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Travel documents

Know which documents you need and where to get them to make your travel quick and easy.

refugee travel document canada

Identification documents

Canadian passports.

A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel identification document and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada 

Canadian Travel Number

Avoid delays at the airport because your name is the same as, or similar to, that of someone on the No Fly List ( Secure Air Travel Act list)

NEXUS                                                  

If you travel between Canada and the United States often, a NEXUS card will save you time at the border

Permanent resident card

Permanent residents of Canada need a permanent resident card to re-enter Canada

Pre-boarding identification requirements

Information on the identification documents you need to bring to the airport

Travel documents for non-Canadians

Travel documents for convention refugees, protected persons or stateless persons living in Canada

Permits and certificates

Find out whether you need a visa for your destination and get it well in advance of your trip

Certificate of Canadian citizenship

A Canadian citizenship certificate is not a valid travel document

CITES permits

Information on permits to transport, import or export a listed wildlife species or items made from listed wildlife species

International Driving Permit

Your Canadian driver's licence may not be valid in your destination country

Travelling outside Canada with your vehicle

You may need a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) to travel outside Canada with your vehicle.

International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis

Some countries may require you to show proof of vaccination  

Your pets need travel documents to enter another country

CANPASS - Private aircraft

CANPASS cards allow private aircraft to clear customs and immigration quickly and securely

More information

Consent letter for children travelling abroad.

A consent letter helps children travelling without both parents to enter foreign countries and re-enter Canada

Marriage outside Canada

Information on the legal issues involved in getting married abroad 

Notarial services

Information about getting notarial services while you are outside Canada

Travelling as a dual citizen

Information for Canadian dual citizens who are travelling to another country where they have citizenship

Travel insurance

Buy travel insurance before you travel outside Canada. Bring your insurance information with you. You may need to prove you have travel insurance to enter some countries

Mobile Passport Control app

Travellers can shorten the entry process to the U.S. by submitting their passport and customs declaration information through this app

What we are doing

Policies, acts and regulations.

  • Canadian Passport Order
  • Citizenship Act
  • Identity Screening Regulations

Publications

  • Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
  • Travelling with children

All related publications

  • Apply online for a visa, study or work permit
  • Steps to complete a passport application
  • Nexus application
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  • CITES permit application forms

refugee travel document canada

Find helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, baggage, airport security, country advice and more.

refugee travel document canada

Information on a recommended consent letter for Canadian children travelling abroad.

refugee travel document canada

You need a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada.

Travel outside of Canada for refugees

People in Canada as refugees can travel outside Canada, but until they become Canadian citizens, they need to be aware of several considerations. This applies to resettled refugees (whether privately sponsored or Government-Assisted) who mostly receive permanent residence status as soon as they arrive in Canada. It also applies to people who are determined to be refugees (Protected Persons) within Canada, either by the Immigration and Refugee Board, or through a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment.

Refugee Travel Document

It is important that a person who has come to Canada through a refugee resettlement program or has been recognized in Canada as a refugee no longer use a passport from their home country because it could cause their status to be revoked through cessation (see below).

Once refugees meet the necessary requirements, they can apply for Canadian citizenship and, once they are citizens, they can travel with a Canadian passport. However, in the meantime, whether they have permanent residence or not, they need to apply to the Government of Canada for a Refugee Travel Document in order to travel outside Canada.

A Refugee Travel Document can be used as a passport to travel to other countries (but not to the person's country of origin). However, it is not the same as having a Canadian passport. Some countries which allow Canadians to enter visa-free require a visa from a person travelling with a Refugee Travel Document. It is the person’s responsibility to contact the consulate or embassy of the country where they would like to travel to check any visa requirements.

The processing time for the travel document can vary so it is a good idea to wait to make firm travel plans (such as buying an airplane ticket) until the document has been received - and any necessary visas obtained.

To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, fill out the application under ‘Travel document applications for stateless and protected persons in Canada’. See here for more information. 

Loss of refugee status (cessation)

Canada offers protection to refugees because they have shown that they are in danger in their home country. However, Canadian government has the right to remove someone’s refugee status if it believes that the person accepted the protection of their home country (known as “re-availment”) after obtaining refugee status in Canada.

This could happen if a person:

  • Travels to their home country (even for a short visit)
  • Travels using the passport of their home country
  • Applies for a new passport from their home country

If a person has done one of the above-mentioned things, it may not automatically be a problem. It is up to the Canada Border Services Agency to decide which cases to pursue. If they pursue the case, and the person loses their refugee status, they may also automatically lose their permanent residence (if they have it).

As this is a very serious issue, it is important to understand which actions to avoid. For more information please see the CCR's resource: Basic Information about Cessation .

Re-entry into Canada with a permanent resident card

For people who have permanent residence, a permanent resident card is required to return to Canada. See here for more information. 

Check to make sure that your permanent resident card will not expire while you are on your trip. It is possible to get a Permanent resident travel document while you are overseas, but it can be a hassle.

refugee travel document canada

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Travel and identification documents for entering Canada

From: Canada Border Services Agency

October 1, 2022 : COVID-19 emergency border measures ended

Refer to COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for details.

Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children or minors travelling with you. You must be able to confirm your legal right or authorization to enter Canada at the border.

On this page

Residents returning to canada, travel with children and minors, international visitors to canada, electronic travel authorization, fake websites, related links.

Planning travel to Canada? Visit COVID-19 : Entering Canada requirements checklist for information about quarantine and your admissibility to Canada.

Carry a valid Canadian passport for all visits abroad, including visits to the United States (U.S.). It is the only universally accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada.

Acceptable documents to denote identity and citizenship

Other acceptable documents for establishing canadian citizenship, other acceptable documents to support identity, acceptable documents for establishing registered indian status and identity.

Upon arrival at a Canadian port of entry, travellers must satisfy a CBSA border services officer (BSO) that they meet the requirements for entry into Canada. For Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act, this can be done through questioning and through verifying documentation such as a:

  • Canadian passport
  • Canadian birth certificate
  • permanent residence card
  • citizenship card
  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) card or valid Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) card

If you do not have a passport, and are returning to Canada, the following documents can denote identity and citizenship :

  • NEXUS card, held by a Canadian citizen, when entering Canada by air (when coming from the U.S.), land, or marine modes
  • FAST card (Free and Secure Trade), issued to a Canadian citizen (when arriving by land or marine modes only)
  • Canadian emergency travel document
  • Canadian temporary passport
  • Certificate of Canadian citizenship (issued from 1954 to present)
  • Enhanced driver's license issued by a Canadian province or territory
  • Enhanced identification/photo card issued by a Canadian province or territory

Permanent residents of Canada who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs must travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence , and may be asked to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.

The following documents may be used to establish Canadian citizenship . Upon presentation by travellers, the documents should be supported by other government issued photo identification:

  • Certificate of Canadian citizenship (large form issued between January 1, 1947, to February 14, 1977)
  • Certificate of retention (issued between January 1, 1947, and February 14, 1977)
  • Certificate of naturalization (issued before January 1, 1947)
  • Registration of birth abroad certificate (issued between January 1, 1947, and February 14, 1977, by Canadian citizenship authorities)
  • Provincial or territorial birth certificate (individuals born in Canada)

The following documents may be used to establish your identity :

  • CANPASS card (air, corporate air, private air, remote area border crossing), held by a Canadian citizen
  • Commercial driver registration program card, held by a Canadian citizen
  • Provincial and territorial driver's license
  • Employment or student card with photo and signature
  • Provincial health insurance card
  • Provincial identity card
  • Canadian Forces identification
  • Police identification
  • Firearms acquisition certificate
  • Credit card
  • Vehicle insurance certificate
  • Vehicle registration

Every person registered under the Indian Act can enter and remain in Canada by right as per subsection A19(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . The Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS), more commonly referred to as the Status card, is an identity document issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada confirming that the cardholder is registered as a Status Indian under the Indian Act .

Note: The Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) was replaced by the SCIS in 2009. Existing versions of the CIS will remain valid until their renewal date.

If you plan to travel to or transit through the U.S., we encourage you to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information concerning the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the requirements to enter or return to the U.S.

For information on Canada-U.S. border-crossing issues, visit Crossing the Canada-U.S. border with a status card .

When travelling with a minor, you should:

  • carry copies of any legal custody documents, such as custody rights, if applicable
  • arrive at the border in the same vehicle as the minor
  • you share custody of the minor and the other parent or legal guardian is not travelling with you
  • you are not the parent or legal guardian of the minor

A consent letter must include the custodial parents' or legal guardians':

  • telephone number

Border services officers are always watching for missing children and may ask questions about any minors travelling with you.

To avoid delays, have your consent letter notarized to support its authenticity. For more information on consent letters and to download an interactive form, visit Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad .

More information

  • Children and travel
  • Our Missing Children program

Check Travel health measures

All international travellers must carry acceptable identification and a valid visa (if necessary) when entering Canada. A passport is recommended because it is the only reliable and universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel.

International transport companies, such as airlines, must make sure that travellers have proper, valid travel documents. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or refused entry into Canada . What you need will depend on where you are from, how you are travelling, and what documents you are travelling with. Consult entry requirements by country .

When you enter Canada, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if you are arriving from a country for which one is required. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website to learn more about what travel documents are required.

Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS program may present their membership card as proof of identification and as a document that denotes citizenship, when arriving by air (when coming from the U.S.), land, or marine modes.

Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the FAST program may use their cards as proof of identity when arriving by land and marine modes only.

Permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs must travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence , and may be asked to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.

