3. Get a decision on your eligibility

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer may:

decide your eligibility at the , or
give you an Acknowledgement of Claim letter and appointment to complete your interview later.

Follow the instructions you're given. Different people may get different instructions.

If you’re eligible

If the CBSA officer decides you're eligible to make a refugee claim, the officer sends your claim to the (RPD) of the . The RPD decides if you're a Convention Refugee or a , usually after a refugee hearing.

You can stay in Canada as a refugee claimant until your claim is decided.

The officer takes your fingerprints and photo, and gives you documents including:

Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID) that confirms your identity and eligibility for healthcare through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
Confirmation of referral letter that states CBSA sent your case to the RPD
Medical Information Form that tells you to get a refugee medical exam
Basis of Claim (BOC) form that you must complete and send to the RPD within 45 days

Keep these documents safe and do not lose them.

All refugee claimants also get a that's only enforced if your claim is refused.

And the officer asks you to sign a document with conditions. For example, the conditions usually include to:

update your address with CBSA, IRCC, and the RPD before you move
attend appointments, hearings, and your removal from Canada if your claim and appeals are unsuccessful.

Portal or forms

The officer may tell you to complete immigration forms or use the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) online portal by a certain date. Get legal help to do that.

The officer may complete these forms with you:

Generic Application Form for Canada
Additional Dependents/Declaration
Schedule A: Background/Declaration
Schedule 12: Additional Information – Refugee Claimants inside Canada

Follow IRCC's instructions to open and save a form using Adobe Acrobat Reader. You cannot open the forms on a cell phone or tablet. You must use a computer or laptop.

Work permit

To work before your claim is decided, check the box in the IRCC portal or Schedule 12 form to request a work permit. Once you get the permit by mail, you can get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and then work in Canada.

If you’re not eligible

If the officer decides you're not eligible to make a refugee claim, but you're eligible to apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) the officer may give you a date to go to a CBSA office to start that process. Read more in Step 5.