Sponsorship through Rainbow Refugee

Rainbow Refugee, through the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership (RRAP), plays a key role in facilitating the private sponsorship of LGBTQIA+ refugees who are fleeing violence and persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics (SOGIESC), or HIV status. While the program is supported by the Government of Canada, Rainbow Refugee coordinates with Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs), oversees case intake, and engages with institutions and volunteers across Canada and internationally to make sponsorships possible.

Since its inception on June 1, 2019, this initiative has expanded the number of LGBTQIA+ refugees who can access private sponsorship. Through this collaboration:

• • The Government of Canada covers initial start-up costs and three months of income support.

• • Volunteer sponsor groups (Circles of Hope) provide the remaining nine months of financial and emotional support.

• • Rainbow Refugee, in partnership with SAHs, facilitates application preparation and submission.

• • Refugees sponsored through this pathway are not counted toward annual SAH caps, enabling greater access.

This model enhances Canada’s ability to provide protection to LGBTQIA+ people at risk, while building bridges between LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and the broader Canadian resettlement sector.

Please Note Before You Begin

This is a long-term sponsorship process, and it is not suitable for emergency relocation.
Rainbow Refugee cannot provide emergency assistance, housing, or direct financial aid to people in crisis. If you are in immediate danger, please contact Rainbow Railroad, which provides emergency relocation support for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Additionally:

• • We do not sponsor people already inside Canada ( but you might be eligible for an inland refugee claim).

• • Sponsorship can take several years, and we cannot guarantee selection or approval.

Rainbow Refugee recognizes that many LGBTQIA+ individuals may be stateless (lacking legal citizenship in any country), undocumented (living without legal residency or visa status), or displaced in countries where they are still not safe. These situations create additional barriers to protection and resettlement.

We encourage individuals in these situations to apply, but please be aware:

• • If you are undocumented in a country that criminalizes LGBTQIA+ people, this may make it more difficult, but not impossible, to pursue sponsorship.

• • If you are stateless, we may require additional documentation or evidence of displacement.

• • If you are in a third country that is also unsafe, we will assess your circumstances carefully and may prioritize cases with heightened risk.

In some cases, you may be able to obtain a one-way travel document through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) if you are approved for sponsorship and do not hold a passport. Travel documents are issued only after the full application process is complete and a visa has been granted by the Canadian government.

You may be eligible for sponsorship if all of the following apply to you:

• • You identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, which includes individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, non-binary, intersex, or who are living with HIV. Our sponsorship is specifically focused on supporting people who face persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, or HIV status.

• • You are currently living outside your home country. In order to qualify for refugee sponsorship under Canadian law, you must be physically outside your country of origin. This reflects the international definition of a refugee as someone who is outside their country and unable to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution.

• • You do not have a durable or long-term solution in the country where you are currently living. This means you are not safe to return to your country of origin, and you do not have the option to integrate into your current country due to local anti-LGBTQIA+ laws, social hostility, lack of access to legal residency, or other serious barriers. You are also not eligible for or accepted into another country’s resettlement process.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship to individuals who fall into any of the following categories:

• • You identify as heterosexual (straight) and cisgender, meaning you identify with the gender you were assigned at birth and do not face persecution related to LGBTQIA+ status. Our sponsorship model is specifically for people targeted because of LGBTQIA+ identity or HIV status.

• • You are still living in your country of origin. Individuals must be outside their home country to be eligible for refugee sponsorship under Canadian law. While we recognize that many people are facing high risks and threats at home, the legal framework for sponsorship does not permit us to sponsor someone who has not yet fled.

• • You are residing in a country considered safe for LGBTQIA+ individuals. While safety is subjective and may vary even within countries, Canadian immigration authorities use guidelines and reports to assess whether the country you are in provides legal protection and basic human rights for LGBTQIA+ people. If you are in a country that is generally recognized as safe, this may limit eligibility for sponsorship.

• • You have already secured or are currently pursuing a durable solution, such as local integration, legal residency, voluntary return to your home country, or resettlement through another process. Canadian private sponsorship is not meant to replace other viable long-term pathways.

Rainbow Refugee operates as a small community-based organization with limited financial and administrative capacity. On average:

• • We sponsor approximately 10 to 15 people each year in British Columbia through our local Circles of Hope.

• • Across all of Canada, with our national partnerships and networks, we support the sponsorship of approximately 50 to 70 people annually.

While we strive to expand our reach, our resources are not sufficient to assist every eligible person who reaches out. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to support as many people as we can through a trauma-informed, transparent, and community-driven model.

You may disregard this process if any of the following apply to you:

• • You have already completed our intake form and received confirmation of submission.

• • You are already living inside Canada. We do not sponsor individuals currently in Canada through this program.

• • You are already being sponsored by another private group, government resettlement program, or have entered the immigration process through another means.

If you are an LGBTQIA+ person seeking private sponsorship, please contact us at help@rainbowrefugee.ca or submit your case through our intake form.

Once contacted:

• • We register your case confidentially

• • We conduct an initial assessment to determine eligibility

• • If not eligible, we refer you to other available resources

• • If eligible, we add your file to the sponsorship waiting list

If you—or someone you know—needs support and may be eligible for sponsorship, you can begin the process in one of two ways:

Click here to start your registration
(Link this to your intake or contact form)

OR

Email us at help@rainbowrefugee.ca
We’ll send you a short form to learn more about your situation.

When reaching out, please include:

• • Whether you are contacting us for yourself or someone else

• • Whether the person is currently inside or outside of Canada

• • If the person has a friend, partner, or family member in Canada who is willing to help

We’ll review the information and let you know if Rainbow Refugee can support the case—or refer you to an organization in your area that may be able to help.

Thank you for your application. Once your case is confirmed as eligible for sponsorship through Rainbow Refugee, you are placed in our pool of eligible applicants. This means you are waiting to be matched with a sponsor group (Circle of Hope).

What Happens Next?

• • You do not need to follow up unless your situation changes.

• • We match applicants with Circles of Hope depending on group readiness, capacity, and fundraising progress.

• • Not all eligible applicants will be selected, and being in the pool may take over two years.

• • Once matched, the immigration process—including IRCC application review, security screening, medical exams, and travel—can take an additional two years.

We understand that this timeline can feel frustrating and uncertain. Please know:

• • We cannot expedite applications.

• • Processing times are determined by the Government of Canada and are beyond our control.

• • We are committed to keeping your case on file and will contact you if a sponsorship opportunity becomes available.

If you are on the waiting list, here are the key steps involved in preparing and submitting a sponsorship application. This helps explain why the process takes time and how it unfolds in detail:

Step 1: Initial Contact & Registration

• • Refugees reach out to Rainbow Refugee via our website or by emailing help@rainbowrefugee.ca.

• • We register the case and conduct an initial eligibility assessment.

• • If not eligible, we provide referrals or alternative resources.

• • If eligible, the case is added to our sponsorship waiting list.

Step 2: Finding a Sponsorship Group

• • We begin searching for a volunteer Circle of Hope willing to support the applicant.

• • These groups fundraise before and during the application process and support the refugee upon arrival.

Step 3: Matching with Sponsors

• • We verify the refugee's eligibility.

• • We conduct interviews with both potential sponsors and the applicant.

• • If the match is confirmed, Rainbow Refugee submits the application for processing by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Step 4: Application Submission & Review

• • Refugees complete multiple forms in the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada.

• • The full application (sponsor and refugee parts) is submitted to the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O).

• • If incomplete, it is returned. If complete, it is sent to a migration office overseas for further review.

Step 5: Embassy Interview & Screening

• • The Canadian migration office invites the refugee for an interview.

• • Screening includes: background check, medical exam, and biometric collection.

• • For applicants living with HIV, medical assessments may include treatment plan reviews.

Step 6: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Procedures

• • IOM coordinates the remaining steps:

  • - Biometric data collection (photos and fingerprints)

  • - Security screenings and medical exams

  • - Assistance with exit permits and visa processing

Step 7: Travel Arrangements & Arrival in Canada 

• • Travel dates are confirmed.

• • If the refugee does not have a valid passport, IOM provides a one-way travel document.

Step 8: Post-Arrival in Canada

• • Upon arrival, refugees become permanent residents.

• • Those living with HIV have access to medical care and treatment through provincial health services.

The sponsorship and resettlement process depends on many factors, including:

• • Federal and international processing capacity

• • Number of applications under review

• • Security conditions in the refugee’s current country

• • Availability of Canadian visa officers overseas

• • Time needed for medical and security screenings

• • Delays in securing exit permits or travel documents

Rainbow Refugee receives case updates directly from IRCC. If there is no new information, we unfortunately cannot provide additional updates.

Due to the high number of emails we’re receiving, we kindly ask that you log in and update your profile directly. If your contact information, country of residence, legal status, or risk level changes, please update your application using the following steps:

To update your case:

1. 1. Go to the login page: https://app.betterimpact.com/Login/Login

2. 2. Log in using the email address you registered with

3. 3. If you forgot your password, click “Forgot my password”

4. 4. Once logged in, click “My Profile” on the left-hand menu

5. 5. Scroll down to the section: “Do you want to update your case? Use this space below”

6. 6. Add your updates or upload any supporting documents

7. 7. Click “Save” at the bottom of the page

If you have trouble accessing your profile, email us at help@rainbowrefugee.ca.

If you have a friend, partner, or family member in Canada who knows about your LGBTQI+ identity—and they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident—they may be able to support or sponsor you.

They are welcome to contact Rainbow Refugee at help@rainbowrefugee.ca to learn more about sponsorship options. Please note, however, that Rainbow Refugee is based in British Columbia and our direct sponsorship support is limited to people living in BC.

If your contact is in another part of Canada, we encourage them to reach out to LGBTQI+ and refugee support organizations in their province. These groups may be able to guide them in helping you start a refugee claim or connect with regional resources.