All visitors arriving from or transiting through the U.S. are encouraged to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information concerning the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the requirements to enter or return to the U.S.

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization ( eTA ) to fly to or transit through Canada.

Exceptions, or visa and eTA-exempt foreign nationals, include:

  • U.S. citizens
  • U.S Lawful Permanent Residents
  • travellers with a valid Canadian visa
  • Other exceptions

Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents do not need to apply for an eTA.

Foreign nationals from select visa-required countries may also travel to or through Canada by air using an eTA , if eligible .

Be prepared: Apply for an eTA before you book your flight to Canada. Most applicants get approved within minutes. However, some applications can take several days to process so don’t wait until the last minute.

  • Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization
  • Get help with Electronic Travel Authorizations
  • Dual citizens
  • Canadian permanent residents
  • Lawful permanent residents of the U.S.

Travellers who apply for an eTA are advised to be cautious in all dealings with companies that claim to offer help in getting an eTA. These companies are not operating on behalf of the Government of Canada. Many have established websites that charge a fee to provide information and submit eTA applications.

This Government of Canada website is the official place to apply for an Electronic Travel Application .

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Refugee travel document and initial permanent resident card.

Refugees in Canada may travel outside Canada; however, until they become Canadian citizens, there are some restrictions and the correct documentation is required. Whether a refugee is privately sponsored, government-assisted, or determined to be a protected person within Canada.

Canada requires refugee travel documents to enable refugees, stateless persons, and people who need protection to travel outside of Canada; this includes a refugee travel document and an initial permanent resident card.

Mandatory Travel Documents

Whether a resettled refugee, who often receives permanent residence status once arriving in Canada or a person determined to be a Protected Person refugee within Canada, the correct travel documentation is mandatory. A Protected Person is one who has been identified by the Immigration and Refugee Board as a Convention Refugee or has been approved by IRCC based on a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. Protected Persons can apply for permanent residency.

A Refugee Travel Document lets refugees travel outside of Canada without a passport from their home country. You can travel to all countries except your home country. A Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), or Form IMM 5529, lets permanent residents outside of Canada prove their immigration status when returning.

At Oro Immigration, our immigration consultants can help you with every aspect of your refugee claim, including your application for a Refugee Travel document or initial permanent resident card.

refugee travel document canada

Canadian Government-Issued Passport

If you meet the necessary requirements, you can apply for Canadian citizenship and then for a Canadian passport as a Canadian Citizen. Until then, whether or not you have permanent residence status, you must apply to the Government of Canada for a Refugee Travel Document to travel outside Canada.

Cessation and Loss Of Refugee and Permanent Resident Status

If you have come to Canada under a refugee resettlement program or have been recognized as a refugee, you cannot use your passport from your home country. In some cases, if you use your original country’s passport, your refugee status could be revoked.

The Canadian Government offers refugee protection to those in danger in their home country but has the right to remove refugee status if a refugee then accepts the protection of their home country. This is known as re-availment, and is a common cause for cessation of refugee status.

Cessation can occur if you travel to your home country, however briefly, use the passport of your home country, or apply for a new passport from your home country.

Your refugee status may not be immediately revoked; the Canada Border Services Agency will determine the actions to take. However, if it is revoked, you will automatically lose your permanent residency, too, if you were granted that previously.

Refugee Travel Document

A Refugee Travel Document allows travel to other countries, similar to a Canadian passport, but there are some important differences. Some countries allow Canadian citizens with a passport to enter without a visa, but do require a visa if you are travelling under a Refugee Travel Document. Always confirm the specific travel requirements of the country you are planning to travel to, for visa or other requirements.

refugee travel document canada

Applicant Process

Processing times vary, so it is recommended to wait until you have received your document and any necessary visas before making specific travel arrangements.

To apply for your Refugee Travel Document, fill out the travel document application form for stateless persons and protected persons in Canada. The issuing office will decide the validity period of your refugee travel document and determine your eligibility.

When applying for your Refugee Travel document, in addition to your form, you will need to submit photos, select the appropriate choice of travel documents, and select a gender identifier.

Re-entry Into Canada With A Permanent Resident Card

If you have permanent residence, a permanent resident card is needed for your return into Canada.

Your Permanent Resident card is your identification document and a mandatory travel document for Canadian permanent residents. It proves your permanent resident status. A valid PR card and permanent resident travel document (PRTD) are the only two documents allowing permanent residents to enter Canada on a commercial carrier.

Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) and Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)

These travel documents identify you as a permanent resident of Canada. Canadian permanent residents need to carry and show their valid permanent resident card or PRTD when travelling to Canada, by air, train, bus, or boat. You are responsible for ensuring you have a valid PR card for your return into Canada and for applying for a new PR card before your existing one expires. They are valid for five years.

PR cards are the property of the Canadian government and must be returned if you are requested to do so.

If you were selected outside of Canada as a protected person, and resettled as a refugee in Canada, you will have been given a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document or a Permanent Resident Card. For an expired, lost or stolen permanent resident card, you need to submit an application form to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

At Oro Immigration, we can help you with your refugee claim and permanent residency process in Canada. We assist you throughout the entire process, including the hearing.

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Claimant's Guide (Print version)

​​Version 5 - 2018

Table of contents

About this guide, an introduction to refugee protection in canada, definitions, at a port of entry, at an inland office, getting a truthful and completed boc form submitted on time, responsibilities regarding documents and hearing, keeping your contact information and your counsel’s contact information up to date with the irb, once you have a scheduled hearing date, which language will the rpd use with me, when can the rpd declare that my claim has been abandoned, can i withdraw my refugee protection claim, what is a basis of claim form (boc form), how long do i have to complete my boc form , if you made your claim at a port of entry, if you made your claim at an inland office, what language can i use to complete my boc form , do children need to complete a boc form , do i need a designated representative (dr), what happens if i do not give my completed boc form on time, what happens if i do not give my contact information on time, can i make changes to my boc form , do i need counsel to represent me in my claim, who can be counsel, what if my counsel wants to represent me in the other official language, how do i get my documents if my counsel is no longer representing me, how will i know when my hearing will be held, if you are not available on the hearing date, can i change the official language i asked the rpd to use with me after submitting my boc form , what will happen if i change the official language i asked the rpd to use with me, can i change the language to be interpreted at my hearing after submitting my boc form , do i have to give the rpd any documents, when does the rpd need to receive my documents, do my documents need to be translated, what other documents will the rpd use to decide whether to accept my claim, what do i need to show in order for my claim to be accepted.

  • Can I attend an information session about RPD hearings?

Who will make a decision about my claim?

Will an interpreter be provided for me, do my children need to come to the hearing, can i bring witnesses.

  • You will take a solemn affirmation
  • You will testify
  • Witnesses will testify
  • Comments (representations) will be made about your case
  • A decision will be made

If your claim is allowed

If your claim is rejected, getting help.

This guide is for people who are claiming refugee protection in Canada. It will give you basic information about:

  • how decisions are made about refugee protection in Canada;
  • what the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) does; and
  • what you need to do.

The IRB is an independent tribunal responsible, through its Refugee Protection Division (RPD), for deciding refugee protection claims in Canada.

You can be given refugee protection in Canada if you meet the United Nations (UN) definition of a Convention refugee, or if you are a person in need of protection. The UN defines Convention refugees as people who have a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Membership in a particular social group can include, but is not limited to, sexual orientation, gender identity, women who fear domestic violence and HIV status. Persons in need of protection must show that if they return to their home country, they will face a danger of torture, a risk to their life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

This guide provides general information about the refugee protection process. It is not a legal document. For more precise legal information, please see the Immigration and Refugee   Protection Act , the Immigration and Refugee Protection   Regulations and the Refugee Protection Division Rules .

You can find all of these documents on the IRB website at: www.irb-cisr.gc.ca

Abandoned claim : If you do not do everything necessary for the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) to make a decision about your claim, the RPD may decide that you do not want to continue with your claim. For example, this can happen if you do not provide your Basis of Claim Form on time, if you do not go to your hearing, or if you do not contact the RPD when you are asked to do so.

If the RPD declares your claim abandoned, you will not be allowed to continue with your claim or make another claim in the future.

Basis of Claim Form ( BOC Form ) : The form in which you give information about yourself and about why you are claiming refugee protection in Canada.

Convention refugee : A person who meets the definition of “refugee” in the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. You are a Convention refugee if:

  • you have left your home country (your country of nationality or, if you do not have one, the country where you usually lived in the past);
  • you have a well‑founded fear of persecution based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group; and
  • you are unable or, because of your fear, unwilling to try to get the protection of your home country.

Contact information: this is the information needed to be able to contact you or your counsel. It includes your current full address and your phone numbers where you can be reached. Your counsel’s contact information must also include his or her fax numbers and email address.

Counsel : A person who represents you in the refugee protection process.

If your counsel is charging you a fee or receiving other payment, they must be a member in good standing of a provincial law society (lawyers and paralegals, in a province that allows paralegals to be members of the law society), of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants​.

Counsel can also be a family member, a friend or a volunteer who represents you without charging you a fee.

Designated country of origin (DCO) : A country designated as a DCO by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/reform-safe.asp).

Designated foreign national : A person who is part of a group that the Minister identified as an “irregular arrival.”

Designated representative  (DR) : A person who is responsible for protecting the interests of a child less than 18 years old or of an adult who is unable to understand what the refugee protection process is about. The designated representative is also responsible for explaining the refugee protection process to that person. In the case of children less than 18 years old, the designated representative is usually the child’s parent. However, another family member, a legal guardian, a friend or a worker from a social services agency can also be the designated representative if they meet the requirements.

