Quick Summary (At-a-Glance) – 60 seconds

Who can use this guide?

1. People already in Canada who fear persecution, torture, risk to life, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if returned.
2. People who want to start a refugee claim inland (not at the border).

Inland claim in 8 steps

1. Start your claim online using the IRCC Portal (in-Canada claims).
2. Complete and submit the online application. Once you start, you generally have up to 90 days to finish (or you must start over).
3. Attend an IRCC appointment (part of the inland intake process).
4. Provide biometrics if required.
5. Complete a medical exam when requested.
6. IRCC decides if you are eligible for referral to the IRB.
7. If eligible, your claim is referred to the IRB (RPD) for a hearing/decision.
8. Prepare for the RPD hearing: credible narrative + evidence + country conditions + testimony preparation.

The biggest risks (read this before you start)

1. Ineligibility issues: Some people are not eligible to have a claim referred to the IRB (for example, certain criminality, previous claims, or other legal bars). Eligibility is a separate question from whether your fear is real.
2. Credibility problems: Contradictions, vague timelines, or missing identity explanations can destroy a strong case.
3. Missing translations: Non-English/French documents must be translated properly (and not by software/AI). Missing translator declarations are a common reason documents are rejected.
4. Missed deadlines: Refugee processes have strict timelines. Missing a deadline can delay your claim or limit your options.

What to gather first (minimum documents)

If you have them, gather:

1. Identity and travel documents (passport(s), national ID, birth certificate, marriage certificate)
2. Proof you are in Canada (visa/entry stamp, permits, CBSA/IRCC letters)
3. Risk evidence (messages, photos, medical records, police/court documents if safe, witness contacts)
4. A clean timeline (dates, places, names, sequence)

What to do today (simple checklist)

1. Build a timeline (dates, locations, people involved, what happened, what you fear now).
2. Collect identity documents and risk evidence (messages, reports, medical records, photos).
3. Avoid copying a story from the internet. Credibility is the case.

Official sources (start here):

1. IRB Step 1 (inland claims + 90-day completion window): https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/applying-refugee-protection/pages/crp-step-1.aspx
2. Canada.ca “Start a claim online”: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/in-canada/start-online.html

What “refugee protection” means in Canada

Canada generally recognizes two protection categories.

Convention refugee

You have a well-founded fear of persecution based on:

1. race
2. religion
3. nationality
4. political opinion
5. membership in a particular social group (for example, sexual orientation, gender identity, family, or other recognized groups)

Person in need of protection

You face a personal risk in your home country of:

1. danger of torture
2. risk to life
3. risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment

Inland vs. Port-of-Entry claims (what’s the difference?)

Inland claim (this page)

You are already in Canada and submit the claim online through the IRCC portal, then attend an IRCC appointment.

Port-of-entry claim

You make the claim at a border/airport/seaport with CBSA/IRCC officers. The process and instructions can differ, including how your intake documents are issued and how you are asked to complete the online steps.

Step-by-Step: How to claim refugee protection from inside Canada

Step 1: Start your claim online (IRCC Portal)

If you are inside Canada, Canada.ca directs you to use the IRCC Portal to submit your asylum claim online:

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/in-canada/start-online.html

Timing warning: once you start the online application, you generally have up to 90 days to complete it; if you do not finish in time, you must start over.

Practical tip: Use a dedicated folder (paper + digital) and save every PDF confirmation and portal message the same day you receive it.

Step 2: Build a “schedule-ready” application (what that really means)

A strong refugee claim is not only forms. It is a complete, consistent file that can be scheduled and heard without delays.

Your inland portal submission should include:

A) Your narrative (your story)

1. Chronological: a clear timeline.
2. Specific: names, places, dates, what was said/done.
3. Consistent: no contradictions with earlier records.
4. Supported where possible: documents + country conditions.

