At-a-Glance – Read this in 2 minutes

What “asylum” means in Canada (simple)

1. A refugee claim (asylum claim) is usually made inside Canada or at a Canadian port of entry.
2. Most refugee claims are decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) at the Refugee Protection Division (RPD).
3. The IRB usually decides whether you fit one of these legal categories:
4. Convention Refugee (IRPA s.96): persecution on a Convention ground (e.g., political opinion, religion, social group), or
5. Person in Need of Protection (IRPA s.97): a personal risk to life, torture, or cruel and unusual treatment/punishment.

Asylum vs resettlement vs private sponsorship (don’t mix them)

1. Asylum (refugee claim): normally in Canada or at the border, decided by the IRB.
2. Resettlement (GAR): usually for people outside Canada, often via UNHCR referral.
3. Private sponsorship (PSR): usually for people outside Canada, supported by Canadian sponsors.

Fast orientation: which situation are you in?

1. You are already in Canada: you may be able to start a refugee claim online through the IRCC Portal.
2. You are trying to enter from the United States: the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) may prevent you from claiming at the land border unless you meet an exception.
3. You are outside Canada: you are likely looking for resettlement or sponsorship, not an in-Canada asylum claim.

Syria-specific risk profiles that often matter

Syrian claims frequently involve one or more of these themes (your facts must be personal and specific):

1. Security services / detention / perceived opposition: arrest, detention, interrogation, checkpoint profiling, family association, imputed political opinion.
2. Military service issues: call-up, evasion, desertion, refusal, forced recruitment or coercion by armed actors.
3. Identity-based risks: religion/sect, ethnicity (including Kurdish identity), gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ risks.
4. “Returnee” profile: risk connected to being seen as suspicious after living abroad, especially with certain backgrounds, areas of origin, or family histories.
5. Documentation gaps: lost passport/ID, damaged civil documents, inability to obtain replacements safely.

Evidence that often strengthens Syrian claims

1. Identity documents: passport (even expired), national ID, family booklet, birth/marriage documents, UNHCR papers or host-country residency documents.
2. Personal incident evidence: summons, arrest documents, medical evidence, photos, threats/messages, witness letters with detail.
3. Country condition evidence: the IRB’s National Documentation Package (NDP) for Syria is a key baseline source used in hearings.
4. Clear timeline: dates, locations, who did what, and how risk connects to you personally.

Do I need a consultant?

You can represent yourself. Being allowed to self-represent does not mean it is always advisable.

Refugee claims are deadline-driven and credibility-based. Many self-represented claimants lose strong cases because of avoidable errors: contradictions between forms/BOC/testimony, missing identity proof, late evidence, and poor organization.

Depending on your needs and the proceeding, representation may be provided by an immigration consultant RCIC-IRB.

Full Guide

Who this page is written for

This guide is for:

1. Syrian citizens who fear returning to Syria and want to understand refugee protection in Canada.
2. People with a Syrian background where the risk is connected to Syria.
3. Syrians who lost documents due to war, displacement, detention, or flight.

This guide is not a promise of success. Every case depends on your individual facts and the evidence you can provide.

1) Asylum vs resettlement vs private sponsorship (why this matters)

Many Syrians use the word “asylum” to mean “any safe way to reach Canada.” In Canadian law, these are different processes:

A) Asylum (refugee claim) – usually inside Canada

A refugee claim is usually made inside Canada (inland) or at a Canadian port of entry. After eligibility steps, the claim is decided by the IRB.

B) Resettlement (GAR) – usually outside Canada

Resettlement is typically for refugees outside Canada, often referred through UNHCR or another referral process.

C) Private sponsorship (PSR) – usually outside Canada

A Canadian sponsor group supports a refugee abroad. This is separate from an in-Canada refugee claim.

Practical warning: If you are outside Canada and searching “Syrian asylum to Canada,” what you need may be resettlement, sponsorship, or a lawful entry strategy, not an in-Canada claim.