Eligibility / eligible to be referred : This is the first step in the refugee protection claim process. An officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides whether your claim meets certain basic conditions. If it does, the officer sends (“refers”) it to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the IRB , which will make a decision on your claim for refugee protection.

Excluded person : A person who cannot be considered a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection because he or she has committed a serious, non‑political crime outside Canada, a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, and people who are guilty of acts that are contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It also includes people who do not need protection because they live in a country where they have rights and obligations that are similar to those of a citizen of that country.

Inland office: Any office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) inside Canada.

Legal aid : A service offered by some provincial or territorial governments in Canada, in which the government may pay for certain legal services for some people who do not have enough money to pay a lawyer.

Member : The Refugee Protection Division (RPD) decision-maker who hears your claim and decides whether to accept it.

Minister’s participation : When the Minister of Public Safety or the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship decides to participate in your claim and becomes a party in the refugee protection process. A representative from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) (Minister’s counsel) acts for the Minister before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD).

Party : The claimant and, if the Minister participates in your claim, the Minister.

Permanent resident : The right to live, work, study and remain in Canada under specific residency obligations.

Person in need of protection : A person in Canada who would be subjected personally to a danger of torture, a risk to their life, or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they were returned to their home country (their country of nationality or, if they do not have one, the country where they usually lived in the past).

Port of Entry (POE): An airport, a seaport or a Canada-United States border crossing.

Refugee Appeal Division (RAD): The Division of the IRB that decides appeals of decisions made by the Refugee Protection Division (RPD). In most cases, the RAD will proceed without a hearing, on the basis of the documents provided by the parties and the RPD record .

Refugee protection : The protection given by Canada to a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

Refugee Protection Division (RPD): The division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) that hears claims for refugee protection made in Canada and decides whether to accept them.

Vulnerable person:   Vulnerable persons are individuals whose ability to present their cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is severely impaired. Such persons may include, but would not be limited to, the mentally ill, minors, the elderly, victims of torture, survivors of genocide and crimes against humanity, women who have suffered gender-related persecution, and individuals who have been victims of persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Vulnerable persons can apply to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) for procedural accommodations at their hearing.

Withdrawing : If you decide not to continue with your refugee protection claim, you must tell the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) in writing that you are withdrawing your claim. If you withdraw your claim, you will not be permitted to make another claim for refugee protection in Canada.

Working days: Days which do not include Saturdays, Sundays or other days on which the Board offices are closed.

Claiming Refugee Protection

How do i make a claim for refugee protection.

You can make a claim for refugee protection by speaking to an officer at any port of entry when you arrive in Canada, or at an inland office .

The officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will decide whether your claim is eligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). If your claim is eligible, it will be sent (“referred”) to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the IRB to start the claim for refugee protection process.

If you make your claim at a port of entry , you will be given a Confirmation of Referral and a Basis of Claim Form ( BOC Form ) to complete. You must give your completed BOC Form to the RPD no later than 15 days after the date your claim was sent to the RPD . At a later date, the RPD will send you a Notice to Appear for a Hearing that will tell you when and where your claim will be heard.

If you make your claim at an inland office , you must give your completed BOC Form to the officer who decides whether your claim is eligible. That officer will give you a Confirmation of Referral. At a later date, the RPD will send you a Notice to Appear for a Hearing that will tell you when and where your claim will be heard.

At your hearing, an RPD decision-maker called a member will decide whether your claim should be allowed or not.

What are my responsibilities?

  • You must give information that is complete, true and correct in your BOC Form .
  • You must provide this BOC Form to the officer if you are claiming inland.
  • You must provide this BOC Form to the RPD within 15 days of your claim being sent to the Board, if you made your claim at a port of entry.
  • You must make sure that the RPD receives all of the documents it asks you for, including your BOC Form , on time.
  • You are responsible for obtaining and providing any documents that may support your protection claim. You must make arrangements now to get these supporting documents without delay.
  • You must go to your hearing.
  • You must read all of the documents the RPD sends you and make sure that the RPD receives an answer on time if one is asked for or is needed.
  • You must give the RPD your current address and phone number. If you did not give your address to the CBSA or IRCC officer at your eligibility interview, you must give it to the RPD no later than 10 days after you receive your Confirmation of Referral.
  • If you move, you must give your new address to the RPD immediately.
  • If you have counsel, you must give the RPD your counsel’s address and telephone number immediately.
  • You must tell the RPD your new counsel’s contact information if you change counsel.

Changing the language of your hearing

  • You must tell the RPD if you want to change the official language (English or French) you chose for your hearing at least 10 days before the hearing.
  • You must tell the RPD if you want to change the language or dialect to be interpreted at your hearing at least 10 days before the hearing.

Changing the location of your hearing

  • You may ask the RPD to change the location of your hearing. You must ask at least 20 days before your hearing. The RPD will only agree to change the location of the hearing in certain circumstances.
  • (a) whether you are residing in the location where you want the hearing to be held;
  • (b) whether a change of location would allow the proceeding to be full and proper;
  • (c) whether a change of location would likely delay the proceeding;
  • (d) how the change of location would affect the Division’s operations;
  • (e) how a change of location would affect the parties;
  • (f) whether a change of location is necessary to accommodate a vulnerable person; and
  • (g) whether a hearing may be conducted by means of live telecommunication with the claimant.

Changing the date or time of your hearing

  • You may ask the RPD to change the date or time of your hearing. You must ask at least 3 working days before the hearing. The RPD will only agree to change the date or time of your hearing in exceptional circumstances.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. You can choose which official language you would like the RPD to use with you (for example, during your hearing and in documents) in the “Language and Interpreter”section of your BOC Form .

If you do not understand English or French, the RPD will have an interpreter for you at your hearing. You must write the language and dialect you want to use in the “Language and Interpreter”section of your BOC Form .

The RPD may declare that your claim has been abandoned if you:

  • do not provide a completed BOC Form on time;
  • do not provide your current and correct contact information;
  • do not go to your refugee protection claim hearing; or
  • do not go to your special hearing on the abandonment of your claim, if you are required to do so.

If your claim is declared abandoned, it will not be heard. This also means that you will not be allowed to make another refugee protection claim in the future and you will most likely be required to leave Canada.

Before your hearing, if you decide that you do not want to continue with your claim, you must tell the RPD in writing that you are withdrawing your claim.

Basis of Claim Form and Paperwork

The purpose of the BOC Form is to present your refugee protection claim to the RPD . In the BOC Form , you will give details about yourself (your identity, family, documents and travel history) and about why you are claiming refugee protection in Canada. The questions in the form will help you include the most important parts of your life experience. It is important that you include all important facts and events and tell the truth.

At your hearing, a member may ask you questions about anything you have included in your BOC Form and may ask you other questions about things not included in your BOC Form . The RPD will use the information in your BOC Form when it makes a decision about your claim. Therefore, it is important for everything in your BOC Form to be complete, true and correct.

You must sign and date your BOC Form . By signing your BOC Form , you are declaring that the information in it is complete, true and correct.

It depends on where you made your claim.

If you made your claim at a port of entry, you must give the original and one copy of your completed BOC Form to the RPD no later than 15 days after the date the IRCC or the CBSA sent your claim to the RPD to start the refugee protection process. You can bring your BOC Form to the RPD yourself, or you can send it by courier. If you have fewer than 20 pages in total, you can also send the form by fax. If you do not provide your original BOC Form to the RPD , such as if you send it by fax, you will have to provide the original at the beginning of your hearing.

Do not send your BOC Form by regular mail.

If you made your claim at an inland office, you must give your original completed BOC Form and one copy of it to the IRCC or CBSA officer on the day of your eligibility interview. The IRCC or the CBSA will give your completed BOC Form to the RPD .

You must complete your BOC Form in either English or French. If an interpreter helps you complete the form, the interpreter must also sign it. If no interpreter helps you, you must sign a statement (which is part of your BOC Form ) that means that you have read and that you understand the information on the BOC Form in the language (English or French) in which you completed it.

All the members of your family who are claiming refugee protection must provide their own BOC Form . For children who are six years old or younger, you only need to complete Part 1 of the BOC Form (“Who you are”). Children older than six and all children who do not have an adult with them must answer all of the questions. If you complete the BOC Form for a child in your care who is less than 18 years old, you or the person named by the RPD as the child’s designated representative must sign the child’s BOC Form .

A designated representative (DR) is a person who is responsible for protecting the interests of a child less than 18 years old or of an adult who is unable to understand what the refugee protection process is about. The designated representative is also responsible for explaining the refugee protection process to that person.

In the case of accompanied children less than 18 years old, the designated representative is usually the child’s parent. However, another family member, a legal guardian, a friend or a worker from a social services agency can also be the designated representative if they meet the requirements.

The decision to designate a representative is made by the RPD as early as possible in the process. If your children are claiming refugee protection, please fill out the Appointment of a Designated Representative for Accompanied Minors form and submit it when you submit your Basis of Claim Form.

If you do not provide your completed BOC Form on time, the RPD may declare that your claim has been abandoned. This means that your claim will not be heard. Before declaring your claim abandoned, the RPD will hold a special hearing for abandonment no later than five working days after your BOC Form was due. At this special hearing, you will have to explain why you could not provide a completed BOC Form on time and why the RPD should continue with your claim. So it is very important that you go to this special hearing.

The date for this special hearing will appear in the “Special Hearing date if the Basis of Claim Form is not received on time” section of the Confirmation of Referral.

