Frequent Questions

Questions About Specific Refugee Circumstances

1. What are the acceptance rates for refugees in Canada?

Decisions of Refugee Protection Division for 2009: Of 26,652 refugee claims finalized, 11,154 (42%) were positive, 9,796 (37%) were negative, 1,367 (5%) were abandoned and 4,335 (16%) withdrawn or resolved otherwise.

There were 33,970 new refugee claims made in 2009 and the backlog of claims (number of claims in the refugee system) in 2009 was 61,170.

The top 20 countries, by number of decisions finalized, were as follows (with acceptance rate for 2009, followed, for comparison purposes, by rates for 2008 and 2007):

1. Mexico 9% (11% in 2008 and 10% in 2007)
2. Colombia 76% (79% in 2008, 78% in 2007)
3. Haiti 42% (41% in 2008, 49% in 2007)
4. China 58% (61% in 2008, 65% in 2007)
5. Sri Lanka 91% (94% in 2008, 88% in 2007)
6. Czech Republic* 10% (43% in 2008, only 1 finalization in 2007)
7. USA 1% (2% in 2008, 5% in 2007)
8. Nigeria 66% (55% in 2008, 44% in 2007)
9. India 32% (25% in 2008, 12% in 2007)
10. Pakistan 59% (50% in 2008, 49% in 2007)
11. Honduras 28% (24% in 2008)
12. Afghanistan 82% (82% in 2008, 69% in 2007)
13. St.Vincent 40% (36% in 2008, 27% in 2007)
14. Israel 5% (6% in 2008, 17% in 2007)
15. Congo, DR 62% (63% in 2008, 63% in 2007)
16. Rwanda 85% (79% in 2008, 78% in 2007)
17. Albania 39% (29% in 2008)
18. Burundi 79% (72% in 2008, 82% in 2007)
19. Hungary** 1% (27% in 2008)
20. Korea, South 9% (23% in 2008)

2. I currently live in the USA without immigration status and would like to travel to Canada to make a refugee claim. Is this possible?

A: It is possible to make a claim in Canada, however, because of the Safe-Third-Country agreement, you may not be able to seek asylum at the Canada-USA border. For more information see the link on Safe-Third-Country Agreement.

3. I have been threatened and attacked in my country and have the scars on my body to show it, will my refugee claim be accepted in Canada?

A: It is possible that your may be granted asylum but having scars or proof of the attack is only one of the many requirements of obtaining asylum. It is a misconception of many asylum seekers that they will be granted protection because they can prove they were attacked. However, receiving asylum protection in Canada requires establishing the attack as well as showing that the police in your country was unable to assist you and there were no safe parts of your country where you can live to avoid the gang (and other requirements).

4. I am a minority in my country (race, sexual orientation or other). Will my refugee claim be accepted in Canada?

A: If you face significant discrimination in your country, it may be possible to obtain asylum in Canada. The discrimination has to be cumulative and significant enough to convince a refugee judge that you are suffering from persecution.

5. I am opposed to the political parties in my country, will my refugee claim be accepted in Canada?

A: It is possible to be granted asylum for being persecuted on the basis of your political opinion. Obtaining asylum as such would require proof that the government is targeting you or denying you certain rights in your country based on a political opinion which you hold.

6. I was attacked by gang members in my country, will my refugee claim be accepted in Canada?