Refugee sponsorship in Canada
MCC is here for you
At every step of the way, MCC is here to provide you with training and support.
Sponsorship is a one-year commitment. Sponsorship groups help refugee newcomers with practical things like housing, finances and grocery shopping, as well as offering friendship and emotional support.
Community transformation
Sponsorship groups are essentially a team of at least five or more people who have the time, resources to help, and live in the same community, like a church or community group.
While the sponsorship lasts only a year, the relationships built are often lifelong and transformational.
Where do I begin?
Finding the program that's right for you is easy! It all comes down to one question:
Do you know the refugee(s) overseas you would like to sponsor to come to Canada?
BVOR Program
The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program is a government initiative that matches Canadian volunteers with refugees in need of safety who don’t yet have personal ties to Canada. BVOR refugees have already been identified by the UN Refugee Agency and are ready to travel within weeks. The government even provides six months of financial support!
Refugees want to create a better life in your city, and you can make it happen.
What steps do I need to take?
- Step 1: Form a sponsorship group - Gather a committed group of at least five people who live in the same community in which the newcomers will live. Everyone must be over 18, and a Canadian permanent resident or citizen.
- Step 2: Get informed - Download our FAQ on the BVOR program.
Step 3: Get connected - Contact the MCC office in your province to learn more. We want to walk with you every step of the way!
Named Sponsorship
A "named sponsorship" is when you know a refugee(s) overseas you would like to sponsor to come to Canada. MCC works in partnership with sponsorship groups. As the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) with the Canadian government, MCC is responsible for ensuring sponsorship groups are equipped and have the capacity to provide refugees with adequate support for successful settlement and integration into their new community in Canada.
Unfortunately, MCC is given a limited number of spaces for named refugee sponsorship each year by the Canadian government.
Each provincial office opens for named sponsorship inquiries during the following specific times of the year:
- MCC Ontario: Jan. 1 – 8
- MCC Manitoba: Dec. 1 - 31
- MCC Saskatchewan: Dec. 15 – Jan. 15
- MCC Alberta: Dec. 1 – 31
- MCC British Columbia: Jan. 15 - 31
What steps do I need to take?
- Step 1: Get informed - Download our FAQ on Named Sponsorships.
- Step 2: Check the dates - Apply only during the timeframes listed above.
- Step 3: Prior to applying, ensure:
- You have a sponsorship group in place with the finances required for sponsorship,
- The refugee(s) you want to sponsor meets the definition of a refugee.
Step 4: Get connected - Contact the MCC in your province to make an inquiry. Please note that, due to the limited spaces we receive, we cannot work with everyone who makes an inquiry.
If you are currently a refugee outside of Canada trying to understand what resettlement program you might be eligible for click here (opens in new window). Note that you must have a sponsorship group in Canada for MCC to consider your case.
MCC is still open for refugee sponsorship
Our program is not included in the pause that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on Nov. 29, 2024, and we anticipate being able to continue submitting sponsorships in 2025.
MCC is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH), which is different from a "Group of 5" or "Community Sponsor." To learn more about the government’s decision to place a temporary pause on the ability for these groups to submit refugee sponsorship applications through Dec. 31, 2025, see the government’s press release here.
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