Sponsor a Refugee
Sponsoring a refugee family is a concrete way to respond to a humanitarian crisis unfolding overseas. Sponsorship is a commitment of two or more years, which includes preparing, applying, waiting, and helping the refugees to settle after arrival.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program
In our Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program, we provide information, resources, and support to groups and individuals who are interested or involved in the sponsorship of refugees, increasing settlement capacity and awareness in the community.
Sponsor a Refugee
Sponsoring a refugee family is a concrete way to respond to a humanitarian crisis unfolding overseas. Sponsorship is a commitment of two or more years, which includes preparing, applying, waiting, and helping the refugees to settle after arrival.
ISANS' Family-Linked PSR Allocations
Through Family-linked sponsorships, ISANS supports people living in Nova Scotia to sponsor family member(s) or a friend who meet the UN refugee definition for private sponsorship. Through these sponsorships, ISANS helps reunite families separated by conflict or persecution.
What is Private Sponsorship
Private sponsorship is the resettlement of refugees to Canada, in which private groups such as communities, faith groups, or organizations provide funds to cover the financial costs of sponsorship and settlement support. It is a legal commitment. Sponsors commit to providing financial support (e.g., for lodging and food) and care for the sponsored refugee for up to 12 months or until the sponsored refugee becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first.
There are several different programs that bring refugees to Canada through some form of private sponsorship, including Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs), Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR), and Joint Assistance Support (JAS).
Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs)
A Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is an organization that has signed an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A SAH works with Co-sponsors and Constituent Groups (CGs) that sponsor refugees under the SAH’s agreement. SAHs assume overall responsibility and liability for the management of sponsorships under their agreement. In order to manage this liability, SAHs set criteria for groups sponsoring under their agreement.
Most SAHs will handle the extensive paperwork on behalf of co-sponsors and CGs. They require proof that the sponsor has the means to support the refugee. During the sponsorship year, SAHs monitor the sponsorship to ensure roles and responsibilities are understood, all requirements of the sponsorship are met, and that the settlement needs of the refugee(s) are met.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees with ISANS
There are currently four streams through which ISANS can support privately sponsored refugees. These include Family-linked, Community Group, Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR), or Joint Assistance Support (JAS).
Below is information on the differences between the streams.