(Original Post Date: Aug 30, 2021 | Last Updated: May 16, 2022)

The following info-page is curated by the BC Refugee Hub with the most up-to-date information on Canada’s Afghan Refugee Resettlement Program.

The Government of Canada has announced the resettlement of 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada. 

This will be done through: 

• A special immigration program for Afghan nationals, and their families, who assisted the Government of Canada in Afghanistan; and, 

• A special humanitarian program focused on resettling vulnerable Afghan refugees who are outside of Afghanistan and who do not have a durable solution in a third country. 

Resettlement for the special humanitarian program for Afghan refugees outside of Afghanistan will be via the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) and the Government Assisted Refugees (GAR) programs. 

Canada’s Resettlement Assistant Program

Government Assisted Refuges (GARs) arrive to Canada and are supported under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP).

Current Afghan arrivals to British Columbia are being supported by ISSofBC’s Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) which is funded by the Government of Canada – Immigrant, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

RAP has two main components: income support and assistance for a range of immediate essential services. Immediate and essential services are delivered by ISSofBC in the Metro Vancouver region, generally within the first 4-6 weeks of a newcomer’s arrival in Canada. Activities include the following:

• meeting newcomers at the airport or final destination in Canada
• providing temporary accommodation
• providing basic orientation to Canada, life skills training and financial orientation
• assisting in finding permanent accommodation
• referring to other settlement programs

RAP Program Key Forms and Activities – This info-sheet provides a list of key forms and activities undertaken within the first three weeks in the RAP program.

ISSofBC RAP Info-sheet – This info-sheet shows the timeline and key activities undertaken by ISSofBC’s Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) that supports newcomer Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) within the first two weeks of arrival.

Latest Arrival Figures

Arrivals to British Columbia are provided by ISSofBC – here

Arrivals to cities across Canada are provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – here

BC-Specific Community Resources for Afghan Newcomers:

ISSofBC’s BC Refugee Hub, in partnership with BC4Afghans, have compiled a list of BC-specific community resources for Afghan newcomers. The resources listed in this document include:

• Afghan affiliated community organizations
• Religious institutions
• Grocery stores
• Medical services

Many of the resources listed show languages available, along with contact information to make it easily accessible to newcomer Afghans resettling in the Metro Vancouver region.

Download here>>

BC Refugee Hub – Training and Information Webinars:

September 27, 2021 – Canada’s Private Sponsorship Program – View here>>

September 29, 2021 – Afghan Refugee Resettlement Updates – View here>>

Government of Canada – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – Contact for Afghan Refugee Resettlement

English – Contact information for IRCC

French – Coordonnées d’IRCC

Government of Canada – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – How to Help

Volunteer and Donate through IRCC  – Information on ways you can volunteer and donate.

Resources for Private Sponsorship of Refugees

Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program – Information on different ways to sponsor refugees.

Refugee Sponsorship Training – Provides training and information on privately sponsoring refugees.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders – What is a SAH and List of SAH’s in BC