If you did not give your address in Canada to the IRCC or to the CBSA when your claim was sent to the RPD to begin the refugee protection process, you must give it to the RPD and to the IRCC or to the CBSA (whichever sent your claim to the RPD ) no later than 10 days after the day you received your Notice to Appear for a Hearing. You must also tell the RPD as well as the IRCC or the CBSA immediately if you move. If you do not provide your contact information to the RPD on time, the RPD may not be able to contact you and may declare your claim abandoned.

Yes. If you find a mistake on your BOC Form or realize that you forgot something important, or receive additional information, you must tell the RPD . Make sure to underline the information you changed or added, sign and date the changed pages, and send the original and one copy of all the pages that have been changed to the RPD . You must also provide a declaration stating that the information in the BOC Form together with the changes and additions is complete, true and correct and that you understand that the declaration has the same force as an oath. The RPD will then forward a copy of those changed pages to the IRCC or the CBSA (whichever sent your claim to the RPD ). The RPD must receive the new pages at least 10 days before your hearing.

You may represent yourself. You are not required to have a counsel to represent you. However, you may decide that you want someone to help you present your case at your hearing. If a date has already been set for your hearing, ensure that the counsel you choose is available on the date of your hearing. You must also immediately give your counsel’s contact information in writing to the RPD and also to the IRCC or to the CBSA (whichever sent your claim to the RPD ). Contact information means address, phone number, fax number and email address, if any. If you change counsel during your claim process, you must notify the RPD by completing a new Counsel Contact Information form.

Your counsel may be:

  • a member in good standing of a provincial law society (lawyer or paralegal, in a province that allows paralegals to be members of the law society);
  • a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec; or
  • an immigration consultant who is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants​.

Only a counsel as described above can represent you at the RPD and charge you a fee . If you decide to hire a counsel, you must hire this person at your own expense. If you do not have enough money to pay for counsel, you may contact the legal aid office in your province to find out what help, if any, is available. Please refer to the list of provincial legal aid offices included in your Claimant’s Kit.

Your counsel must give the RPD the name of the organization they belong to, as well as their membership identification number, and must also complete the Counsel Contact Information form ( IRB -101.02) included in your Claimant’s Kit. This form is also available on the IRB website.

Your counsel can also be a family member, a friend or a volunteer who may represent you without charging you a fee. In this case, you need to complete the Notice of Representation Without a Fee or Other Consideration form included in your Claimant’s Kit. This form is also available on the IRB website.

If your counsel prefers to represent you in the official language (English or French) other than the one you asked the RPD to use with you, your counsel has the right to do so. You must tell the RPD about this at least 10 days before the hearing.

If you were represented by counsel for a portion of the claim process, but you decide that you are no longer going to be represented by that counsel, it is important to get all of the documents you need in order to be completely ready for your hearing.

We encourage you to keep a copy of the BOC Form and all other documents, even if your counsel has a copy. If you did not keep a copy of those documents and were unable to get them from your former counsel, you may contact the RPD well before your hearing for copies of those documents.

If you have new counsel representing you, it is your responsibility to make sure that your new counsel receives all of the documents you have to support your claim . These include documents that were provided to your previous counsel by you, the RPD or the Minister (if the Minister is participating in your hearing).

Preparing for Your Hearing

Your hearing is an important moment in the refugee protection process because the hearing is usually when the RPD decides whether you are a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

The RPD will send you a Notice to Appear for a Hearing, which will tell you when and where to go. This notice will also tell you the time when your hearing will start and the time you must arrive. Please make sure that you follow the instructions you get with the Notice to Appear. Please tell the RPD if your address or telephone number changes, so that you receive all of the RPD 's notices and letters. You may use our Notification of Client Contact Information form, which can be accessed from our website at http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/forms/Pages/IrbCisr10101.aspx.

What happens if I am not available and/or my counsel is not available on the hearing date?

The RPD makes every effort to contact counsel and arrange your hearing on a date when you and your counsel are available.

Once a hearing date has been set, you and your counsel (if you have one) must be ready for the hearing on that date. However, in some cases, you can apply to the RPD to change the date and time of your hearing.

The RPD expects claimants to be ready to proceed on the date set for their hearing. The RPD will only agree to change the date or time of your hearing if there are exceptional circumstances. For example, it may agree if you are a vulnerable person who needs accommodation, if there has been an emergency or if something happened outside your control and you did everything you could to continue with your claim.

If you apply to change the date and time and do not receive an answer or if your application to change the date and time is refused, then you must go to your hearing on the date and time set by the RPD .

If you have been told that the IRCC or the CBSA will be participating in your hearing, you must send a copy of your application to change the date and time to the IRCC or CBSA representative.

When you give your original application to the RPD , you also need to include a written statement on how and when you gave a copy of your application to the IRCC or the CBSA .

You can apply to change the date or time of your hearing only if you have a very good reason why you cannot be there on the date set by the RPD . You must apply in writing immediately after receiving the Notice to Appearfor a Hearing with your hearing date. The RPD must receive your application at least three working days before the date set for your hearing. If your hearing date is less than three working days away, you must go to your hearing and apply in person.

In your application, you must explain why you want to change the date or time of your hearing. You must also give at least three new dates and times when you will be available for your hearing. These three new dates must be no later than 10 working days after the hearing date set by the RPD .

If the reason you want to change your hearing date is medical, you must attach a medical certificate to your application. This certificate must:

  • be recently dated;
  • be signed by a qualified medical practitioner;
  • have the name and address of the medical practitioner printed or stamped on it;
  • give the details of your medical condition, but not the diagnosis; and
  • give the date when you will be able to go to your hearing.

If you cannot provide a medical certificate, you must include in your application:

  • particulars of any efforts you have made to obtain the required medical certificate, supported by corroborating evidence;
  • particulars of the medical reasons for the application, supported by corroborating evidence; and
  • an explanation of how your medical condition prevents you from attending the hearing.

If you want to change the official language (English or French) you asked the RPD to use with you in your BOC Form , you need to tell the RPD in writing as soon as possible and at least 10 days before your hearing.

If you change the official language (English or French) you asked the RPD to use with you, the documents that are already part of your file will stay in the official language they were provided in. Documents the RPD sends you after you change the language, such as your final decision, will be in the new official language.

If you want to change the language or dialect of interpretation that you chose in your BOC Form , you must tell the RPD in writing at least 10 days before your hearing and include the new language and dialect you want to have interpreted.

You must give the RPD documents that support your claim. Therefore, you should begin gathering evidence to support your claim as soon as possible.

You must show the RPD evidence of who you are by giving the RPD high-quality copies of official documents with your name and date of birth on them (“identity documents”). For example, you can give a passport, national identity card, birth certificate, school certificate, driver’s licence, military document, and professional or religious membership card.

Along with identity documents, you can submit other high-quality copies of original documents that you feel are relevant to your claim, including proof of membership in political organizations, medical or psychological reports, police documents, business records, news clippings, visas and travel documents (airplane, train or bus tickets).

It is not necessary to provide the RPD with your original documents but you must be ready to produce them when requested by the RPD . You must also bring your original documents to your hearing.

If you do not provide identity documents or other documents in support of your claim, you will have to explain at your hearing why you do not have them and show that you did everything to try to get them.

The documents you provide must be typed in at least 12‑point font or be photocopies of original documents. All documents should be printed on 8½ in. by 11 in. (21.5 cm by 28 cm) paper, and all photocopies must be clear and easy to read. Make a list of all the documents you are attaching. The pages of your documents must be numbered consecutively (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4…), as if they were one document.

You must attach copies of all of the documents that you have to support your claim to your BOC Form . Include certified translations in English or French for all documents that are in a language other than English or French.

If you get more documents that support your claim after you provided your BOC Form , you must immediately give two copies to the RPD . Copies of these additional documents must be received by the RPD at least 10 days before your hearing. It is best for you to send your documents to the RPD as soon as you get them.

You can provide your documents in person, by mail or by courier. If you have fewer than 20 pages in total, you can also provide them by fax.

If your documents are not in English or French, you must have them translated into the official language (English or French) that you chose for your hearing. You must provide the translations and a translator’s declaration to the RPD with the copies of the documents. The translator’s declaration must include:

  • the translator’s name;
  • the language and dialect, if any, translated;
  • a statement that the translation is accurate; and
  • the signature of the translator.

The IRB produces a National Documentation Package (NDP) for every country. The NDP is a compilation of publicly available documents that report on country conditions such as political, social, cultural, economic and human rights conditions. Each NDP provides full citations to help you locate the documents that are not available on the IRB website.

In addition, where possible, links are provided to the documents available on the website of the organization that published the document.

It is your responsibility to go to the IRB website to review the documents in the NDP for your home country as the RPD may consider them when deciding your claim. Alternatively, a paper copy of the NDP may be viewed at any IRB regional office. It is also your responsibility to check the IRB website for the newest version of the NDP for your home country prior to your hearing.

A link to the NDP s is available on the homepage of the IRB website located at http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca .

The RPD may decide to use other documents as well, for example, reports produced by the IRB Research Directorate, media articles or reports from human rights organizations. Copies of any additional documents which the RPD finds useful will be sent to you before your hearing.

You must show that you are a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

  • You are considered a Convention refugee if you have a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country (your country of nationality or, if you do not have one, the country where you usually lived in the past) based on your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
  • You are considered a person in need of protection if you would be subjected personally to a danger of torture, to a risk to your life or to a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if you were returned to your home country.

Some people are excluded from refugee protection, which means that they cannot be considered Convention refugees or persons in need of protection. Excluded people include people who have committed a serious, non-political crime outside Canada, a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity, or people who are guilty of acts that are contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

It also includes people who lived in a country where they have rights and obligations that are similar to those of a citizen of that country.