What decision-makers commonly focus on:

1. Why you are at risk (not only that your country is dangerous).
2. Why your home government can’t or won’t protect you (state protection).
3. Why internal relocation is not reasonable or safe (if an Internal Flight Alternative issue may be raised).
4. Why you didn’t (or couldn’t) get protection elsewhere.
5. Why you waited to claim (if there is a delay) and whether your explanation makes sense.

B) Your Basis of Claim (BOC) form

The BOC is where you explain:

1. who you are,
2. who or what you fear,
3. what happened to you,
4. why you cannot return.

The IRB strongly encourages people to get professional help (“counsel”) for the BOC. In practice, “counsel” can include an immigration consultant RCIC-IRB / immigration lawyer, as applicable to your needs and authorization.

BOC guidance:

1. IRB Step 2 (BOC): https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/applying-refugee-protection/Pages/crp-step-2.aspx

C) Your evidence package

Examples (not all will apply in every case):

1. passports / national IDs / birth or marriage documents
2. police reports, court papers, warrants (if safe to obtain)
3. medical or psychological reports
4. threatening messages (screenshots + phone metadata when available)
5. proof of political activity / community membership
6. witness letters (with contact info + how the witness knows the facts)
7. expert reports (in complex files)
8. country condition evidence aligned with your story

Country conditions (IRB NDPs): The IRB publishes National Documentation Packages (NDPs) that decision-makers commonly use. Review your country’s NDP early so your evidence matches the official record.

1. NDP guidance: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/refugee-claims/pages/clademguideinstruct.aspx

D) Translation rules (do this early)

Any document that is not in English or French must be translated. The IRB does not accept documents translated by software/AI or web services like Google Translate. You must also include the translator’s declaration.

1. Evidence rules + translation rules: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/applying-refugee-protection/Pages/crp-step-5.aspx

E) Your identity and status in Canada

Submit what you have and explain gaps clearly (for example, lost passport, safety risks, seizure by persecutors). Unexplained identity gaps can delay or damage a claim. Keep originals safe and bring them to your hearing if requested.

Step 3: Submit and attend your IRCC appointment (inland claims)

The inland pathway generally involves:

1. completing the online application using the IRCC portal; and
2. attending an appointment at an IRCC office.

At the appointment, an officer may:

1. confirm your identity information,
2. review key parts of your application,
3. collect biometrics instructions (if needed),
4. and decide whether your claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB (RPD).

Step 4: Biometrics and medical exam (when requested)

Most claimants will be required to:

1. give biometrics (fingerprints/photo); and
2. complete a medical exam when instructed.

Do not miss deadlines. If you cannot attend, reschedule properly and keep proof.

Step 5: Eligibility decision and referral to the IRB (RPD)

If you meet eligibility requirements, IRCC will refer your claim to the IRB, which is responsible for deciding whether protection should be granted.

1. Eligibility overview: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/in-canada/eligibility.html

Step 6: Prepare for the IRB hearing (Refugee Protection Division)

At the Refugee Protection Division (RPD), the decision-maker may question:

1. your past harm and your future fear
2. your credibility (consistency, detail, plausibility)
3. state protection and Internal Flight Alternative (when raised)

Preparation is not “coaching a fake story.” It is preparing you to tell your real story clearly and consistently, and to handle difficult questions.

What happens after you submit? (Common questions)

Will I get a “Brown Paper” automatically?

People often call the Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) the “brown paper.” In practice, inland claimants may first receive an acknowledgment/confirmation document and later receive a secure claimant document as the intake process completes.

Important: document names and timing can vary by intake pathway and case specifics. Keep all letters and bring them to appointments. Do not assume benefits are automatic; follow official instructions.

(Background reading on claimant documents: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/transparency/committees/cimm-nov-29-2022/overview-asylum-system.html)

Can I work while waiting?

Many claimants can apply for a work permit while their claim is pending, but eligibility and timing depend on your stage and instructions. If work authorization is important, plan early and follow official steps carefully.

Credibility: the fastest way to lose a strong case

Most refusals are not because the country is “safe.” They are because the decision-maker does not believe the story or does not accept the risk theory.