2) The legal tests the IRB applies (plain language)

Convention Refugee (IRPA s.96)

You must show a well-founded fear of persecution because of a Convention ground, such as:

1. political opinion (including imputed political opinion),
2. religion,
3. nationality,
4. race,
5. membership in a particular social group.

Person in Need of Protection (IRPA s.97)

You may qualify if, if removed, you personally face:

1. torture, or
2. a risk to life, or
3. a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, subject to strict criteria.

Key point for Syrians: Even when the country is broadly unsafe, the IRB still focuses on your individual risk profile and why you cannot return safely.

3) Syria-specific claim themes (examples, not a checklist)

A) Security services, detention, and perceived opposition

Many Syrian claims involve risk connected to:

1. prior detention, interrogation, threats, or surveillance,
2. a history of participation (or perceived participation) in opposition activity,
3. family association with someone wanted or politically active,
4. checkpoint profiling, area of origin profiling, or “returnee” suspicion.

Practical detail that matters: in refugee cases, the Board often tests your story by asking for specifics dates, locations, the sequence of events, names/roles (when safe), and what made you personally visible.

B) Military service, call-up, evasion, desertion, refusal

Military service issues are common in Syrian protection cases. Different stories can exist:

1. you received call-up notices and avoided reporting,
2. you served and then left,
3. you refused for reasons of conscience/political belief,
4. you fear punishment for desertion,
5. you fear being forced to participate in abuses,
6. you fear coercion by armed actors.

What the IRB typically expects: a clear timeline of age, locations, registration records where relevant, prior attempts to defer service, checkpoint experiences, and how you were able to leave.

C) Identity-based and vulnerability-based risks

Depending on your facts, risk may relate to:

1. religious/sect identity,
2. ethnicity (including Kurdish identity),
3. gender-based violence (forced marriage, domestic violence, “honour”-based harms),
4. LGBTQ+ risks,
5. journalists, activists, human rights workers, or humanitarian workers.

D) “Sur place” risk (risk that increases because of what happened after you left)

Sometimes risk increases after leaving Syria due to:

1. social media posts,
2. public activity in Canada,
3. new associations,
4. new visibility.

Sur place claims can be strong when they are real and well-documented, but they can also be scrutinized if they look manufactured. Consistency matters.

4) Evidence for Syrians (what to gather and how to present it)

A) Identity documents (do not delay)

Identity is central in refugee claims. Syrians may have incomplete documents, but you should still gather what you can:

1. Syrian passport (even expired),
2. national ID, family booklet, birth certificate,
3. marriage certificate/divorce documents (if relevant),
4. host-country documents where you lived (residency cards, permits, UNHCR registration documents).

If you have no identity documents, be prepared to explain:

1. what happened (lost, seized, destroyed, could not obtain safely),
2. what steps you took to replace them,
3. and why replacement is not possible or not safe.

Tip: Create a short “identity note” listing all spellings of your name (Arabic/Latin), and a consistent explanation of any differences.

B) Personal incident evidence (your story needs anchors)

Examples (not all will exist in every case):

1. arrest papers, summons, court documents,
2. medical records and photos of injuries,
3. threats/messages, call logs, screenshots,
4. witness letters that explain who the witness is and how they know the facts.

Witness letter best practice: ask for a letter that includes the witness’s full name, relationship to you, how they know the facts, key dates, and contact info. Avoid vague praise. Details matter.

C) Digital evidence (screenshots can help, but they must be credible)

If you rely on:

1. WhatsApp/Telegram/Facebook screenshots,
2. photos/videos,
3. location pins,

do two things:

1. explain the context (what it shows, when it happened, who is involved), and
2. keep original files where possible and preserve metadata.

D) Country condition evidence (IRB NDP + focused sources)

The IRB relies heavily on objective country information. The IRB National Documentation Package (NDP) for Syria is often used as a baseline source in decisions.

Use country evidence to:

1. support patterns (detention, torture, military recruitment, minority targeting),
2. show why internal relocation or state protection is not realistic on your facts,
3. connect your personal profile to documented patterns.