Can I attend an information session about RPD Hearings?

Yes, Ready Tours are available at RPD hearing locations. The tours are done in collaboration with regional non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and last approximately 60-90 minutes. These information sessions, which are free of charge, offer refugee claimants:

  • A tour of an RPD hearing room
  • Information about what will occur at the hearing
  • Information about how to prepare for the hearing
  • Information about who participates in the hearing
  • Information about mandatory deadlines
  • An opportunity to ask questions about the refugee determination process

More information on Ready tours can be found on the IRB website.

Your Hearing

Hearings usually take half a day and are held in private.

If the RPD member cannot be in the same city as you, your hearing may take place by videoconference. This allows you to see and talk to the member through a television.

At your hearing, you will normally present your claim to one RPD member. RPD members have received special training on refugee protection.

The RPD will provide an interpreter at your hearing at no cost to you. If you need an interpreter, you must write the language and dialect you want to use in the “Language and Interpreter” section of your BOC Form . The interpretation will be provided between the language and dialect you choose and the official language of Canada (English or French) you choose in the same section of your BOC Form .

Interpreters must keep your personal information confidential. If at any time during the hearing you have trouble understanding the interpreter, tell the member immediately.

If your children are also claiming refugee protection and are 12 years of age or older, they must come to the hearing. Young children under the age of 12 who are accompanied by an adult making a refugee protection claim will not be required to appear before the RPD unless the presiding member requires their attendance. When a member determines that it is necessary for a young claimant to attend the hearing, for example, the claimant and their designated representative will be informed at the earliest possible opportunity so families can make the necessary arrangements.

Usually, young children only need to be there at the beginning of the hearing, in order to show evidence of who they are and to make sure they are properly represented by their parents, their legal guardian or another designated representative. After this, they may be allowed to leave the hearing. Please bring someone you trust with you to take care of your children in the waiting room while you finish the hearing.

In some situations, older children will need to participate in the hearing. If you have concerns or questions about your child participating in the hearing, contact the RPD before your hearing or raise your concerns with the member at the hearing.

You may bring witnesses to your hearing if you think this will help your claim. A witness is a person who knows about your claim and can provide information that will help the member make a decision. Witnesses must be ready to answer questions about the information they provide at your hearing (this is called testifying or giving testimony).

At least 10 days before your hearing , you must give the RPD the following information about each witness, in writing:

  • their contact information (address, telephone number and fax number);
  • a short statement on the purpose of their testimony and what it will be about;
  • how long their testimony will take;
  • your relationship to the witness;
  • whether you want them to testify in person, by videoconference or by telephone; and
  • whether they need an interpreter, and if so, the language and dialect they will use.

If the witness is an expert, you must also give information about their qualifications and include a report that is signed by the witness and summarizes their testimony.

If you have been told that the IRCC or the CBSA will be participating in your hearing, you must give a written copy of the information above to the IRCC or CBSA representative. You also need to give the RPD a written statement on how and when you sent the witness information to the IRCC or the CBSA .

It is your responsibility to make sure your witnesses come to your hearing.

What will happen at my hearing?

  • You will take a solemn affirmation Before you testify, you must make a solemn affirmation, which is a promise to tell the truth.

If the CBSA is participating in your hearing because the Minister is claiming that you should be excluded from refugee protection, the Minister’s counsel will ask you questions, followed by the member and then your counsel, if you have one.

  • Witnesses will testify If you bring any witnesses, they will testify after you have testified. Any witnesses you bring to your hearing will be asked to stay in the waiting room and will not join the hearing until after you have testified. The witnesses will then be asked to come in to answer questions one by one.
  • Comments (representations) will be made about your case After you and any witnesses have testified, the member will ask you or your counsel to explain why you think the evidence shows that you are a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection. If the IRCC or the CBSA is participating, the member will give the Minister’s counsel an opportunity to comment on your case as well.
  • A decision will be made The RPD member will decide whether you are a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection. The member will tell you the decision and the reasons for the decision orally at the end of the hearing, unless it is not possible to do so. In that case, you will receive the decision later by mail.

What happens after the decision?

If your claim is allowed, the RPD will send you a written Notice of Decision. The RPD will also send you an explanation of the reasons why your claim was allowed.

The IRCC and the CBSA will receive copies of the decision as they may wish to appeal a positive decision to the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) or seek leave and judicial review at the Federal Court.

Unless the RPD ’s decision is appealed to and overturned by the RAD or is reviewed and overturned by the Federal Court, you will be eligible to apply to the IRCC for permanent residence. For more information, please refer to the IRCC website at http://www.cic.gc.ca .

If your claim is rejected, the RPD will send you a written Notice of Decision and an explanation of the reasons why your claim was rejected.

The Notice of Decision will tell you whether you can appeal the decision to the RAD or file an application for leave and for judicial review with the Federal Court.

Most claimants can appeal to the RAD . However, you cannot appeal to the RAD in the following cases:

  • you are a designated foreign national;
  • your refugee protection claim was withdrawn or declared abandoned;
  • the RPD ’s decision says that your claim has no credible basis or is manifestly unfounded;
  • you made your claim at a land border with the United States and the claim was sent to the RPD as an exception to the Safe Third Country Agreement ;
  • the Minister applied to cease (stop) your refugee protection, and the RPD ’s decision allows that application;
  • the Minister applied to vacate (cancel) the decision to allow your refugee protection claim, and the RPD ’s decision allows that application; or
  • your claim was sent to the IRB before December 15, 2012.

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Refugee Protection Division Registries

Website: www.irb-cisr.gc.ca

Eastern region

Montréal Guy-Favreau Complex 200 René-Lévesque Blvd. West East Tower, Room 102 Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1X4 Telephone: 514-283-7733 or 1-866-626-8719 Fax: 514-283-0164

Area of responsibility

Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland Nunavut Ottawa, Ontario

Central region

Toronto 25 St. Clair Ave E, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4T 0A8 Telephone: 416-954-1000 or 1-866-790-0581​ Fax: 416-954-1165

Ontario (except Ottawa)

Western region

Vancouver 300 West Georgia Street, Suite 1600 Vancouver, BC V6B 6C9 Telephone: 604-666-5946 or 1-866-787-7472 Fax: 604-666-3043

British Columbia Yukon Northwest Territories Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Telephone: 1-888-242-2100 Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-888-576-8502 Website:  www.cic.gc.ca

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Telephone: 1-800-461-9999 Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-866-335-3237 Website:  www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

This form is to be used only to report technical issues or errors encountered on our website. As submissions are anonymous , the IRB will not respond.

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries,  contact us .

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Travel documents

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refugee travel document canada

Unfortunately, Immigroup does not offer any free phone support concerning this service. We recommend you watch our video explanation to understand your options.

If you need support immediately, please select the $150 per hour service, and a licensed specialist will contact you.

*IRCC phone number can be found here

Immigroup Service Options *Government fees ($260), taxes, and courier are extra

Free Do-it-yourself Refugee Travel Document Course Free Do-it-yourself Letter of Explanation

$450 Regular Service *You need to track the progress of the application yourself

$650 Urgent Service *You need to track the progress of the application yourself

$1250 Full Service Regular *We track your application and communicate with IRCC for you

$1500 Full Service Urgent *We track your application and communicate with IRCC for you

$150 per hour Service. Use this service for the following reasons: *your first paid hour is going to be your planning session with your consultant.

  • You have applied but need someone to track your application.
  • You have applied but now need your document urgently.
  • You need your questions answered.

A Refugee Travel Document is issued to refugees in Canada with protected person status, including Convention refugees and persons in need of protection. A Certificate of Identity is a travel document issued to persons legally landed in Canada for less than three years, who are stateless or are unable to obtain a national passport or travel document for a valid reason but who are not considered to have protected person status. If you are unsure as to whether you qualify for a refugee travel document in Canada or a certificate of identity contact us to speak to one of our travel document professionals . If you need a refugee travel document or certificate of identity you need to contact us as soon as possible if you intend to travel outside of Canada .

Using the Government Directly

To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, you need to submit your application to Passport Canada .

Our Service

Our goal is to make the application process for a travel document in Canada or a certificate of identity as easy as possible and help you solve any issues an application for a travel document in Canada. Follow the steps below to complete your refugee travel document application or your application for a certificate of identity.

What we do for you if you purchase our service:

  • We review every part of your application to ensure it is complete, accurate and mistake-free; not offered by the government.
  • We complete the application for you if you require it; not offered by the government.
  • We advise you of any additional steps you need to take and of any additional documentation you must provide; the government offers only general guidelines and not specific advice.
  • We advise you of any problems you may encounter from filing the application; not offered by the government.
  • We verify all supporting documentation prior to submission; not offered by the government.
  • We give you unlimited business-hours phone support from 8am-6pm EST.
  • We respond to most questions within 1 business day.
  • We track the status of your application for you.
  • We notify you when the service is complete.

Not sure whether you need a travel document?

You can use Visa or MasterCard to make a payment over the phone if you prefer: 1-866-760-2623 . Once you have paid this retainer one of our agents will contact you within one business day.

Canadian Travel Document Processing Time

The average processing time is 3 months. It is not affected by whether the application is submitted in person or by mail. As of March 2012, there is no formal process in place to expedite applications. If proof of urgency is provided along with the application there is a chance that Passport Canada will expedite on humanitarian grounds. However, the applicant must make a case for expediting the application and there is no guarantee that Passport Canada will process the application urgently.

If you don’t see your Travel Documents in Canada question in the FAQs, ask us! We will respond to any question within one business day.