10 credibility mistakes we see all the time

1. Vague dates (“sometime in 2022”) when exact timing matters
2. Missing timeline logic (events do not connect)
3. Copy-paste language that does not match how the person speaks
4. Contradictions with earlier immigration forms or interviews
5. Over-dramatization (big claims with no details)
6. Under-explanation (“I was threatened” but no context)
7. Key documents not explained (why it’s missing, why it can’t be obtained)
8. Social media conflict (posts that contradict the claim)
9. Generalized fear (country is dangerous, but not personal risk)
10. Late disclosure of critical facts (without a clear reason)

Practical standard: You do not need a “perfect” story, but you do need a story that is:

1. consistent across forms and interviews,
2. internally logical,
3. and supported by evidence where it reasonably exists.

If your claim is refused: short deadlines (sometimes 15 days)

After a refusal, deadlines can be very short.

Examples:

1. Refugee Appeal Division (RAD): you generally have 15 days after receiving the written reasons to file a notice of appeal, and 45 days to file the appellant’s record.
2. RAD filing page: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/filing-refugee-appeal/Pages/refugee1.aspx
3. Federal Court judicial review: if the IRB rejects your refugee claim, you must generally file within 15 days of the IRB decision.
4. Canada.ca: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/protection/refusal-options/federal-court-review.html

If you get a negative decision: get professional advice immediately and preserve your full paper trail (decision, reasons, exhibits, and any appointment letters).

PRRA is not automatic (and a 12-month waiting period often applies)

A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is usually considered when CBSA starts removal steps. PRRA eligibility rules are strict.

In most cases, you must wait 12 months after your last negative decision (including certain IRB decisions, PRRA decisions, or Federal Court outcomes) before you can apply, unless an exemption applies. You can only apply if CBSA tells you that you are eligible.

1. PRRA eligibility (IRCC): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/protection/refusal-options/pre-removal-risk-assessment/eligibility.html

Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) – quick note

STCA mainly affects certain claims made at the Canada-U.S. land border and related situations. If you are planning to travel from the U.S. to make a claim, learn the rules and exceptions before you move.

Related LMRT guide:

1. https://lmrtimmigration.com/asylum-canada/safe-third-country-agreement-exceptions/

Official STCA resources:

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement.html

Watchlist: Proposed changes (Bill C-12)

Canadian refugee policy can change. Bill C-12 (Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act) proposes measures that could affect asylum processing and eligibility rules.

Status check: As of February 5, 2026, Parliament’s LEGISinfo shows Bill C-12 was referred to a Senate committee (consideration in committee).

1. LEGISinfo (Bill C-12): https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-12

For context on the government’s stated objectives:

1. News release (Oct 8, 2025): https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/10/government-of-canada-introduces-new-streamlined-legislation-to-strengthen-border-security-and-keep-canadians-safe.html

How LMRT helps (without hype)

A strong refugee file is built on clarity, credibility, and evidence.

Our approach (what clients actually get)

1. Story mapping: timeline + key facts + risk theory (Convention refugee or person in need of protection)
2. Evidence plan: what to obtain, what’s unsafe/unavailable, and how to explain gaps
3. Country conditions file: NDP alignment + independent sources matching your facts
4. Hearing preparation: structured practice, consistency checks, and calm delivery

Contact LMRT

1. Email: agent@lmrtimmigration.com
2. Phone: +1 438 700 6165
3. WhatsApp: +1 438 889 6165
4. Office: 433 Rue Chabanel O, Office 620, Montreal, QC H2N 2J9

FAQ (People Also Ask)

LMRT Immigration Can Take Care of Your Refugee Claim Application!

If you want professional help, use the official LMRT contact channels below:

1. https://lmrtimmigration.com/contact-us/
2. https://lmrtimmigration.com/online-booking/

Disclaimer

This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Refugee law is fact-specific and can change. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified professional (such as an immigration consultant RCIC-IRB / immigration lawyer, as applicable) for guidance tailored to your circumstances.