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Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

r. 156 Ineligibility to be a party to a sponsorship

  • PART 8 Refugee Classes
  • DIVISION 2 Sponsorship
  • Refugee Classes

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: justice.gc.ca

The law says

IRPR r. 156
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)

(1)The following persons are ineligible to be a party to a sponsorship:

  • (a)a person who has been convicted in Canada of the offence of murder or an offence set out in Schedule I or II to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, regardless of whether it was prosecuted by indictment, if a period of five years has not elapsed since the completion of the person’s sentence;
  • (b)a person who has been convicted of an offence outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence referred to in paragraph (a), if a period of five years has not elapsed since the completion of the person’s sentence imposed under a foreign law;
  • (c)a person who is in default of any support payment obligations ordered by a court;
  • (d)a person who is subject to a removal order;
  • (e)a person who is subject to a revocation proceeding under the Citizenship Act; and
  • (f)a person who is detained in any penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison.

Exception if pardoned

(2)For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), a sponsorship application may not be refused on the basis of a conviction in respect of which a pardon has been granted and has not ceased to have effect or been revoked under the Criminal Records Act, or in respect of which there has been a final determination of an acquittal.

Amendment History (1)
  • SOR/2010-195, s. 14

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