What is a Travel Document?

There are two types of travel documents issued by Canadian authorities. The first is provided to Canadian permanent residents who are outside of Canada without their PR Card. It is provided to the holder for one entry into Canada so that they can then apply for their PR Card from within Canada.

The second kind of travel document is an identity document issued by Passport Canada in place of a Canadian passport to those in Canada who are here as protected persons and cannot apply for a passport in Canada or in their home country. It allows the holder to travel outside of Canada, but the holder cannot use it to return to their home country.

Who Needs a Travel Document?

You only need a refugee travel document if you cannot obtain a passport from your home country and are not yet eligible for a PR Card in Canada but you want to travel. You must be a refugee to be eligible. If you are not a refugee, but are still considered stateless (you cannot get a passport from your home country) and are legally living in Canada, then you must apply for a Certificate of Identity instead. A stateless person living in Canada needs either a Travel Document or a Certificate of Identity to travel outside of Canada.

What is the difference between a Travel Document and a Certificate of Identity?

A Travel Document is a document issued by Passport Canada to those with protected status, such as Convention Refugees and other protected persons. A Certificate of Identity is for those stateless persons who are in Canada legally, but who are not refugees or other protected persons; for example, Canadian Permanent Residents who are stateless. Both documents come with the restriction that the holder cannot enter their home country.

There is another important difference between the two: a Travel Document allows the holder to travel anywhere else in the world a Canadian can travel, excluding their home country. On the other hand, a Certificate of Identity may not be accepted as the equivalent of a passport in all countries and the holder should contact the embassy or consulate of the country they are traveling to before leaving Canada.

How do I apply for a Travel Document?

First, you must complete an Application Form. Then you must gather all the required supplementary documentation including:

  • Your Permanent Resident card
  • Your Protected Person Status Document
  • YourTemporary Resident Permit
  • Your Provincial or Territorial Driver’s License
  • YourProvincial or Territorial Health Card (except Alberta or Manitoba health cards, which are not acceptable)
  • Your Provincial or Territorial Photo ID Card
  • Your Certificat de selection (Quebec only)
  • Your Old Age Security Card
  • Your Federal, Provincial, Territorial or Municipal Employee Identity Card
  • Two passport photos, one of which must be signed by your guarantor
  • Your IMM 5401 (the official receipt of fees paid)or your refusal letter (if applicable)
  • Any valid Canadian travel document (if applicable)

You must submit your application in one of three ways:

The application should be process within 3 months.

Can’t I apply in person at any Passport Canada office?

No, you can only apply for a Travel Document or Certificate of Identity in person at the Passport Canada office in Gatineau, QC. If you live outside of the Ottawa-Hull metropolitan area, you should apply by mail or courier. Unlike a Canadian Passport, applying in person will not speed up your application.

What is considered proof of immigration status?

If you are applying for a Travel Document, you must use either your Protected Person Status Document or if you do not have that your Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). If you do not have either, you will need to replace your Protected Person Status Document or get a Temporary Resident Permit before getting your travel document.

If you are applying for a Certificate of Identity you will need your PR Card or if you are not a permanent resident you will need your TRP. If you do not have a TRP you will need to apply for one.

Photocopies are not acceptable.

Please Note: Your landing paper (IMM 1000) is not considered proof of immigration status by Passport Canada.

What is considered valid photo ID for the Travel Document application form in Canada?

The ID you must submit must be in the same name (so if you have changed your name since you got the ID you must change your ID before you get the Travel Document), it must include your signature, it must be issued by the Federal or a Provincial / Territorial or a Municipal government in Canada and it must not have expired. It is best if you can submit an ID that meets these requirements but which also has your picture. Passport Canada accepts all Canadian Driver’s Licenses and Provincial / Territorial Photo ID Cards. They accept Health Cards from all provinces except Alberta and Manitoba. If you live in Quebec, Passport Canada accepts your Certificat de selection. If you are collecting Old Age Security (OAS), Passport Canada accepts your OAS card. If you have somehow managed to become an employee of the Federal government, or any Provincial / Territorial or Municipal government in Canada, Passport Canada also accepts these ID cards.

What photos should I use?

Here are the photo specifications. Immigroup also provides the photo specifications as part of our applications. [Link to refugee travel document application

Why do I need to submit my citizenship application fees / letter of refusal from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)?

Many refugees come to Canada with the goal of becoming a Canadian citizen. If you have already begun the process, providing Passport Canada with evidence of this can help you get approved for the Travel Document. If you are due to become a Canadian citizen soon, this will affect how long your Travel Document is good for. If you have been refused citizenship, your Travel Document will likely be valid for a longer period of time.

What kinds of Travel Documents do I have to submit with my application?

If you already have a Canadian Travel Document (TD) or Certificate of Identity (COI), and it is still valid, you must submit this with your application. If you do not, your application may not be approved. If you don’t have a TD or COI, of if it has already expired, you do not need to submit anything extra.

How long is my Travel Document valid for?

A Travel Document is not the same as a passport and is not always as valid for as long. Passport Canada determines how long it is valid on a case-by-case basis.

The validity of a child’s travel document is normally based on the age of the child. For children under 3 years of age, the validity is 3 years. For children between the ages of 3 and 15, the validity is 5 years.

Where can I travel with my Travel Document?

As long as you do not attempt to enter your home country (the country that you fled from) you can travel anywhere in the world a Canadian or Canadian permanent resident can travel.

If you have a Certificate of Identity, your options are more limited. Some countries do not recognize the Certificate of Identity. Please check with the country’s embassy or consulate before traveling.

If you do attempt to enter your home country with the Travel Document you risk exposure to the problems you faced which forced you to become a refugee and you also will likely lose your Travel Document. This would put your Protected Person Status in jeopardy if you did not lose it outright.

Why can’t I return to my home country if I have a Canadian Travel Document or Certificate of Identity?

The Travel Document or Certificate of Identity is provided by the Canadian government to stateless persons including refugees. In order to be stateless, you must have essentially lost the right to enter the country of your birth / nationality. There are then two reasons why you can’t return. For one, why return to the place that you fled? But the second is that the government puts the limit on this document in order to ensure that the holder is a refugee and / or stateless. If you can go home with it, then the Canadian government would doubt your status.

Do I still need a visa if I have a Travel Document?

A Travel Document (TD) is only a proof of identity for the purposes of travel. It does not bring with it extra benefits. If you needed a visa to enter a country before you acquired the TD you still need a visa to enter that country. For example, if you are a national of a country where a visa is required to enter the US, you still need a visa to enter, even if you have a TD or a PR Card with a Certificate of Identity. The only way you can change this is by becoming a Canadian citizen, or the citizen of another country which gets visas waived for its citizens.

What is the difference between a stateless person and a refugee?

A stateless person is someone who has lost their nationality by having it taken from them. Exiles are often stateless and anyone else who has been forced to emigrate from the country of their birth / nationality is often stateless. Sometimes governments take away people’s citizenship and this can make them stateless if they are not dual citizens.

Refugees on the other hand are people who have fled a country but haven’t necessarily had their citizenship taken away from them. They might still be considered nationals of the country they fled.

Refugees can be stateless persons and stateless persons can be refugees.

What is Protected Person Status?

Protected Person status is granted by the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

It is usually given to:

  • Persons who the IRB determines need protection including members of the Humanitarian
  • Protected Persons Abroad class
  • Convention Refugees
  • Those that received a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (with some exceptions

Note: it is usually up to the IRB to determine who has this status. A person is only eligible for a Protected Person Status document after they have been granted this status by the IRB.

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Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world’s most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico, while also preserving the integrity of our immigration system, the Government of Canada is adjusting its travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

February 29, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – Ottawa – Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world’s most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico, while also preserving the integrity of our immigration system, the Government of Canada is adjusting its travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

As of February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, Mexican citizens who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). With the high number of Mexican citizens currently holding US visas, the majority will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada. Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. This responds to an increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that are refused, withdrawn or abandoned. It is an important step to preserve mobility for hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens, while also ensuring the sound management of our immigration and asylum systems.

The application process for Mexican citizens seeking a work or study permit will not change. Mexican citizens who want to work in Canada will continue to have access to a wide number of existing labour pathways, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.

Canada supports ongoing travel, tourism and business with Mexico. We will continue to work with the Government of Mexico to strengthen our regular pathways to immigration, and with our provincial and territorial counterparts to support a system of managed migration as well as to support those in need of protection. Canada is expanding its network of visa application centres in Mexico to better serve these clients. Today’s action will relieve pressure on Canada’s borders, immigration system, housing and social services, while preserving mobility for Mexican citizens who want to come to Canada.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a vital example of the mutually beneficial migration that we seek to promote regionally and globally. Canada is ready to work with Mexico to build on this program, through the modernization of a new SAWP bilateral agreement, to offer Mexican workers new opportunities, through the incorporation of year-round primary agriculture and seasonal fish, seafood and primary food processing into the program. This will benefit workers and businesses on both sides of the Canada–Mexico relationship.

Canada is continuously monitoring the impacts of its visa policies for both visa-exempt and visa-required countries, as well as asylum claim trends. These challenges are not limited to one country. Any adjustment to Canada’s travel requirements are made to preserve the integrity and sustainability of our asylum and immigration systems.

More information about these changes, including for people in transit or with upcoming flights, is available on IRCC’s website .

