If you have received an order from the Canadian government to leave Canada and return to your home country, but doing so could put your life or safety at risk. This is where you can get the opportunity to seek protection in Canada through the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). It is a completely written process and has strict deadlines, so the margin for mistakes is negligible.
What Is a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment?
A PRRA is a review by an officer at IRCC. The officer makes a thorough check and then decides whether sending you back to your home country would expose you to:
- persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
- a danger of torture
- a risk to your life
- a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment
The PRRA process is governed by sections 112-116 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Unlike a refugee hearing, it is usually decided based on written submissions and evidence. In short, the evidence is the game changer. You may not meet the officer, so your documents and written case must clearly explain why you need protection. Make sure to provide details that are authentic as well as reliable because fake evidence will ruin your case further.
Why More People Now Need a PRRA?
On 26th March 2026, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) became law. It introduced 2 new rules that prevent many asylum claims from being referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB):
The one-year rule. If you first entered Canada after June 24, 2020, and made your asylum claim more than one year after that first entry, your claim can’t be heard by the IRB. Leaving and coming back doesn’t restart the clock.
The 14-day rule. If you crossed the Canada-U.S. land border between official ports of entry and waited more than 14 days to claim asylum, your claim also can’t be heard by the IRB.
These rules apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025, including claims that were already waiting for a hearing. If your claim is found ineligible, a PRRA becomes your first and only risk assessment. That means there is no oral hearing by default, no appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division, and no second chance to fix a weak application.
If you have received a procedural fairness letter about your claim, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Your response can affect what happens next.
Who Can Apply for a PRRA?
Most people under an enforceable removal order can apply, but only after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) formally tells you that you are eligible. This usually happens at a pre-removal interview.
You generally cannot apply if:
- You had a refugee claim, appeal, Federal Court leave application, or PRRA refused within the last 12 months (the “12-month bar”)
- You are being returned to the U.S. under the Safe Third Country Agreement
- You have already been granted refugee protection in another country you can return to
- You are being extradited
Standard PRRA vs. Restricted PRRA
Standard PRRA:
Looks at all types of risk, including persecution based on the Refugee Convention. If approved, you usually become a protected person and can apply for permanent residence.
Restricted PRRA:
Applies to people who cannot enter or stay in Canada for serious reasons, such as security concerns, serious criminality, human rights violations, or organized crime. The officer only considers the risk of torture, death, or cruel and unusual treatment. If approved, it can stop your removal, but you do not become a protected person. The requirements are stricter, so your application must be carefully prepared.
PRRA Deadlines You Cannot Miss
The timelines are among the shortest in Canadian immigration law:
- 15 days to submit your PRRA application form (IMM 5508) if CBSA gave it to you in person, or 22 days if it was mailed
- 15 more days after that to file your written submissions and supporting evidence
If you apply before the deadline, your removal is usually paused while IRCC reviews your case. If you miss the deadline, you may lose this protection and could be removed before your application is decided.
What Evidence Matters in a PRRA
If you had a previous refugee claim, the officer can only consider new evidence. That means evidence that came up after your claim was refused, or that wasn’t reasonably available to you at the time. You can’t simply re-argue the same case.
Strong PRRA applications typically include:
- a detailed, consistent personal declaration
- current country condition reports (UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, U.S. State Department, IRB National Documentation Packages)
- evidence specific to you, such as threats, police reports, arrest warrants, or letters from people back home
- medical and psychological reports where relevant
- legal arguments explaining how the evidence meets the legal test
General reports about a dangerous country are rarely enough on their own. The officer needs to see why you personally are at risk.
Can You Get a Hearing?
In some cases, an officer may hold a hearing if your credibility is a key issue and your evidence could support a positive decision. CityLaw Group identifies when a hearing request is justified and argues for one where it can make the difference.
Can You Work During a PRRA?
In many cases, the answer is yes. Once CBSA notifies you that you may apply and your removal is stayed, you may be eligible for an open work permit while IRCC reviews your file.
How CityLaw Can Help?
- Reviewing your immigration history and removal order to confirm eligibility as well as deadlines
- Advising on Bill C-12 ineligibility letters and responses
- Preparing and filing the IMM 5508 on time to protect your stay of removal
- Drafting your personal declaration and legal submissions
- Gathering and organizing country condition and personal risk evidence
- Requesting an oral hearing where credibility is at issue
- Assisting with open work permit applications
- Filing Federal Court judicial review and stay of removal motions after a refusal
- Assessing H&C and other options where available
Our immigration team clearly understands how these procedures must be handled and carried out. We understand the conditions, explain every step and any unfamiliar terms in a simple way, and keep you updated throughout the process. Contact CityLaw Group today for a consultation if you have received a PRRA notification, face a removal order, or have been affected by recent asylum eligibility changes. Timely action matters a lot.
