4. Get a decision on your PRRA

An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer reviews your Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) to see if you meet the definition of a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

Decided on paper

A PRRA is decided using the written information and evidence you provide. You do not usually have a hearing. Your lawyer or licensed representative can ask for a hearing if the immigration officer has concerns about the truthfulness of the evidence you provided.

Mandatory hearing

You must get an oral PRRA hearing if you were found not eligible to make a refugee claim in Canada because you:

• started a refugee claim in a country that has an information sharing agreement with Canada, and
• Canada has confirmation from that country that you made a refugee claim.

These countries are the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Inadmissible or excluded

Get legal advice if your refugee claim was rejected because of an exclusion issue, or if you're found inadmissible for:

• serious criminality
• security
• breaking international human rights
• organized crime

These situations are very complicated. You only get a restricted PRRA which uses a different legal test.

PRRA approved

If your PRRA is approved, in most cases, you will be granted protected person status. Then you can apply for permanent resident status.

PRRA denied

If your PRRA is denied, your removal order will become enforceable. Get legal advice from a lawyer about your options.