“Mexico is an important partner to Canada. We will continue to welcome Mexican temporary workers, students, visitors and immigrants who bring diverse skills and important contributions to our economy and communities. We strive for balance between the movement of people between our two great countries, and the need to relieve pressure on our immigration system so we can provide protection to those who need it the most.” – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Asylum claims made by Mexican citizens reached a record high in 2023 at a time when Canada’s asylum system, housing and social services were already under significant pressure. The majority of these claims (approximately 60%) were either rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, or withdrawn or abandoned by the applicant.

In 2023 alone, asylum claims from Mexican citizens accounted for 17% of all claims made that year from all nationalities around the world. The country’s asylum claim rate has risen significantly since the visa was first lifted in 2016 (from 260 claims in 2016 to 23,995 claims in 2023). 

All eTAs issued to Mexican passports before 11:30 p.m. Eastern time on February 29, 2024, will no longer be valid—except for eTAs linked to Mexican passports with a valid Canadian work or study permit. Mexican citizens travelling to Canada without a valid work or study permit will need to apply for a visitor visa or reapply for a new eTA —if they are eligible.

Mexican citizens holding a valid work or study permit can still travel by air to Canada with their existing eTA as long as it remains valid, and they can continue to study or work in Canada based on the validity and conditions of their permit. Mexican visitors who are already in Canada on an eTA can stay for as long as they are authorized (up to six months from the date they arrive in Canada). However, if they plan to leave Canada and wish to return, they must have the proper travel documents (visa or new eTA). 

Most approved visa applicants receive multiple-entry visas, which allow them to visit Canada as many times as they want, for up to 10 years, or until their passport expires.

The eTA is a digital travel document that most visa-exempt travellers need in order to travel to or transit through Canada by air. IRCC first began expanding its eTA program to eligible citizens from visa-required countries in 2017. Mexico will now be among 15 countries whose citizens can to fly to Canada on an eTA, instead of a visa, if they meet certain requirements .

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  • Link to News Release in Spanish

Contacts for media only:

Bahoz Dara Aziz Press Secretary Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Branch Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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Canada bringing back visa requirements for Mexican nationals to curb asylum seekers

Quebec, u.s. governments have been calling for visas to be reinstated.

refugee travel document canada

What Canada's new visa requirements mean for Mexican nationals

Social sharing.

The federal government is reimposing some visa requirements on Mexican nationals visiting Canada, senior government sources tell Radio-Canada and CBC News.

The new rules will take effect on 11:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Quebec Premier François Legault has been calling on the federal government to do more to slow the influx of asylum seekers into his province. Last week, he said Ottawa should bring back the visa requirement for Mexican travellers.

  • 'Breaking point': Quebec premier asks Trudeau to slow influx of asylum seekers
  • Federal minister 'sets the facts straight' after Quebec complains it isn't getting enough funding for asylum seekers

"The possibility of entering Canada from Mexico without a visa certainly explains part of the influx of asylum seekers," the premier wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .

More than 25,000 Mexicans applied for asylum in Canada last year, making Mexico the top source of asylum claims, according to statistics from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada . The number of backlogged claims from Mexico currently filed with the board sits at more than 28,000.

The U.S. government also has been asking Ottawa to bring back the visa requirement to curb a sharp increase in illegal crossings from Canada into the United States.

  • Does the visa requirement affect you or your family? Share your story by emailing  [email protected] .

Mexicans currently don't need a visa to travel to Canada, but they do have to obtain visas to enter the U.S. American border officials say some Mexican nationals are using Canada's visa-free rule to fly into the country and then cross illegally into the United States.

The new visa requirement is expected to affect roughly 40 per cent of all Mexican travellers to Canada, a government source told Radio-Canada.

The Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper imposed a visa requirement on Mexico in 2009 to stem the flow of asylum claims. The Trudeau government relaxed it in 2016 .

refugee travel document canada

Canada's new Mexico visa policies threaten refugees' rights, advocate says

The new rules won't amount to a complete return to the pre-2016 rules. Mexican nationals with certain types of U.S. visas and those coming to Canada on study or work permits won't have to obtain Canadian visas.

Mexican nationals who received valid visas under the previous system at any point within the last ten years won't have to reapply under the new requirements.

The new visas will apply for a ten-year period and will allow a traveller to enter Canada multiple times and stay for up to six months at a time. Customs officers will have discretionary power to limit the duration of the visa or the number of visits, one source said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak at the conclusion of the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, January 10, 2023.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The government isn't expected to announce the new visa requirements until Thursday.

But on Wednesday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accused Canada of attempting to act unilaterally on immigration measures.

"They are in negotiations to reach an agreement so that we can control migratory flows from Canada," he said in Spanish during a press conference.

"We have acted generously with them, with the government of Prime Minister Trudeau, but they were already on the verge of applying unilateral measures."

López Obrador also said he may not attend the next North American Leaders summit — set to take place in Canada — if he feels Canada and the U.S. aren't treating his country fairly.

"If there's no respectful treatment, I won't go," he said.

A source told Radio-Canada that in an effort to ease tensions with the Mexican government over the visa requirements, Ottawa has agreed to expand the number of sectors in which Mexican nationals can work in Canada. Negotiations are ongoing, the source said.

A close-up photo of François Legault.

Legault has said asylum seekers are putting heavy pressure on Quebec's social services and finances.

"Asylum seekers have trouble finding a place to live, which contributes to accentuating the housing crisis," the premier said in his letter to Trudeau. "Many end up in homeless shelters, which are overflowing."

He said organizations that help asylum seekers can't keep up with the demand. Legault said the children of asylum seekers are also straining the resources of schools already facing shortages of teachers and space.

Legault's letter said asylum seekers who are waiting for work permits receive financial assistance from Quebec. Last October, he said, roughly 43,200 asylum seekers received $33 million in aid from the province.

  • U.S. asks Canada to reimpose visa requirements for Mexico to stem surge of crossings at northern border
  • Analysis U.S. Republicans are now warning: Migration from Canada is a problem

Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette welcomed the news but said Ottawa must still do more.

"It's an important step forward, but it won't solve everything. The number of asylum seekers accepted by Quebec is far too high and our services are beyond capacity," she told reporters Thursday in French.

"The federal government must distribute the asylum seekers across Canada. Quebec bears a disproportionate share of the responsibility for receiving them."

One source told CBC News that domestic issues were the main motivation for the change in policy, but U.S. pressure also played a role. Many migrants were being transported by criminal cartels with the objective of getting them into the U.S., the source said.

A man in a dark suit and red tie answers a question during an interview.

U.S. officials have suggested that people who can't get into the U.S. lawfully have an incentive to travel to Canada to try entering illegally. Human smuggling networks are cashing in , moving people who are fleeing poverty and violence in Mexico and using Canada as a pitstop on the way to the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows a spike in migrants entering the U.S. from Canada after Trudeau lifted the visa requirement in December 2016. There were 1,169 apprehensions of Mexicans the year before the requirements were lifted; the number nearly doubled to 2,245 in 2018, a year after the requirements were lifted.

Last year, the CBP recorded 4,868 apprehensions. Nearly 2,000 Mexicans have been apprehended at the Canada-U.S. border in the first four months of this fiscal year.

  • A glimpse inside the ongoing cross-border smuggling operations near Akwesasne
  • Canadian customs officers could soon be based in the U.S. for the first time

Those numbers are a tiny fraction of the number of apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border — nearly 580,000 last year. But the rise in apprehensions at the Canada-U.S. border was enough for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to raise the issue during his visit to Ottawa last spring .

"We talk about this issue and many issues that impact the migration of people," Mayorkas said in an interview with CBC News Network's Rosemary Barton Live at the time.

"I think that's a decision that the Canadian officials are going to make," Mayorkas told host Rosemary Barton when asked about the prospect of Ottawa reinstating the visa program.

With files from Philip Ling, Alexander Panetta and The Canadian Press

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I am a refugee and I need to travel outside Canada. What documents do I need to travel?

Help Centre what do you need help with?

You need to get a Refugee Travel Document from Passport Canada . It is recognized in all countries as a valid travel document. However, you cannot use it to travel to the country that you are a citizen of or the country of claimed persecution.

If you are a:

  • Convention refugee , or
  • person in need of protection,

you will need a Refugee Travel Document.

To apply, you will need to give Passport Canada proof of your status in Canada. You will need either:

  • a letter from the Immigration and Refugee Board ( IRB );
  • a confirmation of permanent residence; or
  • a Verification of Status ( VOS ) document .

If you are a Convention refugee, you should have a letter from the IRB . If you need to replace a lost letter, please contact the IRB .

If you are a protected person who was selected overseas and resettled as a refugee in Canada, you should have either a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document, or a Permanent Resident Card. If you need to replace an expired, lost or stolen Permanent Resident Card, you can apply for a new one .

If you are a protected person with a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment ( PRRA ) decision, you should have a VOS . If your PRRA result was before December 17, 2012, and you did not get a VOS , or if you lost it, you can apply for a new one .

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  • Government-assisted refugee
  • Member of the Convention Refugees Abroad Class
  • Member of the Country of Asylum Class
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Canada Restores Visa Requirement for Mexican Visitors

The immigration minister said Mexico had not done enough to address the surge of asylum seekers arriving in Canada.

refugee travel document canada

By Vjosa Isai

Canada announced on Thursday that it would require visas for Mexican nationals to enter the country, a move that comes amid a surge in asylum requests from Mexicans arriving in Canada.

The rule follows months of discussions between the two countries over the rise in the number of Mexicans entering Canada, including repeated attempts by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address the issue with Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Some provincial officials say a surge of asylum seekers has strained their resources and their ability to provide social services.

“We needed to give Mexico, because of our friendship, the chance to rectify things,” Marc Miller, Canada’s immigration minister, said at a news conference.

