Subject: Refugee Rights in Canada

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects all people in Canada including refugee rights. Canada provides refugee protection to Convention refugees, refugee claimants, people in need of protection, or persons waiting for the decision from Pre-Removal Risk Assessment from CIC. If you fall under any of those categories or if your claim for refugee protection is still in progress, you have certain rights and may have access to special Canadian services.

The services help newcomers with a refugee status to settle down in Canada and include programs for:

• Health Care
• Financial Assistance
• Settlement Assistance
• Employment
• Education

HEALTH CARE

Protected persons and refugee claimants are able to get temporary health-care coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).

The IFHP coverage consists of:

• Basic coverage
• Supplemental Coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Coverage for the immigration medical exam (IME)

You can find more information about the benefits for each coverage at IFHP: Summary of coverage 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Convention refugees and refugee claimants are eligible to get financial help from Canadian Government under the following programs:

Resettlement Assistance Program provides refugees with such refugee rights as:

• support at the port of entry or at the airport;
• temporary accommodation;
• the assistance in finding the permanent place for a living;
• money for basic household items;
• orientation to life in Canada.

Good to know:

• The Resettlement Assistance Program funds will provide the refugee with the income support up to one year or until the person becomes self-efficient.
• Refugees claiming refugee protection from inside Canada are not considered eligible for this program.

Immigration Loans Program covers:

• medical examination expenses;
• the cost of processing travel documents;
• transportation to Canada expenditures;
• housing rental and telephone deposits and work tools.

Good to know:

• The loan amount depends on the applicant’s needs and ability to repay.
• There is an interest charged for the program’s loans.

SETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

This program helps people with refugee status to adapt to country’s environment and lifestyle. It includes:

• loans to travel to Canada;
• assistance upon arrival;
• cultural orientation;
• useful resources recommendations;
• translation and interpretation services;
• language courses;
• job-related orientation.

EMPLOYMENT

If you have applied for a refugee protection in Canada and your refugee claim is still processing, you can get employment authorization to work while you are waiting for the decision of your claim. In order to get it, the claimants must prove that they cannot support themselves without work. Generally, people who find it difficult to live without public assistance are eligible for employment authorization.

After the refugee claim was referred to the Refugee Board, a refugee claimant can apply to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a work permit. Refugee rights allow refugees to work in Canada when they have a valid work permit and Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Good to know:

• Refugee claimants do not need to pay the fee to apply for a work permit or SIN.
• Applicants who are from Designated Countries of Origin (DCO) are not eligible to obtain a work permit until their claims have been approved.
• Sometimes a claimant may be ordered to remove from Canada. Yet if he does not have the appropriate travel documents, Canada Border Services Agency is unable to enforce the order and such claimant may obtain a work permit.

EDUCATION

• All children under 18 are allowed to attend schools even if they or their parents have not obtained a refugee status yet.
• The refugee claimants with a temporary resident visa have the right to take short-term courses at a college or university while their visa is valid. (They cannot study more than 6 months. In order to study longer, the claimants have to apply for a study permit).

It is crucial to be aware of your refugee rights Canada in order to adapt to the country’s lifestyle faster and easier.

Tag: Refugee Rights Canada