Practical warning: country evidence cannot replace your personal story. It supports it.

5) Credibility and consistency (where Syrian cases often get hurt)

Syrian cases can involve long travel histories, multiple countries of residence, and documentation gaps. That can be normal. But credibility still matters.

Common credibility problems to avoid:

1. changing dates/locations between the portal forms, BOC, and testimony,
2. leaving big timeline gaps (work, addresses, travel) with no explanation,
3. unclear passport history (missing stamps, different passports, renewals),
4. hiding prior immigration applications or refusals,
5. generic narratives that do not match your real voice and facts.

Practical rule: Write your case as if it will be tested by someone who does not know you and is trained to find contradictions.

6) “I lived in another country before Canada” (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, etc.)

Many Syrians lived for years in another country before coming to Canada. The IRB may ask:

1. What was your legal status there?
2. Could you stay safely?
3. Could you access protection?
4. Why could you not return there now?

This is not automatically negative. But you must be ready to explain:

1. your status (or lack of status),
2. risks you faced there,
3. barriers to renewal,
4. discrimination or lack of access,
5. fear of deportation to Syria,
6. and why that country was not a durable solution for you.

If this applies to you, it should be part of your narrative early not an afterthought.

7) Process snapshot for Syrians (inland vs port of entry)

If you are already in Canada (inland claims)

Many inland claimants start a refugee claim through the IRCC Portal, then:

1. complete and submit the required forms,
2. prepare the Basis of Claim (BOC),
3. gather and translate evidence,
4. attend appointments (biometrics/medical if required),
5. and later attend the IRB hearing.

If you made your claim at a port of entry

Port-of-entry claims often involve strict timelines for the BOC and evidence disclosure. Missing a deadline can create serious procedural consequences.

If you are trying to enter from the United States

The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) may block your claim at the land border unless you meet an exception. If you are thinking about this route, get advice before you act.

8) After you win: what changes (protected person + PR)

If the IRB accepts your claim, you become a protected person. That typically means:

1. stronger protection against return to risk,
2. ability to apply for permanent residence under the protected-person pathway,
3. a more stable long-term life plan.

Travel caution for Syrians after a positive decision

Before you:

1. renew or use a Syrian passport,
2. contact Syrian authorities,
3. or return to Syria, get advice first. Certain actions can create legal risk in protection cases.

9) If your claim is refused (high level)

If you receive a negative decision, deadlines can be short and options depend on eligibility. Possible steps can include appeals or judicial review, depending on the case.

Practical rule: do not delay after refusal.

Do I need a consultant?

You can represent yourself. Being allowed to self-represent does not mean it is always advisable.

Syrian claims often involve:

1. long timelines,
2. multiple countries,
3. military service questions,
4. documentation gaps,
5. and credibility testing.

A qualified representative can help you:

1. build a coherent legal theory that matches your facts,
2. avoid contradictions between the portal forms, the BOC, and testimony,
3. select and organize evidence so it supports your story,
4. respect disclosure rules and deadlines,
5. prepare for questioning at the IRB hearing.

Depending on your needs and the proceeding, representation may be provided by an immigration consultant RCIC-IRB.

FAQ

Related LMRT asylum guides

1. Asylum in Canada: Guides & Resources (LMRT)
2. Claim Refugee Status from Inside Canada (Inland Refugee Claim)
3. Safe Third Country Agreement Exceptions
4. https://lmrtimmigration.com/asylum-canada/applying-for-asylum-to-canada-online-a-comprehensive-guide/
5. Fast asylum (expedited procedures)

Sources (official / high-quality)

1. IRCC: Start a refugee claim online (in Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/in-canada/start-online.html
2. IRCC: If you are asked to complete your claim online (border): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/border/continue-online.html
3. IRB: National Documentation Package (NDP) – Syria: https://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/country-information/ndp/Pages/index.aspx?pid=10407
4. Justice Laws (IRPA s.96): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/section-96.html
5. Justice Laws (IRPA s.97): https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/section-97.html

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