“This clearly was not done,” he added, “so we had to take a decision.”

The visa mandate, which will go into effect Thursday night, had been lifted by Mr. Trudeau in 2016 to boost tourism and as a sign of the close ties between the two countries.

Since then the number of Mexican asylum claims has soared, to roughly 24,000 last year from 260 eight years ago. About 17 percent of all Canadian asylum claims last year were filed by Mexican nationals.

Most asylum claims from Mexico are rejected, withdrawn or abandoned, Mr. Miller said, clogging up an immigration system already facing difficulties trying to cope with a mounting backlog of refugee claims. “It has ripple effects,” he said.

For some Mexicans who can afford plane tickets, flying to Canada has become an alternate route to the United States, allowing them to avoid the smugglers who control the paths to the U.S. southern border.

U.S. immigration officials have recorded a large increase in the number of migrants, including Mexicans, crossing into the United States from Canada, though nowhere near the enormous numbers at the southern border.

“But they are significant,” Mr. Miller said. “And that’s something we have to manage as a partner with the U.S.”

Immigration has become a major issue in the United States ahead of the November election, and the Biden administration has made the tightening of the country’s borders a top political priority.

President Biden and Donald J. Trump, who is almost certain to be his Republican rival for the White House, were both scheduled to appear on Thursday in South Texas to discuss migration.

Mr. López Obrador told reporters on Thursday that his government respected Canada’s decision, but said that Canada could have sought “other alternatives,” without offering specifics.

He also issued a “small, respectful, fraternal reproach” to Mr. Trudeau, though he said that his government’s response would be “to act with prudence, with serenity.”

Not all Mexicans will be required to have a visa to travel to Canada. The rule excludes Mexicans who have had a Canadian visa within the past 10 years, or if they currently have a temporary U.S. visa. Travelers in this category need an electronic travel authorization, which is valid for up to five years.

Canada’s visa decision is the latest step in the country’s effort to address asylum claims made from regular ports of entry, like airports, and from unofficial border crossings.

Canadian officials in January also placed restrictions on foreign students , doubling the savings threshold new applicants must have to qualify for a study permit, after a surge raised concerns about pressures on housing.

After an agreement with the United States, Canada last year closed a popular land border crossing between New York State and Quebec, called Roxham Road , following a spike in migrants entering Canada there.

Some provincial leaders, including François Legault, the premier of Quebec, have criticized the federal government’s response and say it needs to provide more financial help to defray the costs of absorbing thousands of migrants.

About half of Canada’s 290,000 asylum seekers are in Quebec, the province’s immigration minister has said, and Quebec is asking the government for 1 billion Canadian dollars in assistance.

Emiliano Rodríguez Mega contributed reporting from Mexico City.

Vjosa Isai is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Toronto, where she covers news from across Canada. More about Vjosa Isai

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COMMENTS

  1. Apply for a travel document for non-Canadians: How to apply

    Learn how to apply for a travel document or certificate of identity for non-Canadians who need it urgently. Find out the steps, documents, and fees required to get a travel document from the Government of Canada.

  2. Apply for a travel document for non-Canadians: About the process

    Learn about the two types of travel documents non-Canadians can use when travelling: refugee travel document and certificate of identity. Find out who can apply, how to apply, and the steps you need to follow when applying.

  3. I am a refugee and I need to travel outside Canada. What documents do I

    you will need a Refugee Travel Document. To apply, you will need to give Passport Canada proof of your status in Canada. You will need either: a letter from the Immigration and Refugee Board ( IRB ); a confirmation of permanent residence; or. a Verification of Status ( VOS) document. If you are a Convention refugee, you should have a letter ...

  4. Apply for a travel document for non-Canadians: Who can apply

    Learn who can apply for a travel document for a non-Canadian, such as a refugee travel document or a certificate of identity, and how to do it. Find out the eligibility criteria, the application form, the documents, the fees, the guarantor and the mailing address.

  5. Types of passports and travel documents

    Learn about the different types of passports and travel documents issued by Canada, including refugee travel documents. Find out who can get them, how to apply and where to use them.

  6. Apply for a travel document for non-Canadians: After you apply

    Learn about the process, fees, and requirements for applying for a travel document for non-Canadians, including refugees and other eligible groups. Find out how to check the accuracy, sign, and update your travel document after you receive it.

  7. Travel Documents

    Learn which documents you need and where to get them to travel abroad as a convention refugee, protected person or stateless person in Canada. Find out how to apply for a Canadian Travel Number, a NEXUS card, a permanent resident card, a visa, a citizenship certificate and more.

  8. Canadian travel documents for non ‑ Canadians in Canada

    Learn how to apply for and pay for Canadian travel documents for non-Canadians who are protected or stateless by the UNHCR. Find out the fees, services and options for expedited, urgent and express pick up of your documents.

  9. PDF PPTC 190 E : Adult Travel Document Application for ...

    Download a PDF form for stateless and protected persons in Canada who want to apply for a travel document. The form requires personal information, such as name, date and place of birth, surname, and anticipated travel date.

  10. How to get a refugee travel document in Canada.

    Note: If you are filing a refugee claim and your home country's passport is taken away from you at your port of entry by Immigration Canada or CBSA, the official will fill out form BSF 698 if the document seized is a Travel Document or Identity Document, or form IMM 5265 for other documents. The official is then required to provide you with a ...

  11. Travel outside of Canada for refugees

    Once refugees meet the necessary requirements, they can apply for Canadian citizenship and, once they are citizens, they can travel with a Canadian passport. However, in the meantime, whether they have permanent residence or not, they need to apply to the Government of Canada for a Refugee Travel Document in order to travel outside Canada.

  12. Travel and identification documents for entering Canada

    If you do not have a passport, and are returning to Canada, the following documents can denote identity and citizenship: NEXUS card, held by a Canadian citizen, when entering Canada by air (when coming from the U.S.), land, or marine modes. FAST card (Free and Secure Trade), issued to a Canadian citizen (when arriving by land or marine modes ...

  13. Refugee Travel Document

    A Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), or Form IMM 5529, lets permanent residents outside of Canada prove their immigration status when returning. At Oro Immigration, our immigration consultants can help you with every aspect of your refugee claim, including your application for a Refugee Travel document or initial permanent resident card.

  14. PDF Information for Refugee Claimants

    a Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD). The RPCD replaces the Acknowledgement of Claim as your primary identification document as a refugee claimant in Canada. The RPCD • shows that your claim has been referred to the IRB • may help you access services and • shows that you are covered under the Interim Federal Health Program

  15. Claimant's Guide (Print version)

    An officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides whether your claim meets certain basic conditions. If it does, the officer sends ("refers") it to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the IRB, which will make a decision on your claim for refugee protection.

  16. Online Payment

    Partial payment for child Certificate of Identity. If you already paid $57 for a Refugee Travel Document. $84.00. Replace a valid lost or stolen passport. Fee which must be paid after reporting a passport as lost or stolen and applying for a replacement. Does not include the cost of the new passport. $45.00.

  17. Canadian Refugee Travel Document Service

    A Travel Document is a document issued by Passport Canada to those with protected status, such as Convention Refugees and other protected persons. A Certificate of Identity is for those stateless persons who are in Canada legally, but who are not refugees or other protected persons; for example, Canadian Permanent Residents who are stateless.

  18. Refugee travel documents

    The idea of refugee travel documents dates back to Fridtjof Nansen. Appointed as the League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1921, Nansen promoted the idea of travel documents for refugees and from 1922 issued the first version ("the Nansen passport") through the League of Nations. ...

  19. Rights and duties of refugees

    If you are a protected person who was selected abroad and resettled as a refugee in Canada, you will get a document called a "Confirmation of Permanent Residence." Later, you will be sent a Permanent Resident Card (also called a PR card). ... If you wish to travel outside Canada, you may apply for a Refugee Travel Document from the Canadian ...

  20. What happens after you claim asylum?

    The first stage of the asylum process is the eligibility determination. After claiming asylum, government officials will verify your identity, perform a security screening and conduct an interview to determine if you are eligible to have your case referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), the tribunal responsible for making decisions on refugee matters.

  21. Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada

    Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world's most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico, while also preserving the integrity of our ...

  22. Canada imposes travel requirements for Mexicans to curb flow of asylum

    Canada will reinstate some visa requirements for Mexican nationals from Thursday to stem the flow of asylum seekers from the Latin American country, the Canadian immigration ministry said.

  23. Can I apply for an eTA with a Refugee Travel Document?

    No. Most people using a Refugee Travel Document to travel to Canada will need a visitor visa.. Exceptions: If you have a valid Canadian Refugee Travel document, you are exempt from both the visa and eTA requirements.; If you're a lawful permanent resident of the United States and don't have a passport, you can travel to Canada with your valid U.S. Refugee Travel Document (I-571) and ...

  24. Canada bringing back visa requirements for Mexican nationals to curb

    More than 25,000 Mexicans applied for asylum in Canada last year, making Mexico the top source of asylum claims, according to statistics from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. The ...

  25. I am a refugee and I need to travel outside Canada. What documents do I

    you will need a Refugee Travel Document. To apply, you will need to give Passport Canada proof of your status in Canada. You will need either: a letter from the Immigration and Refugee Board ( IRB ); a confirmation of permanent residence; or. a Verification of Status ( VOS) document. If you are a Convention refugee, you should have a letter ...

  26. Canada Restores Visa Requirement for Mexican Visitors

    Marc Miller, Canada's immigration minister, last month. The visa mandate, which will go into effect Thursday night, had been lifted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 to boost tourism.