religious or ethnic minorities have been persecuted
- LGBTI individuals
- Journalists and those who helped Canadian journalists
What to do if you think you might be eligible?
You should register for refugee status with either the
- United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- Go to third country legally in which you now live
To resettle in Canada as either a government-assisted refugee or a privately sponsored refugee, you need to be:
- referred by one of the following
- the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- Go to third country legally in which you now live
One of the other organizations we’re working with for this program
- identified by a private sponsor
We’re also prioritizing applications of eligible immediate family members joining Afghans currently in Canada.
Read about: Switzerland Humanitarian Visa For Vulnerable Afghans
How to Apply for Afghan Humanitarian Program?
We’re working with trusted international and Canadian partners to implement this new humanitarian program for Afghans.
You can’t apply directly to this humanitarian program.
Generally, The program will resettle Afghan nationals in 2 ways.
1. Government-assisted refugees
Under the Government Assisted Refugee Program, we resettle Afghan nationals in Canada and provide support for up to one year after arrival.
You must be referred to us by one of the following referral partners:
- United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- Learn about UNHCR’s refugee resettlement process.
- Frontline Defenders (just for human rights defenders)
- ProtectDefender.eu (just for human rights defenders)
Note: There is currently a high level of need among Afghan human rights defenders. Front Line Defenders and ProtectDefender.eu can only identify human rights defenders who are most at risk. if you are a human rights defenders must actively promote and support human rights and face a direct risk because of this work. These organizations nominate you to Canada government.
2. Privately sponsored refugees
You can also resettle to Canada if a group sponsors you as a refugee.
Sponsors could be either
- a sponsorship agreement holder
- an organization, or a group of 5 or more people.
Sponsor groups would support you for the sponsorship period, which is usually up to 1 year.
Their support includes:
- start-up costs, like furniture and clothing
- ongoing monthly costs for necessities like housing, food and public transportation
- social and emotional support
For more information, click on the Official Website of Canada
Other Humanitarian Visa: