1. Find out if you’re eligible for a PRRA

If you're going to be removed from Canada, you might be eligible for a (PRRA).

You're not eligible for a PRRA if:

a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer found you not eligible to make a refugee claim because you arrived from the United States (U.S.) at a location where the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) applies and you did not meet an exception,
you have status in another country you can return to, or
you're already a in Canada.

If you entered Canada irregularly by crossing the U.S.-Canada land border between official ports of entry, and made a refugee claim:

more than 14 days after entering, you're not eligible to make a refugee claim. But you can usually stay in Canada to apply for a PRRA.
14 days or less after entering, unless you meet an exception to the STCA, you will be returned to the U.S. and cannot apply for a PRRA.

When are you eligible for a PRRA?

If you've never made a refugee claim or PRRA in the past, you become eligible for a PRRA as soon as there's an enforceable against you. If it's your first PRRA, a CBSA officer gives you the PRRA application form when they're ready to remove you. This form is not available online.

Canada is currently not removing people to some places. You do not get a PRRA while you're not being removed. This pause on removal does not apply if you're inadmissible because of:

crime
breaking international human rights laws
security concerns.

One-year bar

Usually if you've already made a refugee claim, you're not eligible for a PRRA until one year has passed since your refugee claim was:

rejected by the
, or
withdrawn.

If you made an appeal to the (RAD) or to the Federal Court that was rejected, you're usually not eligible for a PRRA until one year has passed since the decision.

If you've already applied for a PRRA, you're also usually not eligible for a PRRA until one year has passed since your PRRA was:

rejected,
abandoned, or
withdrawn.

You do not have to wait one year if your refugee claim was rejected:

due to an exclusion issue, or
after a vacation hearing.

And there are exceptions for people from specific countries who got negative decisions during certain dates.

Get legal help

If you're not eligible for a PRRA, get legal help right away about any other ways to prevent removal. Read more in Step 5.