Before beginning the sponsorship application process, please pray about this opportunity. May God bless your sponsorship work and use your generous hearts to bless others!
Step 1 – Contact a City of Refuge coordinator. Your coordinator is happy to assist you with all steps of the application and resettlement process.
Step 2 – Fill out the Church Verification Form (this will be sent to you by the coordinator).
Step 3 – Choose a refugee to sponsor. We encourage you to choose a refugee from our extensive database of people who are waiting for a sponsoring church, or you may have someone already in mind.
Step 4 – Ensure your church’s financial ability to sponsor. The coordinator will provide you with an estimated cost for the sponsorship. Half of the amount must be raised before submitting the application, and the remainder before the refugees arrive in Canada. You are responsible for all costs for the 12 months after the refugee arrives in Canada.
Step 5 – Help the refugee complete their forms sent by the coordinator.
Step 6 – Complete the sponsorship forms for your church.
Step 7 – Submit. The coordinator completes and sends in the completed application.
NOTICE: City of Refuge continues to process applications as normal. You may have heard that IRCC has temporarily paused new applications from Groups of 5 and Community Sponsors. This pause does not apply to the Private Sponsorship applications submitted by City of Refuge.