If you are facing removal from Canada or trying to find your way through the asylum system, you must have heard two terms that seem
Pre-Removal Risk Assessment or Refugee Claim: What’s the Difference?
If you are facing removal from Canada or trying to find your way through the asylum system, you must have heard two terms that seem the same, but actually they work very differently. The terms are refugee claim and a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). Understanding the difference between both can make things easier for you in the future. One path usually gives you a full hearing where you can tell your story in person and have appeal rights. The other is mostly decided on paper, with tighter rules about what evidence counts and historically lower approval rates.
What Is a Refugee Claim?
A refugee claim is a way to seek protection in Canada from persecution or serious harm. CCBSA or IRCC first determines whether the claim is eligible, checking for bars such as the Safe Third Country Agreement, prior claims, or security concerns. If they find the person eligible, the claim is referred to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
At the RPD hearing, claimants provide evidence to explain why they need protection under sections 96 and 97 of IRPA. If the claim is refused, they may generally have 15 days to appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) or seek judicial review.
What Is a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)?
A PRRA is a protection process available to certain people who already have an enforceable removal order. It may be available after a refugee claim is refused or found ineligible, or when no refugee claim was made. You can only apply for a PRRA once a CBSA officer notifies you that you are eligible.
Unlike an RPD hearing, a PRRA is decided almost entirely on the written record. Oral hearings are rare. This procedural difference significantly affects outcomes.
Key Differences Between Refugee Claim and PRRA
| Factor | Refugee Claim (RPD) | PRRA |
| Timing | First application for protection | Final safeguard before removal |
| Hearing | Usually oral | Usually written only |
| Evidence | Full case can be presented | Failed claimants: generally limited to new evidence. Claimants found ineligible under Bill C-12: full evidence can be submitted |
| Approval rate | Higher | Typically low |
| Waiting period | None | 12 months after a final negative RPD/RAD/Federal Court decision (with country-specific exemptions) Does not apply to claimants found ineligible under Bill C-12 |
How Bill C-12 Changed Refugee Claim Eligibility?
Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act) received royal assent on March 26, 2026. It introduced new eligibility rules that apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025. Two key bars now prevent many claims from being referred to the IRB:
- Claims made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 (the clock does not reset if the person later leaves and returns).
- Claims by people who entered between ports of entry along the Canada–U.S. land border and waited more than 14 days to claim.
People affected by these rules still have access to a PRRA. For many who entered after June 24, 2020 and filed more than a year later, a PRRA may now be the only protection process available.
Why the Difference Matters for Your Case?
A PRRA is different from a regular refugee claim because it is generally based on new evidence or a change in circumstances. If a previous refugee claim was refused, the applicant usually cannot simply submit the same evidence again. Instead, they must show that there is a new risk or that important evidence was not available earlier.
Unlike the RPD process, a PRRA is usually decided through written submissions rather than a full hearing. The applicant should clearly explain the new risk, provide supporting evidence, and show how the risk affects them personally. In some cases, an interview or oral hearing may be required, particularly where credibility is an issue.
Conclusion
A refugee claim is the main way to seek protection in Canada, with an oral hearing and a possible appeal. A PRRA is a narrower process for people facing removal and usually focuses on new evidence. Under Bill C-12, some people may now have to rely on the PRRA process. If you receive a PRRA notice, speak with a licensed immigration consultant right away. Deadlines are short, and the evidence you submit can decide your case.
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