Private sponsorship is one of the most human parts of Canada’s immigration system: ordinary people, faith groups and community organizations commit a year of their time, money and friendship so that a refugee family can start over. If you are thinking about it, you are thinking about something remarkable. Some routes are paused right now, so this guide shows you what is open, what each route asks of you, and other ways to help in the meantime.
The ways to sponsor, and where they stand
| Stream | Who sponsors | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship Agreement Holders | Organizations, often faith groups, with an agreement with IRCC, sometimes working with community partners | Open for existing holders; no intake for new holders in 2026 |
| Group of Five | Five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the community where the refugee will live | Paused until December 31, 2026, except through BVOR |
| Community Sponsor | An organization, association or corporation in that community | Paused until December 31, 2026, except through BVOR |
| Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) | Private sponsors matched with refugees referred by the UN Refugee Agency, sharing costs with the government | Open |
| Joint Assistance Sponsorship | Sponsorship Agreement Holders supporting refugees with special needs, alongside the government | Open |
What sponsors commit to
- Financial support for 12 months, or until the refugee can support themselves, covering food, rent and everyday needs, plus start-up costs such as furniture and household items.
- Settlement support for the same 12 months: meeting them at the airport, finding a home, enrolling children in school, connecting them to language classes, health care and work, and simply being there.
- For a Group of Five: every member must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or older, living in the community where the refugee will settle, with a settlement plan and proof of funds for the year.
What a year of support costs
| Family size | Full private sponsorship | Sponsor’s share under BVOR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,400 | $12,550 |
| 4 people | $34,100 | $21,250 |
| 6 people | $38,100 | $24,700 |
| Each additional person | $3,000 | $2,200 |
For one person, the full amount is about $17,700 in income support ($1,475 a month) and $3,700 in start-up costs. Under BVOR, the government pays 6 months of income support and the sponsor pays the other 6 months plus start-up costs, while still giving the full year of settlement support. The figures are a national guide; actual amounts follow the Resettlement Assistance Program rates where the refugee lives.
How a sponsorship unfolds
- 01
Choose your route
Connect with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder in your area, or form a group to sponsor through BVOR while the other routes are paused.
- 02
Plan and raise the funds
Write a settlement plan, gather your volunteers and raise or set aside the year of support.
- 03
Apply to IRCC
Submit the sponsorship application. Refugees processed abroad also go through interviews, medical exams and security checks.
- 04
Welcome them
When the family arrives, the year of support begins: housing, school, health care, language classes and friendship.
- 05
Walk with them to independence
Most sponsors say the year ends in a lasting bond. The goal is a family standing on its own in its new home.
Government-assisted refugees and the bigger picture
Alongside private sponsors, the government resettles refugees referred by the UN Refugee Agency or other referral organizations; individuals cannot apply for this program themselves. In its 2027 to 2029 levels plan, Canada plans to welcome 11,750 government-assisted refugees and 17,550 privately sponsored refugees each year, out of 49,300 refugees and protected persons in total.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor a specific refugee I know?
Often, yes: sponsors can identify the person they want to help, which IRCC calls a sponsor-referred case. For a Group of Five, the refugee needs a document showing their refugee status from the UN Refugee Agency or a government. A Sponsorship Agreement Holder can tell you what it accepts.
Is Group of Five sponsorship closed for good?
No. It is paused for new applications until December 31, 2026. IRCC has not yet announced what happens after that date, so check the sponsorship notices page for updates.
Can I sponsor a refugee if I live in Quebec?
Sponsors in Quebec apply through the Government of Quebec, which has its own sponsorship rules and intake.
How else can I help if I cannot sponsor right now?
You can volunteer with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder or a local settlement agency, donate to a sponsoring group, or join a BVOR sponsorship, where costs are shared with the government.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- Sponsors commit to 12 months of financial and settlement support.
- New Group of Five and Community Sponsor applications are paused until December 31, 2026, except through BVOR.
- A year of full private support for one person is about $21,400.
- IRCC: Sponsor a refugee (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Groups of Five (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Sponsorship Agreement Holders (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Supplementary information, 2027 to 2029 levels plan (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026