Canada
Protection at the Removal Stage
The Pre-Removal Risk Assessment in Canada
A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is a last opportunity for certain people facing removal from Canada to show they would be at risk if returned to their home country. It is a serious, time-sensitive process with strict deadlines — and you can only apply if a Canada Border Services Agency officer notifies you that you are eligible. This page explains, in plain language, how a PRRA works and what to do if you receive a notification.
01 What a PRRA Is
A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is an application that lets certain people who are facing removal from Canada ask for protection from being sent to a country where they would be at risk. It is decided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), while the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) manages the removal process.
According to IRCC, a PRRA is used to make sure you are not removed to a country where:
- you would be at risk of persecution
- you would be in danger of torture
- there would be a risk to your life or of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment
The risks a PRRA looks at line up with the protection grounds in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), sections 96 and 97 — the same kinds of grounds the Immigration and Refugee Board considers in a refugee claim. A key difference is that the Board is not involved in the PRRA; IRCC makes the decision. (Verified on canada.ca, June 2026.)
02 Who Can Apply & Who Is Barred
You cannot apply for a PRRA on your own initiative. When the CBSA begins the removal process, an officer checks whether you are eligible. You can only apply for a PRRA if a CBSA officer tells you that you are eligible and gives you a notification package.
There is no public "PRRA application form" you can submit whenever you like. If you have not been served with a PRRA notification, you are not yet eligible to apply.
Per IRCC guidance, you generally cannot apply for a PRRA if you:
- made a refugee claim that was ineligible because of the Safe Third Country Agreement
- were found to be a Convention refugee in another country to which you can return
- are already a protected person with refugee protection in Canada
- are subject to extradition
People who may be assessed include failed refugee claimants now facing removal and certain individuals under a removal order. Because eligibility rules and recent legislative changes can shift the categories, confirm your own situation against your CBSA notification and the official IRCC page rather than relying on a general description.
03 The 12-Month Waiting Period
A one-year bar limits repeat applications. In most cases, you must wait 12 months after your last negative decision before you can apply for a PRRA. According to IRCC, this waiting period applies if:
- you received a negative decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) on a refugee claim
- you received a negative decision from IRCC on a previous PRRA application
- you abandoned or withdrew your refugee claim or your PRRA application
- the Federal Court refused your attempt to have your refugee claim or PRRA decision reviewed
You may be exempt from the 12-month wait if conditions in your country change suddenly. To qualify, IRCC requires that you come from a country it has designated as exempt and that your negative decision falls within the dates listed for that country. The exempt-country list and date windows change — check the current list on the official IRCC page, and remember a CBSA officer will tell you if you can apply before removal. (Verified on canada.ca, June 2026.)
04 How to Apply When Notified
Once a CBSA officer confirms you are eligible and gives you a PRRA notification, the process moves quickly and on fixed deadlines. The general steps are:
Receive Your PRRA Notification from CBSA
A CBSA officer informs you in person that you are eligible and provides the notification and application package. Note every date and deadline it contains.
Complete and Return the Application on Time
The notification sets strict deadlines to submit your application and your supporting evidence. These deadlines are firm and extensions are rarely granted — confirm the exact timeframes on your own package and do not assume the dates from any general source.
Submit Your Written Submissions and Evidence
A PRRA is usually decided on the documents you file. Set out the risk you fear and provide objective evidence supporting it. Strong, well-organized submissions are critical because there is often no hearing.
Attend a Hearing Only If Requested
IRCC normally decides based on the paperwork, but may schedule a hearing if it has questions — for example, about your credibility. If so, you will receive a notice with the date and the issues to be discussed.
Receive the Decision
The CBSA informs you in person of IRCC's decision on your PRRA application.
Deadlines in a PRRA are short and unforgiving. Because the timeframes and rules can change, do not rely on figures you find online — read the dates on your CBSA package and seek advice promptly.
05 Positive vs Negative Decision
The outcome of a PRRA has major consequences for whether you can stay in Canada.
If Your Application Is Accepted
In most cases you become a protected person, and you can then apply for permanent residence. In some cases — for example, where someone is inadmissible for serious criminality — protected-person status is not granted even if a risk is found, and the person is instead allowed to stay until it is safe to return.
If Your Application Is Rejected
You must leave Canada. You may apply to the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review of the decision, but a court challenge does not automatically pause removal — you must still leave unless the Court grants you a stay of removal.
A positive PRRA leads to protected-person status and a path to permanent residence; a negative PRRA means removal can proceed. Outcomes depend entirely on the facts of each case — no result can be promised. (Verified on canada.ca, June 2026.)
06 What to Prepare
Because a PRRA is usually decided on the documents you submit, the quality and organization of your evidence matter a great deal. While each case is different, applicants commonly gather:
- your CBSA notification package and any related identity and immigration documents
- a clear written account of the risk you fear and why returning would be dangerous
- personal evidence — affidavits, medical or police reports, threats, or other proof relevant to your situation
- country-condition evidence such as reputable human-rights and news reports about your home country
- any new evidence that arose after, or was not reasonably available during, an earlier refugee claim
- translations of any documents that are not in English or French
If you previously had a refugee claim, the kinds of evidence IRCC can consider in a PRRA may be limited. The exact rules can change, so confirm what applies to your case on the official IRCC page or with a licensed representative before you file.
07 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a PRRA whenever I want?+
No. A PRRA is not something you can submit on your own. You can only apply if a CBSA officer notifies you, during the removal process, that you are eligible and gives you a PRRA application package.
Why do I have to wait 12 months to apply?+
In most cases there is a 12-month waiting period after your last negative decision — for example, a negative IRB decision on a refugee claim, a previous negative PRRA from IRCC, an abandoned or withdrawn claim, or a Federal Court refusal to review such a decision. You may be exempt if you come from a country IRCC has designated due to suddenly changed conditions and your decision falls within the listed dates. Confirm the current exempt-country list on the official IRCC page.
Can I stay in Canada while my PRRA is being decided?+
In many cases a person who files a PRRA on time benefits from a pause on removal while the application is assessed, but this depends on your circumstances and on meeting the deadlines in your notification. Because the rules can change, confirm your specific situation with IRCC or a licensed representative rather than assuming.
What happens if my PRRA is approved?+
In most cases you become a protected person and can then apply for permanent residence. In limited situations — such as inadmissibility for serious criminality — protected-person status may not be granted even if a risk is found, and you may instead be allowed to remain until it is safe to return.
What can I do if my PRRA is refused?+
If your PRRA is rejected, you must leave Canada. You may ask the Federal Court of Canada to review the decision, but that does not automatically stop your removal — you would have to be granted a stay of removal to remain in Canada while the review proceeds. These steps have strict deadlines, so act quickly and seek advice.
Is a PRRA the same as a refugee claim?+
No. Both look at risk on similar grounds, but a refugee claim is decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board, while a PRRA happens at the removal stage and is decided by IRCC. A PRRA is generally available only when you are already facing removal and CBSA confirms you are eligible.
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Served with a PRRA notification?
PRRA deadlines are short and the stakes are high. Our licensed immigration consultants (RCICs regulated by the CICC) can help you understand your notification, organize your evidence, and respond on time and with confidence.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed. For advice on your situation, confirm the current rules on the official IRCC pages and speak with a licensed representative.
