People without status in Canada, who have been living in Canada, may be good candidates to apply for Permanent Residency on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds.
Humanitarian and compassionate applications consider extreme hardship in returning to one’s country of citizenship. Factors in assessing extreme hardship include the best interests of children, family reunification, availability of health care, volunteer activities, integration into the community and establishment in Canada.
You may apply for permanent residence from within Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds (H&C) if you:
- are a foreign national currently living in Canada
- need an exemption from one or more requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or Regulations in order to apply for permanent residence within Canada
- believe H&C considerations justify granting the exemption(s) you need, AND
- are not eligible to apply for permanent residence from within Canada in any of these classes:
- pouse or Common-Law Partner
- Live-in Caregiver
- Caregivers -caring for children or people with high medical needs
- Protected Person and Convention Refugees, and
- Temporary Resident Permit Holder